Solarkraft

Solarkraft, or solar power, is energy generated from sunlight. It encompasses technologies that convert solar radiation into electricity or heat, with photovoltaic PV and concentrated solar power CSP being the most widely recognized.

Photovoltaics convert light directly into electricity using semiconductor materials in solar panels. PV systems can be installed on building rooftops, in open fields as utility-scale plants, or integrated into facades and other structures. They typically include modules, inverters to convert direct current to alternating current, mounting hardware, and electrical interconnections. Storage options, such as batteries, are increasingly combined with PV to smooth supply and enable higher penetration of solar energy.

Concentrated solar power uses mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight onto a receiver, generating heat that drives a conventional turbine and generator. CSP plants often include thermal storage, commonly molten salt, which allows electricity generation after sunset. CSP is more site-specific, usually benefiting from large, high-direct-beam-irradiance locations.

Global deployment has grown rapidly in recent years, aided by falling costs, supportive policies, and grid modernization. Solarkraft offers low operating costs and near-zero emissions during operation, and it is scalable from small residential setups to large utility-scale plants. Challenges include intermittency, the need for grid integration and storage, land and water use for certain CSP configurations, and lifecycle environmental impacts from manufacturing and end-of-life management of equipment. As markets mature, hybrid approaches and storage solutions increasingly enable reliable, clean solar power as part of diverse energy systems.