| North_Carolina_Solar_Center Some useful information on solar electric and other renewables. A little bit out of date in some areas. |
| Off-Grid_Living Alternative energy, renewable energy, solar, photovaltaic sources for homesteading. Off-grid living information. |
| The_Photovoltaics_Special_Research_Centre,_UNSW Established and supported under the Australian Research Council's Research Centres Program. Includes information files, especially on the more technical issues of solar. (formerly the Centre for Phot |
| PowerSat_Corporation Describes and promotes a concept of placing large solar cells in orbit and wirelessly transferring the energy to a receiving station on earth. |
| PV_GAP PV GAP, a not-for-profit organization, promotes the use of internationally accepted standards, quality management processes and organizational training in all aspects related to photovoltaic systems. |
| PV_Power_Resource_Site Coordination and dissemination of global photovoltaic (pv) technologies, applications, history, and resources. |
| PV_resources Photovoltaic applications, technologies, perspectives and more |
| PV_Web Information about photovoltaic power and solar electricity from the British Photovoltaic Association, which supports development of these technologies in the UK. |
| PVACCEPT_|_Photovoltaics_Research_Project PVACCEPT is a Europeon Union funded German-Italian research and demonstration project. It aims at designing and developing marketable solar modules for electricity generation. |
| Renewable_and_Electrical_Energy Natural Resources Canada web site providing information on alternative energy,incentives for use and development,publications and learning tools for schools. |
| RV_Solar_Power RV solar power system. Personal home page describing the installation of a complete RV photovoltaic system in a 5th wheel. Pictures and diagrams. |
| SESCI__Solar_Energy_Society_of_Canada_Inc_ Non-profit canadian organization, working to promote the awareness, understanding and use of solar energy in Canada. Includes information on photovoltaic uses, cost, sizing, northern climate considera |
| A_Short_Course_on_Photovoltaics Guide for the solar electric newcomer or enthusiast. Includes short course on photovoltaics systems with pictures, graphs and calculations. |
| Shreyansh_Electronics Offers solar photovoltaic modules and educational kits in India. |
| Solar_Cells An introduction to solar electric technology and the manufacture and use of solar cells. |
| Solar_Electric_Light_Fund_(SELF) A non-profit organization which promotes, develops, and facilitates solar rural electrification and energy self-sufficiency in developing countries. |
| Solar_Energy Contains information about how thin film solar cell can be incorporated into the roofing structures of buildings. CD available. |
| Solar_Online_Learning_Center On-site as well as online photovoltaic tutorials for beginners and intermediate levels |
| Solar_Panel_Info Resource on solar panels and photovoltaics. Addresses installation and environmental concerns. |
| Solar_Power_Answers Information on the design and application of stand-alone photovoltaic systems including system design calculators. |
| Solar_Warrior_Photovoltaic_System Information about Kenneth and Gabrielle Adelman's huge backyard system in Corralitos, California, and their struggle with the power company. |
| SolarAmp A research and development company focusing on cost-effective photovoltaic (PV) modules for solar cells. |
| Solarbuzz_Consultant_and_Portal Independent and timely information on solar energy; including industry statistics, monthly solar product price surveys, technologies, and world wide listing of companies. |
| Texas_Solar_Energy_Society Educational organization. Contains some information about solar electric. Has a K-12 renewables education area. |
| 29th_IEEE_Photovoltaic_Specialists_Conference May 2002, New Orleans, Louisiana. To explore the physics, materials science, and engineering of photovoltaic devices and solar electric power systems. |
| UO_SRML__Sun_chart_program University of Oregon Solar Radiation Monitoring Laboratory. This program creates sun charts for: "typical" dates of each month |
| US_Department_of_Energy__Photovoltaics Information on the government's PV Program. |
| Watson_Solar_House Describing the experiences of a home owner getting a solar array. Includes data and insights. |
| Wisconsin_Public_Service_Corporation Information about a project to integrate buildings which have Photovoltaic technologies on the University of Wisconsin campus. |
| Taxaceae Brief description of the yew family, with notes on taxonomy. |
| ECOFH_research_group Research laboratory in fine organic and heterocyclic chemistry located at IRCOF of Rouen, France. |
| Ellman_Group Design, synthesis, and evaluation of small molecule libraries. A particular emphasis is placed on therapeutically important receptor or enzyme classes that require the development of new combinatorial |
| EnVOC Environmental Organic Chemistry Group. Research in organic micropollutants (including volatile organic compounds) in the environment, odour problems, and treatment technologies. A second major field |
| Evans_Group Useful information to the chemical community that is relevant to research and teaching activities. |
| Electrical_Engineering_Hotlinks Directory-style resource on electrical engineering and electronics industry information. Includes free data sheets and employment listing links. |
| EngPlanet_Electronic_Design_Engineer_Reference Web resource for electronic and electrical engineers, technicians, and hobbyists. Many links to help and information on parts and circuits. |
| Aurora_Exploration_Programme ESA's Aurora Programme formulates and implements Europe's long-term plans for the robotic and human exploration of solar system bodies that could contain traces of life. |
| ESA_Kids A kid friendly website from the European Space Agency offering space related information, games, quizzes, and photos. |
| Human_Spaceflight ESA's Human Spaceflight site features the latest news in astronauts, the International Space Station (ISS), research in space, and education. |
| Launchers Find information about the Ariane launch vehicle, Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, and launcher technology. |
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Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article:Aldous, Scott. "How Solar Cells Work." 01 April 2000. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/solar-cell.htm> 08 January 2009. Inside this Article Introduction to How Solar Cells Work Photovoltaic Cells: Converting Photons to Electrons How Silicon Makes a Solar Cell Anatomy of a Solar Cell Energy Loss in a Solar Cell Solar-powering a House See more » Solving Solar-power Issues Solar-power Costs Lots More Information See all Energy Production articles Invention Nation: Solar Panels 
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Photo courtesy DOE/NRELPhoto credit SunLine Transit AgencySolar panels absorb energy to produce hydrogen at SunLine Transit Agency.
You've probably seen calculators that have solar cells -- calculators that never need batteries, and in some cases don't even have an off button. As long as you have enough light, they seem to work forever. You may have seen larger solar panels -- on emergency road signs or call boxes, on buoys, even in parking lots to power lights. Although these larger panels aren't as common as solar powered calculators, they're out there, and not that hard to spot if you know where to look. There are solar cell arrays on satellites, where they are used to power the electrical systems.
Discover MoreHow can solar panels power a car?Discovery Channel: Solar Panels and Other Cool NASA InnovationsTreeHugger: How Does Solar Energy Work?You have probably also been hearing about the "solar revolution" for the last 20 years -- the idea that one day we will all use free electricity from the sun. This is a seductive promise: On a bright, sunny day, the sun shines approximately 1,000 watts of energy per square meter of the planet's surface, and if we could collect all of that energy we could easily power our homes and offices for free.
In this article, we will examine solar cells to learn how they convert the sun's energy directly into electricity. In the process, you will learn why we are getting closer to using the sun's energy on a daily basis, and why we still have more research to do before the process becomes cost effective.
Going Solar, Going GreenAdding solar panels to an existing home can be expensive -- but there are lots of other ways to make your home greener. Learn more about what you can do to protect the environment at Discovery Channel's Planet Green.
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Mono-crystalline 170 Watt 24 Volt Solar Panel Specifications: Cell: Single-crystal silicon solar cells, 125 mm square No. of cells and connection 72 in series Open Circuit Voltage (Voc): 44.4V ...$750.00 
BatteryMINDer Solar Charging System 12 Volt, 15 Watt Panel Complete system for charging and maintaining up to four 12V batteries of any size/type/brand. Extends performance and life of 12V lead-acid, maintenan...$149.99 
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