THE FUTURE IS NOW
CLEAN SOLAR TECHNOLOGY IS HERE TO STAY
Solar energy systems don’t produce air pollutants or carbon dioxide, and the systems like the ones installed on our campus have minimal effects on the environment.
WHY CHOOSE SOLAR?
The sun has produced energy for billions of years and is the ultimate source for all of the energy sources and fuels that we use today. People have used the sun’s rays (solar radiation) for thousands of years for warmth and to dry meat, fruit, and grains. Over time, people developed devices (technologies) to collect solar energy for heat and to convert it into electricity.
It's Clean Powerful Energy and Renews Itself Everyday!
Did you know that the amount of sunlight that strikes the earth’s surface in an hour and a half is enough to handle the entire world’s energy consumption for a full year?
It's Cost Effective!
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels can last for 25 years or more before they need to be replaced. And depending on energy consumption, solar systems can produce a very good Return On Investment, in addition to saving $$$ in energy costs every month!
Solar Science is Rapidly Evolving to Make Our World a Better Place Everyday!
The solar energy industry is booming. Since 2008, the amount of solar energy connected to the grid has increased more than 38 fold, reaching 42.4 GW today. This expansion has resulted in the creation of thousands of new solar industry jobs, with more than 260,000 people currently employed and projections of major growth in the future.
Solar is the next great American industry!
A WORLD WITH SOLAR IS A WORLD FULL OF CAREER OPPORTUNITY and CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY
The Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is an office of the United States Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). SETO supports the early-stage research and development of photovoltaic (PV) technologies that improve efficiency and reliability, lower manufacturing costs, and drive down the cost of solar electricity. The program funds innovative concepts and experimental designs across a range of materials that have the potential to make solar energy among the least expensive forms of energy available by reaching a levelized cost of energy of $0.03 per kilowatt-hour.
Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is supporting this growing solar workforce with training programs, professional development and career building.
Photovoltaic (PV) Certification
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is the most respected, well-established, and widely recognized certification organization for solar professionals, offering entry level knowledge assessment, professional certification, and company accreditation programs to renewable energy professionals. SETO awarded funding to NABCEP to develop three new industry-validated personnel certifications for individuals working in photovoltaic (PV) operations and maintenance and in mid-scale PV system design and installation. Learn more about the new certifications.
Solar Training Network
SETO created the Solar Training Network to address the critical need for high-quality, local, accessible training in solar installation and related skills. The network allows for greater connection between solar employers, trainers and training institutions, workforce investment boards, and trainees and job seekers in order to meet ever-changing market demands, especially in regions where solar energy is rapidly expanding. The infrastructure developed by the network will make significant contributions toward achieving the goal of training 75,000 workers in solar by 2020.
GEARED
The Grid Engineering for Accelerated Renewable Energy Deployment (GEARED) program is a research, training and education framework that grows the expertise and preparedness of current and future electric utility sector professionals so they have the knowledge and skills required to operate our country’s electric grid with high penetrations of solar electricity and other distributed technologies. The program established training consortia consisting of multiple university, utility, national laboratory, and industry partners that work toward integrating power systems analysis and R&D into curriculum, short course development, and continuing education at the undergraduate and graduate level. Learn more.
STATE-OF-THE-ART AMAZING SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY POWERS SPACECRAFT TOO!
The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), is a project of international cooperation between
the European Space Agency (ESA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to study the Sun, from its deep core to the outer corona, and the solar wind.
SOHO is operated from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) near Washington. There an
integrated team of scientists and engineers from NASA, partner industries, research laboratories
and universities works under the overall responsibility of ESA. Ground control is provided via
NASA’s Deep Space Network antennae, located at Goldstone (California), Canberra (Australia), and
Madrid (Spain).
Solar Technology in Space
SOHO was launched by NASA on an Atlas II-AS rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air
Station (Florida, United States) on 2 December 1995.SOHO moves around the Sun in step with the Earth.
SOHO weighed 4079 pounds (1850 kilograms) at launch.
SOHO is a three-axis stabilized spacecraft that constantly faces the Sun. Its design is based on a
modular concept with two main elements: the payload module, housing the 12 instrument
packages, and the service module, providing essentials such as thrusters, power and
communications.
