Solar energy technologies utilize the energy from sunlight to generate electricity or heat.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) technology uses solar cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity.

Solar cells are typically made of semiconductor materials, with silicon being the most commonly used.

Solar cell efficiency is a measure of how much of the incident sunlight is converted into electricity.

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver, which generates heat.

Solar thermal technology is commonly used for water heating applications, both for domestic and industrial purposes.

Solar thermal technology can be used to generate electricity through a process called solar thermal electricity generation, which utilizes the temperature difference between two fluids.

The primary advantage of solar energy technologies is that they utilize a renewable and sustainable source of energy, sunlight.

Sunlight intensity, or solar irradiance, is a key factor that affects the performance of solar energy technologies.

The intermittent nature of solar energy poses a challenge in storing excess energy generated during peak sunlight hours for use during periods of low sunlight.

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology is often used for large-scale electricity generation due to its ability to achieve higher temperatures and efficiencies.

Solar water heating systems typically consist of solar collectors, which absorb sunlight and transfer heat to a fluid.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) technology is often used for off-grid applications due to its ability to generate electricity directly from sunlight.

Solar energy technologies have the advantage of generating electricity or heat without emitting greenhouse gases, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions.

The National Solar Mission is a government initiative in India that aims to promote the adoption of solar energy technologies and increase the share of solar energy in the country's energy mix.