Solar Energy Basics

How a Solar Farm Works

The sun provides enough energy to the planet in one minute to meet our yearly energy demands. Solar technology allows us the harness this clean, renewable and unlimited supply of energy.

A Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panel converts the suns energy directly into electricity (DC). The DC electricity from the system is collected and converted in AC electricity and fed into Ontario’s electricity distribution system.

Advantages of Solar Energy

Solar Energy has many advantages over traditional forms of energy derived from fossil fuels. These include:

  1. Zero Emissions – A solar farm does not emit any harmful emissions into the environment
  2. Unlimited Resource – A solar panel is made from Silicon, which is the 2nd most abundant element in the earth’s crust
  3. Reduces our dependence on fossil fuels – Solar energy provides an alternative to traditional energy production from fossils fuels such as oil and gas
  4. Long Lifecycle – The useable life of a solar panel can be up to 50 years
  5. Recyclable – A solar panel contains no harmful chemicals and the materials used (glass, silicon, aluminum) in their construction can be recycled at the end of the panels life
  6. Efficiency – Solar farms can be located anywhere in Ontario close to the point of consumption, which improves the efficiency of our electricity grid
  7. Grid Stability – Solar farms production peaks mid-day which corresponds to peak energy usage, therefore reducing the infrastructure required to meet our peak energy usage
  8. Grid Parity – The cost of solar energy is continually declining and will eventually become cost competitive with other forms of energy