How Solar Energy Works
The sun generates a lot of energy.
Light from the sun travels 93 million miles through space.
Light from the sun helps plants grow, generates heat and controls weather on earth. It’s what makes life possible!
Electricity from Solar Energy
We can capture energy from the sun to make electricity! The sun shines down on solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.
When the light hits the panels, it starts a chemical reaction. That reaction makes electricity!
How Solar Energy is Used
Benefits
- Solar energy is a renewable energy source! It doesn’t produce carbon dioxide or release pollution into the air.
- Solar panels on buildings or developed land can have little impact on the environment.
Limits
- The sun doesn’t always shine. That can reduce how much energy is available at night or on cloudy days.
- Solar farms also take a lot of space.
TVA uses solar energy along with a lot of other types of energy generation. That helps TVA make sure electricity is available even when the sun isn’t shining.
TVA has looked at how to use solar in places that aren’t good for other uses. TVA is building a solar field in Kentucky on land that was used to store coal ash. This land isn’t good for building or farming. It's also easy to connect the solar field to the transmission system. Read more about the Project Phoenix solar project.
Other Renewable Energy
Lots of businesses and people want to support renewable energy in the region.
TVA has special programs to help people meet their electricity needs and reduce how much carbon they use. They can pay a little bit more each month to buy energy generated from renewable sources like solar, wind or geothermal power.
TVA EnergyRight has programs that let people buy renewable energy. TVA works with renewable energy providers in the region to buy this clean energy.
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