Solar power

 

Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity. Sunlight can be converted directly into electricity using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly with concentrated solar power (CSP). CSP installations typically focuses the sun energy to boil water which is then used to provide power. These installations  can utilize other technologies, such as the Sterling engine dishes, which use a sterling cycle engine to power a generator. Photovoltaics were initially used to power small and medium-sized applications, from the calculator powered by a single solar cell to off-grid homes powered by a photovoltaic array.

The significant problem with solar power is installation cost, although cost has been decreasing due to the learning curve. The learning means as individuals and/or organizations get more experienced at installation, they become more efficient at it with high probability. Following a progression of the learning first getting easier and then harder as one approaches a limit. A “steep” learning curve, in colloquial usage, usually means experiencing a large and increasing amount of effort for a constant amount of learning, i.e. approaching a natural limit. Much the reverse is the meaning of a steep slope in a learning progress curve.