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. Solar technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy either through photovoltaic (PV) panels or through mirrors that concentrate solar radiation. This energy can be used to generate electricity or be stored in batteries or thermal storage.
Below, you can find resources and information on the basics of solar radiation, photovoltaic and concentrating solar-thermal power technologies, electrical grid systems integration, and the non-hardware aspects (soft costs) of solar energy. You can also learn more about how to go solar and the solar energy industry. 
There are two main types of solar energy technologies—photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP).

1. Photovoltaics Basics
   
   You're likely most familiar with PV, which is utilized in solar panels. When the sun shines onto a solar panel, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the PV cells in the panel. This energy creates electrical charGET that move in response to an internal electric field in the cell, causing electricity to flow.

   Solar Photovoltaic Technology Basics	PV Cells 101: A Primer on the Solar Photovoltaic Cell
   Solar Photovoltaic System Design Basics.	Solar Performance and Efficiency

2. Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Basics:
   
   Concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) systems use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect solar energy and convert it to heat, which can then be used to produce electricity or stored for later use. It is used primarily in very large power plants.

   Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power basics	Power Tower System Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Basics
   Thermal Storage System Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Basics	Linear Concentrator System Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Basics

Systems Integration Basics

Solar energy technology doesn’t end with electricity generation by PV or CSP systems. These solar energy systems must be integrated into homes, businesses, and existing electrical grids with varying mixtures of traditional and other renewable energy sources.

Solar Systems Integration Basics.	Solar Integration: Inverters and Grid Service Basic
Solar Integration: Distributed Energy Resources and Microgrids.	Solar Integration: Solar Energy and about Storage Basic