Solar power is energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. Solar energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available.The U.S. has some of the richest solar resources in the world. Modern technology can harness this energy for a variety of uses, including generating electricity, providing light or a comfortable interior environment, and heating water for domestic, commercial, or industrial use.

Also referred to as green energy, renewable energy is generated from natural and renewable energy sources that can be replenished — as opposed to being generated by finite resources such as oil or coal. Examples of renewable energy include solar energy, wind energy, water power (hydroelectricity) and biomass. We call these green energy sources types of “renewable energy” because, unlike fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, green energy sources will not run out. Environmental Benefits Renewable energy technologies are clean sources of energy that have a much lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies

The federal solar tax credit, also known as the investment tax credit (ITC), allows you to deduct 30 percent of the cost of installing a solar energy system from your federal taxes. The ITC applies to both residential and commercial systems, and there is no cap on its value. Thanks to the ITC, the average EnergySage Solar Marketplace shopper saves over $5,000 on the cost of going solar in 2019.

Direct Solar Energy source consists of solar rays reaching the atmosphere. They can then be collected by different technologies. Solar Photovoltaics (also known as PV), is based on the effect by which a photon (particles of sunlight), knocks electrons free from atoms, thus generating a flow of electricity. Solar panels are comprised of many smaller units called photovoltaic cells. Many cells linked together make up a solar panel. Inverters convert DC , or Direct Current, into AC , or Alternative Current, which is the power found in your wall outlets. Photovoltaic simply means converting sunlight into electricity. Solar PV panels can collect solar energy all throughout the year, whether it is Spring, Summer, Autumn or even Winter. However, the conversion of solar energy from solar panels is reduced when there is no direct sun exposure. Solar panels installed today will produce a sustainable amount of solar energy for about 30 to 40 years without the need of replacing them. The electricity generated by your PV is either used during the day or it is automatically exported back to your electricity provider (unless you have a storage facility).

As long as you own your solar energy system, you are eligible for the solar tax credit. Even if you don’t have enough tax liability to claim the entire credit in one year, you can “roll over” the remaining credits into future years for as long as the tax credit is in effect. However, remember that if you sign a lease or PPA with a solar installer, you are not the owner of the system, and thus you cannot receive the tax credit.