WHAT IS SOLAR ENERGY?
Solar energy is energy from the sun that’s converted into thermal or electrical energy. It’s also considered by many as the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source. Thanks to modern technology, we’re now able to harness this energy through the use of solar cells.
Solar cells are also known as photovoltaic cells; photovoltaic is a combination of the words photons, the particles that make up sunlight, and volts, a measurement of electricity. Solar cells work by converting the energy of photons from sunlight into electricity.
Basically, when sunlight hits the top of the cell, electrons become attracted to the surface of solar cells. This then creates a voltage between the top and the bottom layers of the cell, creating an electric circuit that allows an electric current to flow, which in turn powers electrical equipment.
It takes a lot of solar cells to power a building or a home. In this case, a number of solar cells are connected into a large array of cells (known as solar panels) that can produce more total energy for various residential, commercial and industrial uses, such as lighting, heating and electricity generation.
HOW SOLAR ENERGY WORKS
BATTERY STORAGE
Solar panels can only collect sunlight and make energy out of it when the sun is shining. So, having the ability to store solar energy for later use is important because it helps keep the balance between electricity generation and demand. One of the developing ways to store this energy is through Lithium-ion batteries, the same ones that power your favorite devices.
As part of our commitment to providing safe, clean, and reliable energy, we’re planning to add battery storage technology into our energy generation mix by 2023. By doing this, we aim to ensure our electric grid stays reliable and can deploy enough energy during peak times at an affordable cost.
Solar Energy Projects
15
Generating Over 30k kWh Per Year
30
Powering Over 40k Homes
40
SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES
El Paso Electric already has a variety of solar energy facilities in operation. Spread throughout our region, their combined energy output is generally over 30,000 kWh (kilowatt hour) per year, helping power over 40,000 homes during peak summer times. Among them are Stanton Tower Solar Facility, Van Horn Solar Power Facility, El Chaparral Solar Farm, and many more.
If you’d like to learn more about the ways we’re utilizing the power of sunlight, click below.