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A group of photovoltaic panels at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area at Lake Powell, UT.

TYPES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLAR

Solar energy is energy that is produced by harvesting the heat and energy of the sun. It’s a popular source of renewable energy in the United States and in many other countries. Solar energy is popular because it is a constant, dependable source of energy. But it does have a few drawbacks. Solar energy is, of course, not available 24 hours a day (although it can be stored in batteries for use when no light is available). The amount of sunlight varies based on location, time of day and year, and weather conditions. Additionally, the amount of sun that reaches an area of the earth’s surface is small. As a result, large surface areas are needed to collect the energy of the sun and make it useful.

16 COOL CAREERS IN SCIENCE: RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKERS