Almost all the energy we use comes ultimately from the sun. The photovoltaic (PV) effect harnessed by solar panels directly converts light into electricity. Not only is PV one of the fastest-growing areas of new electricity generation around the world, it is completely accessible - small solar panels are just like huge ones (just smaller).

In this session, I’ll cover some basics about solar energy, and then we’ll have a hands-on lab using ITP’s solar panels and our artificial sun simulator (a fancy name for a grow light). You’ll gain an appreciation for a form of energy that is all around us, and get an introduction to the circuits and other systems that let solar energy power projects and art.

This session is part of an Energy DIY series, including an Intro Concepts discussion and Kinetic workshop (attend any or all you like).