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Photovoltaics for Students

Photo of students preparing to race solar-powered model cars.

Students prepare to race their solar-powered cars, which they constructed, at NREL's Junior Solar Sprint.

The following resources will help students find out more information about solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. If you are unfamiliar with PV systems, see introduction to PV.

Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.

Grades 7-12

Re-Energy: Solar Electricity
Information about solar cells, including how to build a solar-powered car.

Energy Education
Information about solar energy from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for K-12 students.

NREL Educational Programs
Educational programs available to students from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

High School and College

PV Basics
Information about PV from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), including the physics of PV.

Solar Decathlon
A competition among college teams to design the most attractive, energy-efficient, and effective solar-powered house.

Adult Education

Adult Education and Vocational Training
Information for adults about solar education and vocational training from DOE.

Resources

American Solar Energy Society
Provides consumers with information about solar energy and resources.

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Energy
Provides information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.

Florida Solar Energy Center
The Florida Solar Energy Center provides basic information on photovoltaics for consumers.

Own Your Power! A Consumer Guide to Solar Electricity (PDF 3.4 MB)
DOE answers consumer questions about PV and financial incentives available.