The highest efficiency PV cells produced were by Boeing and SpectroLab in 2009, with efficiencies of around 35% to 41%. There are also other multi-layer cells that closely resembled the device. These were very expensive too, and were only used in the most unique applications. Thin film PV cells were also created and made in bulk. Denmark and Holland, and most of the northern European country, claims that they have more solar panels than the United Kingdom, indicating that you don t necessarily have to have a hot climate in order to enjoy the benefits of solar energy. How Much Area Does Solar Power Plants Need? Most, if not all, solar power plants require a certain stretch of land area in order to house all the solar panels that these power plants need to have in order to properly harness and collect sunlight and solar energy. Solar Energy Fire Hazards Since most solar collectors basically concentrate the sunlight that they are able to collect from the sun, it can be a fire hazard, especially since fire can very easily start if there were very high concentrations and levels of solar energy. These high and dangerous levels of solar concentrations could easily ignite combustible materials, making it a possible hire hazard on any home. You should consider your budget by determining the area that needs to be covered with solar panels. Budget is vital so that you do not go overboard and overspend on things that you do not truly need. You should also consider the gadgets and devices that will be powered via solar means. Longevity A well-maintained solar energy system will last for 30 years if you keep it properly. The average home has adequate roof area to let solar panels gather enough sun to be converted into DC current or AC current. Solar panel arrays can be sized to meet big requirements. The AC current can power loads in the house and other commercial buildings. It is important to consider the part of the house, as well as the right angle of the sun so that the solar panels can gather the most light over more hours of the day for optimum results. There are plenty of ways to collect solar energy such as through parabolic troughs, solar panels, solar dishes and solar power towers that have reflecting mirrors. A number of solar collectors are categorized as either concentrating or non-concentrating. Concentrating and Non-Concentrating The concentrating gatherers use panels that are angled the right way to absorb the prime point of the direct rays of the sun.