Solar energy in the Volunteer State!

Solar technology uses the sun’s energy to provide heat, light, hot water, electricity, and even cooling—for homes, businesses, and industry. Solar energy is a very powerful source of energy because more energy from the sun falls on the earth in one hour than is used by everyone in the world in one year.

Unknown to most people, solar industry was established in the Volunteer state well before solar energy deployment become locally popular. Sharp Corporation is one of the largest solar manufacturing companies in the world, and in 2003, opened a solar panel manufacturing facility in Memphis, TN. Another pioneer in Tennessee’s solar industry is AGC Flat Glass, a leader in providing innovative glass products for specialty applications, including solar products used in photovoltaics, greenhouse glazing, and both active and passive solar applications.

In addition, local solar businesses are also growing. For instance, at the beginning of the Knoxville Solar America Cities program, there has been only one certified solar installer in the entire state for many years, but now there are at least three in Knoxville alone.

The Tennessee Solar Institute has announced the recipients of $7.25 million in Innovation Grant awards. Grants were awarded to 21 Tennessee companies to complete 37 projects throughout eight of the nine U.S. Congressional Districts in Tennessee.