Solar Dehydrators

This is one of the oldest forms of solar use, as humans have been drying fruits like grapes into raisins, fish, and meats since before history began. Now we have advances to protect our food from bird droppings, insects. We can add fans to reduce the chance of mold forming, and glass panels to prevent rain from spoiling a batch. Black paint can help increase the internal temperature of a more enclosed system, though some people dry with nothing but a mesh panel and rope or rocks to help keep the food off the ground. 

This is one of the easiest, low-tech ways to make use of the sun, but you can get more complicated and technical depending on your skill and confidence levels.

Who can Benefit From Solar?

Electric Vehicles or EVs 

According to the Farmers Electric Cooperative, based on information from the U.S. Department of Energy the following are a variety of reasons why making the switch to EVs can be beneficial:

"Electric Vehicles (EV) Cost Less To Operate Than Gas Powered Cars.
EV operation can be three to five times cheaper than gasoline and diesel powered cars, depending on your local gasoline and electric rates.

EVs Are Environmentally Friendly.
EVs have no tailpipe emissions. The power plant producing your electricity may produce emissions, but electricity from hydro, solar, nuclear or wind-powered plants is generally emission-free.

Never Go To The Gas Station Again.
Electric vehicles do not require gasoline and can be charged at home with a standard 120V outlet or a 240V level 2 charger can be installed for faster, more efficient charging.

EV Performance Benefits.
Electric motors provide quiet, smooth operation, stronger acceleration and require less maintenance than gasoline-powered internal combustion engines.

EV Driving Range & Recharge Time.
EV range is typically around 80 to over 330 miles on a full charge. The average American’s daily round-trip commute is less than 30 miles. Fully recharging the battery pack can take four to eight hours. A "fast charge" to 80% capacity can take 30 min."

Solar Water Pumps

In places like Africa a female farmer may find that a solar pump reduces not only labor but boost crop production and income about 30%.

Schools

Resources

• Clean Energy Authority: Solar Energy Resources covers many topics from how many panels you need to power your home, and info about roof tile and flexible PV, as well as topics on specific technologies such as inverters, batteries, and hybrid PV/thermal systems.

Organizations

North America

USA

• The Avian Solar Work Group (ASWG) "is a collaborative group of environmental organizations, academics, solar companies, and solar industry representatives that will advance coordinated scientific research to better understand how birds interact with solar facilities."

• The Clean Energy States Alliance "is a national, nonprofit coalition of public agencies and organizations working together to advance clean energy.
  
  CESA works with state leaders, federal agencies, industry representatives, and other stakeholders to develop clean energy programs and inclusive renewable energy markets. CESA members—mostly state agencies—include many of the most innovative, successful, and influential public funders of clean energy initiatives in the country."

Grants & Rebates

North America

USA

• The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program "provides $5 billion in grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. Authorized under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act, this two-phase program provides $250 million for noncompetitive planning grants, and approximately $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants."

• Self-Help Credit Union "Our mission is creating and protecting ownership and economic opportunity for all, especially people of color, women, rural residents and low-wealth families and communities.
  
  Self-Help Credit Union has branches in NC, SC, FL and VA, and we offer remote services like online and mobile banking to make joining us easy no matter where you live." "We're poised to use a major funding award from the EPA to help create a clean energy future for all."

• Solar for All "will award up to 60 grants to states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and nonprofits to expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities primed for residential solar investment—enabling millions of low-income households to access affordable, resilient, and clean solar energy."

• Sunwealth® "is a clean energy investment firm on a mission.
  
  We invest in a better energy future by financing and managing solar projects that benefit diverse communities through clean power, carbon reduction, cost savings and job creation. We partner with skilled local solar installers, community organizations and local businesses, and investors to change who benefits from renewable energy by changing the way we invest in it."

Oceana

Australia

• Australian Government: Rebates & Assistance "To find what’s available, fill in the search boxes with some information about yourself and where you are in Australia.
  You can add more information about the topic you’re interested in (like solar PV or energy efficiency) and what type of help (like support, grants, rebates or apps)."

• Australian Government: Solar & Heat Pump Hot Water System Rebate

• City of Adelaide: Sustainability Incentives Scheme