Researching Solar Energy
The sun has tremendous
energy. It controls the weather and maintains
all living creatures on this planet. The energy
from the sun together with the wind, water,
and biomass provide us with renewable sources
of power. The solar energy emitted by the
sun is equivalent to 970 trillion kilowatts
of power--a major source of renewable energy
that is now being harnessed for different
purposes.
Solar energy is sometimes being used in conjunction
with solar power to define the change of sunlight
to electricity using photovoltaic cells (or
more commonly known as solar cells). Solar
energy can also be harnessed by heating up
a transfer fluid to generatsteam to operate
a sterling engine or generator. Because this
is a renewable resource, they are endlessly
replenished and will never run out. Solar
energy by photovoltaic cells, however, accounts
for only 0.04% of the total energy produced
around the world while solar energy heat accounts
for only 0.05%.
Solar Energy for Food and Shelter
The advances in technology have put solar
energy research back in the limelight. There
are now several applications of solar energy
for use in different sectors—from residential
use to transportation. Solar energy not only
involves electricity production but also heat
production for specialty crops via greenhouses
where entire plants and vegetables are grown
under a glass or special resin house.
Solar energy can also be used to heat homes,
buildings, water and can even be used for
cooking. Many architects today exploit solar
energy to provide natural interior light and
temperature control in their building designs.
There are also heating systems that use solar
energy to heat water and households. Solar
cookers use parabolic dishes to concentrate
sunlight on a cooking container thereby causing
heats of up to 315 degrees Celsius!
Solar Energy for Electricity and Power
Solar energy can also be used to generate
electricity. The most common method is to
use a photovoltaic (PV) cell to absorb, store
and use the sun’s energy to power electrical
items. The PV became so popular during the
space race of the 1960s where it was used
by both Russia and the US to power several
satellite modules. In the 1970s, PV research
and development gained further ground because
of the rise of fuel and oil prices albeit
short-lived because prices of oil again dropped
in the 1980s.
Greenhouse Effect, Energy Demand and Solar
Energy
Today, the demand for energy has increased
tremendously and environmentalists are alarmed
that if we continue to use fossil fuel, the
greenhouse effect will ultimately destroy
the planet. The search for an alternative
and renewable source of energy has put solar
energy technology back on the R&D board.
Experiments on solar updraft towers, thermoelectric
devices, and photoelectromechanical cells
(PECs) and continue to be developed and many
are already being used to heat homes and even
power vehicles.
While solar energy using PVs still require
vast amount of areas to fully generate a usable
amount of energy, there is hope that with
the advancements in nanotechnology, it won’t
be long when PVs will be smaller, less costly,
more efficient
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