What is Solar Energy

What is Solar Energy? For billions of years the sun has been producing vast amounts of power through nuclear fusion. This is the process by which four hydrogen atoms combine to produce one helium atom. This is the mechanism that the sun uses to generate its energy. The amount of energy from the sun that reaches the Earth is vast. All the energy that can be produced by the non-renewable reserves of the world like petroleum, coal, and natural gas is equaled by just twenty days of sunshine. What is Solar Energy / The Power of the Sun If measured outside of our atmosphere the energy that reaches Earth has about 1,300 watts per square meter. This energy is in radiant form and about a third of it is reflected back into space. A certain amount is absorbed by the atmosphere which is the primary cause of weather. Ultimately the energy that reaches the surface of the Earth averages out to about 1,000 watts per square meter on a cloudless day. Of course some arid and desert areas receive more. This means that on a 24-hour day the energy that reaches earth is equivalent to one barrel of oil every year per square meter. These numbers stand for the maximum energy that reaches the Earth from the sun but current technology allows only a small amount of this energy to be collected and converted to other forms of energy which can be more readily used.

What is Solar Energy / Have we used any kind of Solar Energy before? Solar power has been harnessed by humans since ancient times. The technology that has been used to harness solar energy has been evolving since then. Since the use of the oculus at the Parthenon in Rome daylighting techniques have been used by ancient architects. Natural light has been dominant method in the history of lighting. During the industrial revolution the use of coal had increased steadily and has shifted from wood and other kinds of biomass to fossil fuels. In the 1860s there was the expectation that coal would soon be exhausted as a power source so there was research conducted into solar power. However during the early part of the 20th century the development and research of solar power slowed and stopped because of the increasing availability and cost effectiveness of coal and petroleum at the time.

In 1973 during the oil embargo and the 1979 energy crisis there was a review and reorganization of energy policies around the world and especially in the industrialized countries. This brought new life to solar power research and development of solar power technologies. What is Solar Energy / The Future The technologies used in harnessing solar power are on the verge of rapid growth and development in the 21st century. Architects and engineers are increasingly aware of the advantages of building in passive solar power into their designs. The cost of solar water heaters is becoming increasingly competitive with more conventional water heaters in certain areas. Photovoltaic technology is slowly becoming a cheap way of generating electricity. What is Solar Energy / Ending Our Addiction to Fossil Fuel Of course the expansion of solar power industry will encounter some problems but these can be overcome. In spite of difficulties put up by some utilities for grid connected photovoltaic systems there will be increased use of these technologies and solar power will be increasingly crucial in ending our addiction to fossil fuels and fighting the threat of global warming and assuring a future based on renewable and clean energy.

Solar Energy History

Solar Energy History Even though solar energy is thought to be the next best thing to sliced bread we will discuss theadvantages of solar energy and the disadvantages of solar energy. These pages will also provide you with how governments use this energy and how consumers can earn grants and tax credits by implementing solar energy in their homes. Solar Energy History / It's Not What You Think The popular image that solar energy was conceived and born during the 1970s when people waited angrily in gas lines during the energy crisis of the time. This period made people more receptive to ideas about alternative sources of energy and even initiated steps to end the over reliance on coal and other fossil fuels. This idea is actually a misconception and misses the mark by some 100 years. It was actually at the very height of the industrial revolution during the 1870s that devices for harnessing sunlight as a source of energy started to be conceived and developed. A few scientists and engineers of the time went contrary to the prevailing opinion that fossil fuels were inexhaustible and brought up their concerns of what the world was going to do after supplies of fossil fuels where exhausted. These visionaries did not just talk and produce rhetoric but did in fact explore all the availablerenewable energy alternatives that we are familiar with today. Most of them ended up with the conclusion that solar power had the most potential and that this outweighed technical barriers existing

at the time. Solar Energy History / The Public's Wavering Support Today history is repeating itself our present day engineers have come to the same conclusions that solar power is eminently practical and even environmentally friendly. This technology has proven itself over and over again from a practical standpoint. However, it seems that public support for the development and implementation is again dwindling and might once again be superseded by conventional technologies. Solar Energy History / A Look at the Early Visionaries The earliest recorded instance of conversion of sunlight to mechanical energy was attributed to Auguste Mouchout. In the 1860s he developed a device for generating steam from sunlight that was used to power a turbine to produce electrical energy. He is responsible for the basic knowledge we have of solar energy. Willoughby Smith was a Briton who in 1873 experimented with selenium solar cells after he discovered that selenium was sensitive to light while he was testing materials for used in underwater cables. The Tower of Power was designed by William Adams and was presented in a book called Substitute for Fuel in Tropical Countries. His design used flat mirrors instead of the parabolic reflector used by Mouchout and powered a steam engine that produced 2.5 horsepower as compared to Mouchouts 0.5 horsepower. The tower of power design is still in use today. The first person recorded to directly convert sunlight to electricity was Charles Fritz. His solar cell had an efficiency rate of only 1-2% but is a big milestone in the history of solar energy. Solar Energy History / The First Solar Energy Company In 1892 the Solar Motor Co. was formed by Aubrey Eneas of Boston. This was the first solar power company. It was in the 1950s that this technology finally bore fruit and was developed enough for production of the first efficient solar cells. Henry Willsie was the first person to successfully use power during the night that was generated during the day. He was the first to recognize and design a device for storing power generated by sunlight. That all these companies did not succeed is not due to technological failures or bad business decisions but rather to the failure of government and its regulatory bodies to recognize the benefits of solar thermal generating plants to the economy and the environment.

How does Solar Energy Work / What do we mean by Solar Energy? When we mention solar energy we usually refer to those technologies used in harnessing the energy of the sun for practical purposes.

The energy that reaches the Earth from the sun is enormous. The total reserves of energy that is stored in all of Earths reserves of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas are matched by only 20 days of sunshine. -Photo to the left is by Bangun Rumah Persada.Solar energy technologies are classified into two broad categories depending on the way that they capture and convert sunlight into usable energy. The first category is a passive solar collection technique. Passive solar technology has the advantage of reducing the need for alternative resources. How does Solar Energy Work / Passive Solar Energy When passive solar technology features are incorporated into the architecture of a building and are adjusted to fit the particular climate these methods can produce well lighted spaces that stay at comfortable temperatures reducing the need for power consuming artificial lighting and heating and cooling mechanisms. How does Solar Energy Work / Active Solar Energy Active solar energy is more technology oriented. These methods use photovoltaic cells that directly convert sunlight to electricity, which can then be used easily for almost any purpose. Another technique used in active solar energy is solar thermal energy collection and concentration, which is the generation of heat energy by concentrating sunlight. Heat is also more readily usable because it can be used to generate steam or convection currents in air to turn turbines that generate electricity. The biggest technological hurdle is harnessing this radiant energy to turn it into more readily usable forms of energy like heat or electrical energy. At the current level of our technology the highest efficiency that is attainable is probably only 15 to 20 percent. This small percentage constitutes adisadvantage to solar energy. How does Solar Energy Work / The Nuts and Bolts Generally the phrase Solar Energy refers to the conversion of solar radiation to other forms of practical energy like electricity or heat. However, the form of energy that is most usable to us is

electricity. The generation of electricity from sunlight is further divided into to two sub categories. These methods are the direct and indirect methods. Photovoltaic systems or solar cells are used to turn sunlight directly to electricity. Sunlight is made up of photons or particles of light energy. These photons have varying amounts of energy depending upon their wavelengths. When a photon reaches the surface of a solar cell one of three things can happen. The photon may be reflected or it may pass through or it may be absorbed by the solar cell. The absorbed photon is the only one that can generate electricity. If enough photons are absorbed by the semiconductor material that the solar cell is made out of, the energy of the photons dislodge an electron from the material. The material receives special treatment so that its surface is more favorable to free electrons. This treatment makes the electrons flow freely to the surface of the material. How does Solar Energy Work / Opposites Attract When enough electrons travel to the surface of the material with each electron carrying a negative charge there will be an imbalance that will exist between the front surface and the back surface of the material. This imbalance becomes the voltage potential similar to the voltage potential between the positive and negative terminals of a battery. Connecting the two surfaces through a load will cause the electrons to flow creating a current. This is now electricity generated by solar radiation. The indirect method uses solar power plants to generate electricity by using solar collectors to concentrate solar radiation and heat a liquid that produces steam. The steam that is produced is used to turn a turbine. This turbine is attached to a generator that finally produces electricity.

Types of Solar Energy

Types of Solar Energy Even though solar energy is thought to be the next best thing to sliced bread we will discuss theadvantages of solar energy and the disadvantages of solar energy. These pages will also provide you with how governments use this energy and how consumers can earn grants and tax credits by implementing solar energy in their homes. Passive and Active Solar Energy Generally, there are two types of solar energy utilization techniques: passive and active. Passive techniques involve making use of building materials with favorable thermal properties as well as designing spaces while considering the position of the sun. On the other hand, active techniques involve the use of solar panels, kits, batteries, and other equipment that convert sunlight into functional outputs. Solar energy can also be categorized according to the type of energy it is converted into. Through this, solar energy can be categorized into three types: solar thermal energy, photovoltaic solar power, and concentrating solar power. Types of Solar Energy / Solar Thermal Energy Generating solar thermal energy involves converting energy from the sun into heat. It is through this type of solar energy that we enjoy such equipment as solar heaters for indoor space, tap water, and pools. This type of solar energy is also used for drying clothes and food as well as for cooking, ventilation, and sanitation. There are currently three types of collectors that help produce solar thermal energy. These include low, medium, and high temperature collectors. Low temperature collectors are those that make use of flat plates which are often used to heat pools. Medium temperature collectors also make use of flat plates but are most commonly used to heat water for use in homes and buildings. On the other hand, high temperature collectors make use of lenses and mirrors. These are often used by solar thermal power plants to generate electric power. Types of Solar Energy / Photovoltaic Solar Power Making use of photovoltaic solar power involves converting energy from the sun directly into electricity. This is done through the use of photovoltaic cells. Through this type of solar energy, we can generate solar electricity and benefit from various technologies such as photovoltaic cooling systems and solar lighting systems. Utilizing photovoltaic solar power is a promising alternative to our conventional sources of energy because it is dependent on renewable resources and its generation processes do not involve harmful by-products such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide and contaminated water. For these reasons, many companies have been engaged in building solar power stations as well as developing technologies that efficiently produce photovoltaic solar power for private and commercial use. Types of Solar Energy / Concentrating Solar Power

Similar to photovoltaic solar power, concentrating solar power converts sunlight directly into electricity. The main difference between the two is the fact that concentrating solar power makes use of lenses as well as mirrors in order to create small beams from sunlight. These light beams are then concentrated onto photovoltaic panels or used as heat sources for thermal power plants. For this reason, this type of solar energy is used only for large-scale solar energy production. The different types of solar energy allow for a number of applications. It is through these different types that various technologies and equipment have already been developed for use not only in homes but also in businesses and industries.

Advantages of Solar Energy

Advantages of Solar Energy / Are there Advantages in Using Solar Energy? Solar energy is energy that is derived and sourced from the sun.

Other energy sources being used are indirectly derived from the sun. The most common energy sources being used today like gas, coal, and petroleum are ancient biological material that derived their energy from the sun. -Photo to the left is by Miki.The energy that wood and foodstuffs have is still ultimately derived from the sun. However, when we mention solar energy we usually are referring to the direct kind. This kind of solar energy by and large means the generation of heat or electricity by harnessing sunlight. Advantages of Solar Energy / Here Comes the Sun Sunlight can be used to directly generate electricity by the use of photovoltaic technology. The use of solar cells or photovoltaic arrays is getting more and more acceptable as an alternative and cost efficient means of generating power. Sunlight concentration is also another way of using solar energy. Heat is also more readily usable than the energy in sunshine. You can use it for heating a building or for cooking or even for generating electricity. Advantages of Solar Energy / Learn 6 Real-World Ways

There are plenty of excellent reasons that equate to advantages in using solar energy. Here are some advantages in using solar energy. 1. The abundance of Solar Energy. Even in the middle of winter each square meter of land still receives a fair amount of solar radiation. Sunlight is everywhere and the resource is practically inexhaustible. Even during cloudy days we still receive some sunlight and it is this that can be used as a renewable resource. 2. You dont pay for sunlight. Sunlight is totally free. There is of course the initial investment for the equipment. After the initial capital outlay you wont be receiving a bill every month for the rest of your life from the electric utility. 3. Solar energy is getting more cost effective. The technology for solar energy is evolving at an increasing rate. At present photovoltaic technology is still relatively expensive but the technology is improving and production is increasing. The result of this is to drive costs down. Payback times for the equipment are getting shorter and in some areas where the cost of electricity is high payback may be as short as five years. 4. Solar energy is non-polluting. Solar energy is an excellent alternative for fossil fuels like coal and petroleum because solar energy is practically emission free while generating electricity. With solar energy the danger of further damage to the environment is minimized. The generation of electricity through solar power produces no noise. So noise pollution is also reduced. 5. Accessibility of solar power in remote locations. Solar power can generate electricity no matter how remote the area as long as the sun shines there. Even in areas that are inaccessible to power cables solar power can produce electricity. 6. Solar energy systems are virtually maintenance free. Once a photovoltaic array is setup it can last for decades. Once they are installed and setup there are practically zero recurring costs. If needs increase solar panels can be added with ease and with no major revamp.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

Disadvantages of Solar Energy / Is Solar Energy the Perfect Energy Solution for the Future? Mankinds use of solar energy to generate electricity is arguably one of the greatest achievements of our civilization and will probably be ready for a much bigger role to play in mans future.

Advances in our technology that make it possible to harness sunshine to generate heat and electricity for a wide array of uses is mind boggling.

-The cloudy scene to the left is representative of a day that solar energy would not be effective.All over the Earth except for Antarctica and the Arctic there is usable sunshine for almost the entire year. Sunlight is a universal source of energy that is free and available to everyone. Solar Energy is also renewable and non-polluting. So why isnt everybody using solar energy right now? Disadvantages of Solar Energy / Getting a Handle On Our Dependencies All our lives are so dependent on electricity at the present state of our technology. If we need to feel warmer we buy a heater. If we need to feel cooler we buy electric fans or air conditioners. We dont think twice we just plug in our appliances and they work flawlessly most of the time. How different would things be if we had to rely on solar energy? When all variables are factored into the equation there is no perfect solution for an energy source. Issues and consequences regarding reliability, cost of production, initial capital outlay, payback times, and pollution all have to be taken into consideration. Disadvantages of Solar Energy / Is Solar Power Inexhaustible? Theoretically, solar energy is an energy source with the most potential. The source of the power is virtually inexhaustible (the sun). Solar energy produces no pollution, no carbon footprint, no odorous emissions, and no annoying noise. There are however several things which is stopping solar energy from being used more extensively.

What are the Disadvantages of Solar Energy? What follows is a list that is not in any particular order of importance. High initial capital outlay. The initial cost of installing a solar energy system can be prohibitively high for some budgets. The cost of buying and installing solar panel arrays is a bit steep. Payback times may reach from ten to fifteen years before you can even break even with your initial investment. Dubious reliability. It is obviously impossible to power your home with a solar array at night if you dont have a system in which to store power. This means batteries at our present level of technology. So you will probably still need to draw electricity from the local utility grid. Availability of sunlight. The position of your solar array is obviously of major importance in the generation of electricity. This means that some houses will not be ideally suited for conversion or for installing a solar energy system. Polluting materials used in solar panels. The majority of photovoltaic panels are made from silicon and other metals that are potentially toxic like mercury, lead, and cadmium. This is the dirty secret of this clean technology. The efficiency question. The current efficiency rate of most solar panels is just a mere forty percent. This means that sixty percent of the suns energy is wasted. There are some state of the art solar

panels that can reach a maximum efficiency of eighty percent. There are continuing technological advances that increase efficiency and lower costs.

Solar Energy Examples

Solar Energy Examples Even though solar energy is thought to be the next best thing to sliced bread we will discuss theadvantages of solar energy and the disadvantages of solar energy. These pages will also provide you with how governments use this energy and how consumers can earn grants and tax credits by implementing solar energy in their homes. Solar energy has many different applications, some of which are listed below: Solar Energy Examples / Generating Electricity Solar energy utilization does not just involve generating electricity to power conventional appliances. The same technology has allowed for the development of solar-powered products such as chargers, calculators, radios, shavers, and refrigerators. Solar Energy Examples / Architecture & Urban Planning Solar energy applications for architecture and urban planning are related mostly to lighting. Today, there are solar lights that collect energy throughout the day and then light up when the sun starts to set. There are also solar-powered switchable windows that serve as good alternatives to curtains and blinds. Solar flashlights and lanterns have also been developed to minimize the reliance on batteries and electric chargers when used outdoors. Other products useful in this field are light tubes, skylights, and light shelves. These are often part of entire daylighting systems or hybrid solar lighting (HSL) systems that collect sunlight and distribute it indoors. Through these systems, indoor lighting energy requirements can be reduced by up to 25%. Agriculture & Horticulture Among the most significant applications in agriculture and horticulture are greenhouses that utilize solar energy to mimic the natural environment of crop and other plants allowing for continuous production in any area. Other solar energy applications in this field are solar-powered water pumps and fountains. These are especially useful in farms and large gardens where irrigation is required in areas far from electrical outlets. Solar Energy Examples / Heating & Heat Processes

Apart from indoor space heaters, there are a number of solar hot water systems to choose from. For homes and buildings, there are glazed flat plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors. For swimming pools, there are unglazed plastic collectors. Developments in solar thermal energy also have also led to the invention of solar cookers. The simplest form of solar cookers is known as the hot box which are insulated containers that can generate heat of up to 150C. There are also cookers that use reflective panels as well as those that use mirrors and lenses to focus sunlight into containers. These types are capable of reaching temperatures of over 315C. Cooling & Ventilation Cooling and ventilation can account for 30-50% of energy consumption in homes and commercial buildings. Products for this purpose include solar-powered fans, air conditioners, and solar chimneys. Solar Energy Examples / Distillation of Water Solar water distillers have allowed people to generate potable water out of brackish or saline supply. There are also solar water disinfection systems that have been particularly helpful in developing countries. Solar water purification units are also in use in several households. Solar Energy Examples / Solar Vehicles Advancements in solar technology and engineering have led to the invention of solar vehicles like solar balloons, boats, sails and planes. Engineers have also developed several prototypes of solar-powered cars. All these solar vehicles have tremendous commercial potential. Solar energy has many other applications and continuous developments are being made to make solar-powered products more accessible and practical for common use.

Solar Energy Panels

Solar Energy Panels Even though solar energy is thought to be the next best thing to sliced bread we will discuss theadvantages of solar energy and the disadvantages of solar energy. These pages will also provide you with how governments use this energy and how consumers can earn grants and tax credits by implementing solar energy in their homes. Solar Energy Panels / What is a Solar Panel? Solar panels are devices that convert light to electricity. These devices are most often referred to as solar panels since sunlight is usually the source of light used to power these devices. Solar panels are arrays composed of multiple solar cells. The amount of energy that individual solar

cells trap and generate may be miniscule but when used to make up the arrays called solar panels their combined energy can be immense. Using solar panels to power the average home is eminently viable with the current state of the technology. Powering remote appliances or even a whole household no longer presents insurmountable obstacles. The cost of these alternative energy sources has also been on the decrease because of technological breakthroughs and improved methods of manufacturing. Although powering heavy industry with solar power is not feasible at the present who knows where solar energy will take us in the future. Solar Energy Panels / What are the Different Types? The two main forms of solar cells that are in use today are solar electricity panels and solar hot water panels. These are two entirely different technologies. Solar water heaters use the heat that is contained in sunlight mainly in the infrared band to heat water. This technology saves the energy that is usually generated by burning fossil fuels and instead uses the sunlight which is free and available in vast amounts. Some solar hot water heaters are used to generate electricity. The tower of power concept uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight and heat a volume of water to turn it into steam which in turn is used to power a turbine that generates electricity. However, the most common application of solar hot water heater is to just supply heated water for home use. The other technology uses light sensitive materials to directly turn any source of light to electricity although the most common and widely available source is sunlight. These cells work because some semiconductor materials can absorb the photons that sunlight is made up of and give off an electron. If enough sunlight falls on enough of these cells then the amount of electrons can add up to a quite respectable amount. Solar Energy Panels / Crystalline vs Silicon Electricity generating solar cells are further divided into two kinds: crystalline solar panels and silicon solar energy panels. These two kinds are different in the way they are manufactured but otherwise generate electricity when sunlight falls directly on them. Crystalline panels are made by slicing crystalline silicon into extremely small circles and treating them with dopants. A dopant is an impurity element added to a crystal lattice in low concentrations in order to alter the optical/electrical properties of the crystal. This type of treatment is the sunlight sensitive component. They are then arranged in a grid-like order and tightly packed. They are then topped with a thin layer of glass. Silicon panels are arranged in layers instead of next to each other. Silicon solar panels tend to be more efficient and less expensive to make.