Solar Energy is a natural, permanent, continuous, renewable source of energy. Being the inexpensive, easily available source, it has tremendous potential that can be used for the welfare of mankind. But every coin has two sides…

In today’s world, Global Warming is becoming a serious issue slowly but steadily. Thus the usual modern technologies are also a part of the blame for the ascent of global warming. So, we should utilize the natural resources we have at our expense. The first most natural source that comes in our mind if we just look up during the daytime…!!! Obviously, we are talking about solar energy. It uses solar emission emitted by our sun, which is the storehouse of all universal energy.

It’s a renewable energy source that has been used over centuries in many traditional technologies. Solar energy can be used in a number of technologies and day-to-day usages like Heat (hot water, cooking etc.), electricity, transportation, and other innumerable important photochemical processes, which are totally reliant on solar energy. The scope of solar energy is immense; it can even be used to good effect in homes.

But like all great things the nature has ever seen, there are two sides of the coin. Here, as well solar energy being as useful and beneficial to mankind has some cons to. Lets discuss it in "light" of the topic! ….

Pros of Solar Energy

Solar energy like other modern technologies do not cost as money. Almost all the new technologies Science threw up in the modern era are not quite cost friendly even they may be of great convenience to us. But any one irrespective of their financial strength or weakness can afford solar energy, having no monetary attachments.

Since, the energy coming to the earth is much more than that consumed by us, the solar electrical power generation has the highest power density among all the renewable energy sources.

The modern technological may be wonder to few but they are also very much involved in developing a large chunk of the pollution in our earth, which harms us in the long run. Solar energy is efficient here as well as it is pollution free and eco-friendly.

Solar energy does not need fuel, thus saving us money as well as the possibility of polluting the environment by burning fuel.

Solar energy is clean, sustainable and doesn’t let out carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide or other harmful gases which usually electric generation does. So, it doesn’t contribute to global warming, acid rain or smog.

Being eco-friendly, it also helps to decrease the harmful emission of the Green House gases.

There are no incurring costs, once the initial costing is taken care of, it is virtually maintenance free. And its easily expandable as well as most solar panels can be added required for a family or any machine.

Since solar energy can work entirely independently, it does not require any connections or anything, so it can be used effectively and easily anywhere. Systems can be set up anywhere, in remote locations as well. So, those locations can rely on solar energy even if the modern technologies don’t reach out to them. So, its very pragmatic & cost-effective for a new site.

Solar energy bolsters local jobs and wealth establishments. Thus it helps to fuel economies as well.

Cons of Solar Energy

The initial cost is very high. Means the installing costs can get costly, usually due to the high-cost semiconductor materials, which are used to build a solar energy system.

Solar electricity is presently costlier than the electricity given by other sources. Naturally as energy shortages are becoming common day-by-day, solar energy is thus becoming more price-competitive.

A Considerable amount of energy is lost when DC (direct current) has to be converted to AC (alternating current). The solar cells can only produce DC, thus the conversion by help of Grid-Tie Inverters incurs a loss of about 4-12%.

Solar electricity and heat are not available at night and also may not be accessible in case of bad weather conditions. So, a solar or complementary power station is required which maybe a problem for many locations.

Solar panels require a large area for installation in order to achieve a good level of efficiency. Besides the solar energy can also be influenced by the presence of water vapor, pollution etc. in the air, which may cause complexities.

So, all in all, solar energy is a very useful renewable source of energy, which may be the answer to the future for power, or energy needs, as global warming seems to pick up rapidly. So, we can all contribute to the environment by using solar energy thus erasing or trimming down various gas emissions, which can endanger earth, in turn, the millions of people in it. But there are a few disadvantages, which should be kept in mind as well. But one thing for sure, Solar energy is may be one of the oldest and one of the most effective energy sources which if used carefully, can help us emphatically.

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Solar Energy has been used as a source of energy from time immemorial. It is very interesting to know how this solar power works. Let us learn…

From time immemorial, the Sun has been a fascinating celestial object. It not only gives light but also has been a source of energy. Perhaps, for the benefits derived from it, it is being worshipped in many religions. Astronomically, it is our nearest star and without that star there is no life on the Earth. The most of common use of sunlight is its drying capacity. Washed laundry hung outside the house, gets dried up very easily. Another example for its use is fossil fuel which is the result of decayed plant by the sunlight million and million of years ago.

How does solar power works?
Solar power is nothing but the sunlight that shines on the Earth’s surface. It has been estimated that one hour of solar power on the earth can meet the energy demand of the world for one year. The solar power can be used in two different ways. One way it can be used as a heat source and another way it can be used as an energy source.

How does solar power work is very interesting. The common examples for solar power working are drying a damp cloth in the sun and heating a bucket of water under the sunlight. In both the examples, the heat in the sunlight is being absorbed by the water particles in the process. In the former example the water in the damp cloth gets evaporated and the cloth becomes dry. In the latter example, the heat is absorbed by the water particles resulting in the increase in temperature of the water.

The heating nature of the sun light is well utilized in the making of solar ovens, which are used for cooking. They replace the conventional cooking fuels such as wood, coal etc. They are very cheap also because sun light is abundant on the earth. How does solar power work has presented to the mankind with a useful and important device, the solar oven.

How does solar energy work?
As already seen solar energy is the utilization of solar power in energy source. To understand how solar energy works, first we should know how solar energy is produced. Solar energy is produced out of solar radiation, the Sunlight. The sunlight on reaching the upper portion of the earth’s atmosphere passes through many layers inside that. When finally it reaches the earth’s surface, it is in the form visible and infrared radiation. It is here that the radiation is used as chemical energy by the plants in the form of photosynthesis. Human beings use that in the form of heat energy.

Another advantage in solar energy is its convertibility into other forms of energy like electrical energy or light energy. The process of making electricity out of solar energy is called photovoltaic. Your solar-powered watch or calculator uses this method for working. Solar cells are being used for this. Apart from the calculators and LCDs, they are being used in satellites and spacecrafts.

The electrical energy out of the sun light is derived from the electromagnetic radiation of the sunlight. The conversion of solar energy in to electrical energy is achieved by many ways using solar thermal electric power plants, Power towers, parabolic troughs etc. In all these methods, the underlying principle is converting solar energy into electrical energy.

Lighting is another answer for the question how solar energy works. During day time the sun produces enough light for visibility. It is a passive method of using solar energy. To have the natural benefits of sunlight, buildings are constructed with more avenues for getting sunlight. Apart from that, natural light is used for illumination purpose.

Hybrid solar lighting is one method of using natural light for illumination purpose. By focusing mirrors, sunlight is collected and diverted through optical fibers into the interior of the buildings for supplementing the conventional lighting systems.

After understanding how solar power works and how solar energy works, it is very paining to know that the source of the sunlight is affected by the pollution in the atmosphere. Known as global dimming, it is the measure of irradiance on the earth’s surface over a period of time. It is observed that our atmosphere is very much polluted with carbon particles because of human action.

Increase in the average temperature on the earth’s surface and global climate changes are the results of this atmospheric pollution. The trend should be arrested to save our planet.

The energy derived from the sunlight is very much affected by the atmospheric pollution. Future solar power and energy are very much dependent on this. Let us not forget the fact that the availability of sun light is not only plentiful but also cheap. The cheap form of energy should not be missed at any cost. Let us save our Earth.

Solar Electricity
Most applications of solar energy count on systems including collectors, storage and controls. Storage is needed for a reason that it is only available during daylight hours, but the need for energy exists both day and night.

Solar Heating
Now there are many ways of harnessing energy from the light of the sun, and more and more solar power applications are being implemented.  Solar energy technically refers to energy from the sun. 

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What is Solar Power - Your Questions Answered

Have you been wondering what exactly solar power is? Perhaps you’ve heard the term but never quite understood what it was all about. Well, here you will learn more about what solar power actually is and how it works, so keep reading . . .

Basically, solar power is energy that is actually harnessed from the sun. Although the sun is millions of miles away from earth, if we had the ability to harness all the energy coming from the sun, there is more than enough power there to provide all the energy we need for the entire earth. In fact, there is enough energy to provide plenty of energy for 10,000 earths. While you can use solar power for a variety of appliances and other items, you have to realize that this is different than using this power to produce heat.

There are two different principles that are used with solar power. If you want to produce hot air or hot fluids, then solar thermal principles are used. However, if you want to product electricity, photovoltaic principles are used instead. If you want to produce solar power, there are four components that are needed, including a batter, a charge controller, a solar panel, and an inverter.

It is the solar panels that actually get the radiation from the sun and use it to charge up the battery. Then, the charge regulator actually makes sure that the battery charges as it should. Of course, probably the most important pieces of equipment are going to be the solar panels and usually they output energy in watts. These panels can be wired in a variety of ways, although usually parallel or series wiring is done to either increase the amperage or the voltage.

So, are there benefits to solar power? Yes! There are a variety of amazing benefits to using solar power. In fact, many people all over the world are already using this type of energy to supply their electricity. Some of the benefits are as follows:

-Creation of jobs
-Protection of the environment
-Solar power is abundant and free
-Fuel supply is diverse
-Rapid deployment

As long as the sun is hanging there in the sky, we will be able to have the energy that solar power produces. In fact, there is so much energy there, more than 10,000 times the amount of energy we need is available. You should learn as much as possible about solar power so that you will know about the great benefits offered and how your life will change for the better if you decide to go with solar power instead of using other energy sources.

Whether you have a business or a home, you’ll find that solar power can offer many advantages for both. Since solar power is friendly to the environment, you will not have to worry about toxins or pollutants from this type of energy and you won’t have to worry about the issue of global warming either.

Residential Solar Energy

The technology for generating photovoltaic (or PV) solar energy has come a long way in the last 20 years and you’d be surprised at how much is available.

 Solar Energy

Recycling, Solar Power, Ecology, Global Warming, Green Power and More.  

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Facts About Solar Energy

Solar energy is the energy derived from the radiations of sun and has the great potential of becoming the primary source of energy in near future for mankind. Here are few facts about Solar Energy.

Solar energy is as natural it can get. The energy radiating from the sun is called solar energy and there is never a shortage of it. It can be obtained abundantly from the sun, and virtually every living organism on planet earth to survive and gather energy and keep the daily processes going smoothly uses it. Solar energy is one of the oldest and traditional renewable energy resource that is used for running many modern technologies.
Solar energy is in fact better for the Environment than other usual traditional energy forms. Solar energy can be used for many day-to-day jobs like heating, cooking, drying of clothes etc. It can be directly used to make food. It also is a useful electricity source, which can be both cheap and reliable. Thus its worldwide demand is increasing and its actually gradually becoming more than its supply.

Another interesting fact is that, an average American family spends 70$ per month in energy cost of which more than 30% is for heating. By solar energy, the heating can be done much cost-effectively & efficiently. So, solar energy always saves you money, which is good for all! However, solar systems setting-up may require high costing initially, in the long run it saves you money in using it rather than the traditional technological energy sources. The multicolored Solar panels, which need a large area for installation, having proper battery back up can work 24*7 even on cloudy nights & imperfect weather conditions!

Environmentally speaking, solar energy is accountable for various weather patterning & Ocean currents. The modern technology may be wonder to few but they are also very much involved in developing a large chunk of the pollution in our earth, which harms us in the end. Solar energy is efficient here as well as it is pollution free and eco-friendly. It doesn’t emit harmful green house gases and saves the earth from the menace called global warming which is currently all around the globe affecting the earth as a whole.

Some Interesting Facts

1. In 1 hour the sunlight which reaches the earth’s surface is greater than
what the total population of the earth use in 1 year.

2. Among the renewable sources, Solar Energy is believed to be the best and most efficient choice. This statement is consolidated by the fact that Shell oil predicts solar energy to be the main contributor to the total amount of renewable energy sources, which is believed to command half of the total energy in about 30 years.

3. A World Record was set in 1990, when a solar energy powered aircraft flew across USA without using any fuel. Though, in case of solar energy powered cars, they may be eco-friendly and cheaper but it’s unsure that the comparatively slower car will appeal to modern people in the age of fast, swanky cars in their daily rat race called life.

4. Near 2 billion people in the world are without electricity at the moment. Their only hope of power or electricity comes from solar energy systems, which can be set up at remote places serving to the unlucky few.

5. Americans consume 26% of the earth’s energy though they account for the population for as low as 5% of the earth’s population. So an average American family consumes a lot of energy, which in turn emphasizes the need for solar energy that is available in quite an abundant quantity.

6. Amazingly, solar energy is to some extent dependant on nuclear energy. However, the nuclear plant for solar energy is located 93 million miles away!

7. It’s a good thing that due to solar energy we are able to run technology and various machines like aircrafts, car etc. without using fuels because according to many scientists, the world will run out of fuel in 5 billion years.

8. If we covered a portion of the Sahara Desert with the photovoltaic cells, we could muster all the requirements of the earth!

9. All TV and communication satellites use photovoltaic cells, which use solar energy. It is also used for electricity production and water heating by the help of photovoltaic cells and can also dry clothes.

10. Besides all these, Solar energy can be used amazingly stunning ways like in solar homes, solar ponds, solar power satellites, solar chemicals etc. It seems like solar energy is everywhere in one way or the other.

So, we can safely say that solar energy is a thing for the future, which may save us from the innumerable difficulties that may plague the earth and squeeze the earth of its many necessary resources, fuel to name one among many others. Its eco-friendly nature will also help us save the earth, as many believe it to be affected a lot by global warming which is actually a justified yet potential warning for our future.

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