Solar Power Energy

What is solar power energy?

It is, quite simply, energy extracted from sunlight - which is really a "free" energy that is provided to us everyday!

Aside from the cost of setting up systems to collect the energy from the sun, our sun always shines (at least on a little over half of the planet at any one time).

In fact, when we consider how much energy strikes the earth in one year just from the Sun - it's astonishing!

Each year, 5.4 million exajoules of sunlight energy strikes the earth. One third of this is reflected back off of our atmosphere into space. 18% of that is absorbed by the atmosphere (most of which becomes wind energy).

This leaves us about 2.5 million exajoules of sun energy that actually reaches the surface of Earth each year!

When you add all that up it's still more than 5,000 times the amount of energy used by all human beings in one year in 2005!

So, how do we completely utilize this sun energy?

Well, since sunlight is made up of photons of radiant energy - and these photons are constantly bombarding some part of the earth - we simply need to capture those photons and convert them to a form of energy that we can more readily use!

Two Ways of Harnessing Solar Power

Now, how do we capture the sun's energy?

Let's take a look at the 2 primary ways/methods for capturing the sun's energy: Thermal and Photovoltaic (Heat and Electrical).

Rays of sunlight are converted to heating or electrical energy with different methods, but here are the 2 primary methods:

Solar Panels - Solar panels convert sunlight into electrical energy. (This is where the word "Photovoltaic" comes from)

Solar Heating - Heat from the sun's light is used to heat other objects or substances, then this heat energy is transferred to other places or things that can better utilize this heat to produce other types of energy.

The Newest Technologies

Newer technologies, materials, and methods have demonstrated that there are more efficient ways to harness sun energy today than ever before in our history.

Solar power energy has been re-defined over the last 50-100 years. Instead of just looking at sun energy according to the way it was used (in plants and animals) throughout most of mankind's life on earth, we need to seriously consider newer, better methods for present-day and future energy production.

After all, this vast amount of energy is provided free-of-charge to us everyday by our sun!

Here is a list of the most current and promising methods of capturing solar energy:

1.) Solar Heating - Solar energy is used to heat or warm buildings in colder times of the year (or in colder locations). Many of these systems are now being built and used by people in the home.

2.) Solar Cooling - Solar energy has been tested and used to actually cause a cooling effect when used to power condensers/evaporators.

3.) Solar Turbines - Solar energy is used to heat liquids that create steam - which, in turn powers electric generators or turbines to create electricity.

4.) Solar Panels - Solar power energy is captured and converted into electrical charges by the use of solar panels.

5.) Solar Cooking - Solar power can be utilized for cooking. This method is much cleaner and better than using propane or electricity for energy.

One Man’s Experiences in Solar Cooking *Please visit our partner site for some practical and interesting ideas, along with useful information on how you too can take advantage of one of the ways of harnessing the abundant energy of our sun by using it for Solar Cooking.

The Solar Future

Researchers at MIT have significantly improved existing solar collectors using dyes. They just increased their performance results by a factor of 4. These paint-on materials can increase the power obtained from existing solar cells by a factor of over 40 without needing to track the sun.

By collecting light over their full surface and concentrating it at their edges, this new discovery by MIT can reduce the required area of solar cells and consequently, the cost of solar power. Stacking multiple concentrators allows the optimization of solar cells at each wavelength, increasing the overall power output.

There has always been a hesitancy to invest in solar panels and have them set up for home or professional use by someone, as the initial investment for solar power energy has (in the past) been a little high for the overall long-term savings.

But, a company called Off Grid Living makes this process very easy and very affordable as they show you ways to set up and build your own solar power in your home without all of the hassle and cost associated with professional or commercial setups. They even show you how to find FREE solar panels and build your own system for your home very affordably.

Solar power energy proves to be one of the most promising forms of alternative energy available to us in the near and distant future.

And as society grows and learns, and as we are forced away from conventional fossil fuels (from prices or shortages), we will find new and better ways to use the energy that is freely given to us everyday by our beautiful sun.

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