Throughout the century researchers and scientists have looked for alternative fuel sources. Ranging from fossil fuel alternatives such as electric batteries, to wind energy, and even energy from the sun which is called solar energy. Solar energy dates back to the year 1767. It was created by a Swiss scientist named Horace-Benedict de Saussure. It was an insulated box covered with three layers of glass to collect heat energy. Saussure’s box was known as the first solar oven. Since that day solar energy has come very far. In 1958 solar energy flew to space. in 1981 the first solar aircraft was built followed by the first solar powered car in 1982. Finally in 1999 solar power was at its record peak, using the most efficient cells ever developed. …show more content…
Where radiation energy is absorbed and creates electricity (voltaic). “Radiation energy is absorbed by semiconductor cells – normally silicon – and transformed from photo energy (light) into voltaic (electrical current). When the sun’s radiation hits a silicon atom, a photon of light energy is absorbed, ‘knocking off’ an electron. These released electrons create an electric current.The electric current then goes to an inverter, which converts the current from DC (direct current) to AC (alternating current). The system is then connected to the mains power or electricity grid” (Greg Whitburn). Solar panels are an incredible source that if you're located in the correct geological are, it makes too much sense to make use of …show more content…
Solar energy can be used to heat your swimming pool, heat your water, heat your home, charge batteries, light up street lights and lamps, and even produce power for your entire house. But companies didn’t stop there. Mini solar panels can also be found inside calculators, cell phones, DC motors, laptop chargers, cars, and even military equipment. But what are the most common uses? “Many of the most common, useful, and cost-effective solar energy applications are passive in nature and involve no conversion to electricity. Many houses, for instance, are built with the position of the sun at various times throughout the day in mind, ensuring that the house has plenty of natural lighting. Various architectural considerations can also ensure that buildings remain at reasonable temperatures. Another of the common solar energy applications of this form can be seen in greenhouses. The sun passes through the transparent enclosure of the greenhouse and heats the plants and soil, creating warm air that cannot escape from the enclosure and therefore providing a good environment for plant growth” (Daniel Liden). With that in mind, how would you want to make use of solar
Everyone is looking for a better way to have power. Solar power has very dependable technology, with little to no maintenance. It can bring finical savings by making more power a home owner may need and you can resell back the power company. Lastly help the environment by having no waste so less pollution and takes up unused space by putting them on to the roofs of the houses. In the end Home owners should try looking pass the initial price of Solar panels and see that this is a great way to produce energy that does not produce any carbon foot print.
Solar energy is energy taken from the light that reaches earth's surface from the sun. There are four different kinds of solar energy, which are active solar systems, passive solar systems, photovoltaic cells and concentrating power systems. An active solar systems is a system that captures solar energy by mechanical means. Common active solar systems are often in buildings or homes. Some examples are roof collectors and water heating. Low Intensity and high variability have limited the use of active solar energy in Canada. A pass...
It will be interesting to see if solar panel saunas are a thing of the future or if they will be developed to efficiently in our homes of the present. If power can be collected by the energy of the sun and then used to heat our home sauna then it will be a great energy saver.
The sun has been a major aspect of life since the beginning of time. People used many other forms of energy before electricity was discovered. There has been a debate over energy resources for years. Many people are worried about what current energy resources may be doing to the environment. Oil spills and nuclear power plant mishaps have only been a few accidents that have had a big impact on the environment and the people who inhabit it. There are plenty of energy sources that do not harm the environment and are still able to get the job done. Solar energy is one energy alternative that will insure the betterment of the country and, at the same time, protect the natural environment.
The challenges that will be faced are the fact that many countries are already producing their own solar energy and storing it as well using it within the grid system that is already established. It’s called harnessing the energy. The main grid systems are aware of the energy that can be produced and in large countries are encouraging solar power for homes and businesses, solar energy is definitely the way of the future. In Burnaby for example if a home owner installs solar panels on their home and does not use all the power produced, the left over energy will go to BC Hydro the home owner will then receive a cheque for the extra energy Hydro is still hooked up to your home and monitors your consumption.
All energy comes from the sun. It is the most abundant form of clean, renewable energy. 173,000 terawatts of solar energy strikes the Earth continuously, which is more than 10,000 times the world’s total energy use (Pierce). It does not produce carbon dioxide emissions, it will not deplete, and it is free. The way solar energy works can be demonstrated when one walks outside. The sunlight hits an object, the skin, and the energy turns into heat, which is the warmth that is felt on the skin. The way to harness this energy is when the sunlight hits certain materials, the energy turns into an electrical current instead (Locke). Solar cells are a device that can convert sunlight into electricity. Solar cells have crystals, which are bonds between silicon atoms made of electrons shared between all atoms (Locke). The light gets absorbed and the...
The future of the United States solar energy industry will be shaped not only by economic growth, but also by the rate of declining oil resources and the global realization of the consequences of human induced climate change. Political responses to this realization in the United States include; new policies, legislature, and tax incentives to both businesses and private households to promote growth and investment in the solar power industry.
Energy is the basic necessity of daily life. Nowadays, dependence on fossil fuels for energy needs becoming lower in numerous countries due to the potential of renewable energy to supply sustainable energy to the huge populations in many developing countries who are short of clean and continues energy. Generally, renewable energy can be defined as energy that is derived from natural resources which are constantly replenished and theoretically inexhaustible. Fossil fuels on the other hand can be described as energy that cannot be renewed and will eventually diminish. Thus, in many developing countries renewable energy is the alternative energy to replace non-renewable energy or commonly known as fossil fuels. In addition, according to Sorensen (2004), there is a greater demand for renewable energy sources nowadays due to the uncertainty of fuel price rise in living expenses. Commonly, there are many types of renewable energy available in our world such as wind power, biomass energy, solar energy, hydroelectric power and geothermal energy. However, the main three example of renewable energy are hydroelectric power, solar and biomass energy (Refer to Figure 1 in Appendix 1).
Nanotechnology is the answer for solar energy. With electrical device being used 24/7 and electricity on high demand, we need to constantly produce energy. Nanotechnology can help rise efficiency up to 40% which allows a normal panel module to produce around 30 watts per square foot. That’s 1.3 mWh for one acre. With this advancement in the process of development, soon there won’t be any energy crisis.
Preview: Today I will discuss the potential that solar power has to become this country’s main supply of energy and the latest research that can make solar power more efficient and cost effective. I will also present the environmental benefits that come with using solar power over other and more harmful forms of energy.
Solar is a viable alternative energy source with solar panels becoming more affordable and more efficiently designed.
I am certain that all have heard of the terms greenhouse gases, fossil fuels, and global warming. Have you ever questioned what will happen if nothing is done about the environmental problems facing the world today? What if I answer you that, we can merely use the power from the sun to power up our entire planet without the use of harmful energy sources, which affect our atmosphere? The power from the sun is what we call solar power. Solar power is the energy that comes from the sun as light and heat energy, and then it is later converted into electrical energy through solar panels (Nelson, 2008).
The Earth captures around 342 W/m2 of energy from the sun. This energy is in the form of solar radiation, which the atmosphere reflects about 77 W/m2 and will absorb around 68 W/m2 of solar radiation annually. Therefore, the Earth’s surface is receiving, on average, about 197 W/m2 of solar radiation annually. This amount of energy received is roughly more than 10,000 times the amount of all energy humans consume per year. This energy can be used to produce electricity or heat. This energy source is not being used to it’s potential considering how much effort would come into effect to store and transport this energy.
First of all, solar energy is the energy produced when the sun heats the solar panel. Thus, when the sun heats the panels, it produces electricity. Solar power produces energy during the day and can store energy for the night. Solar power does not pollute the environment. However, it has high maintenance cost, and it takes a lot of land space.
Solar power for instance is one of the most popular and easiest of all of the renewable energy sources to harness, especially for home and business uses. (Galbraith) For around the same ...