Solar Power

Solar Power Without the sun, life would not exist on our planet. Every day we use the sun’s energy and with Solar Power we can harness the sun’s energy to create sustainable, clean energy. Solar Power is power that is generated from the heat and light from the sun and does not require any other kind of fuel. Starting in the 1970’s this technology was adopted by homeowners for water heating and to offset utility costs. This was done by placing panels on the roof of the house and allowing the power cells to channel the sun’s boundless energy. At the time however Solar Power was expensive to produce and solar panels were inefficient and would often cost more than they saved. Since then the technology has improved a great deal. Solar Farms are set up where the individual panels can be wired together to pull more power from the sun. The surface area affects how much energy is produced. Hence, the larger a Solar Farm is, the more it can produce. The primary drawbacks to Solar Power are that the panels do take up a bit of space and can be more expensive than conventional energy sources. However, the amount of U.S. consumption of coal requires plants that take up more space than if the equivalent Solar Power system were to be put in its place. As far as the Solar Panel technology goes, there are generally two types: Passive and Active. In a passive system the panels are fitted to a spot such as a roof or in an open area for maximum sun exposure and are constructed from materials that can absorb and later release heat via natural air circulation. However with an Active system Photovoltaic’s in the cell convert the sun’s energy into DC current by pushing electrons through a circuit. The energy is deposited into a battery bank and stored. In the evening time or if sun exposure is reduced by weather, the stored energy from the batteries can be used. From the batteries it can be run though a DC to AC converter for conventional use. There are also many other benefits to using Solar Power other than just electricity. It can also be used to cook, distill water where potable water may not be readily available, disinfection of heat resistant materials, and other various industrial uses that require large amounts of heat. Solar Power is an exceptionally profitable option for investors. Over the next few years, growth in this specific energy field will have no comparison. It is one of the most frequently built energy technologies because of its improvements in energy storage. Solar Power has an advantage in that it allows electricity to be produced cleanly in the place where it is consumed and it helps with peak demand, as solar panels can produce electricity when it is most expensive and most needed. Solar Power could provide energy to the whole world. If growth continues as it has been, it could become the prevailing energy source this century. The return on investment could be exponential.