The various uses of solar energy.

[tatemurdock]

The Solar panels act as a medium to capture the sun?s rays and to transfer the light energy contained in it to electrical energy. With today's technology, we are able to capture the sun?s radiation and turn it into usable forms of solar energy - such as heating or electricity. In order to be able to benefit from the use of solar energy, there are a few facts you should know. Knowing these facts can assist you to make use of solar power as a clean energy source for your home.

Solar energy is completely environmental friendly, producing absolutely no carbon emissions or other harmful byproducts whatsoever. Solar energy can be used successfully and cost-effectively just about anywhere on the planet. You do not need to live in a tropical or desert climate in order to benefit from the use of solar energy.

Solar energy can be used for heating homes effectively in cold climates, as well as in warm climates. In fact, for decades now, solar heating has been in use several cold-climate northern European countries. Solar energy technology has advanced to the point where it can be now be a viable and cost-effective replacement for regular grid-electricity.

The word "photovoltaic" comes 2 words. "Photo" refers to light and "voltaic" refers to electricity. A photovoltaic array system changes solar energy collected from sunlight into electricity. Solar energy can provide the total electricity needed by a normal home that is energy efficient. Solar energy is quiet, easy to install, and needs little maintenance.

[Paraiba Ocean]

Solar energy is quiet, easy to install, and needs little maintenance.

Solar energy is also quite expensive at this current time. While the technology is updating quite rapidly (for example, photovoltaic cells can now come in shingles to go on the roofing of a house) it is expensive to install it for the common household.

Some people know that you can sell your energy back to the power company, therefore the system "pays for itself" in time, however, it is hard for people - especially in this economy - to scrounge together anywhere from $12,000-15,000 for a partly integrated system and $30,000+ for a entirely solar energy-based system.

I think it's a great idea that we need to continue to pursue, however, I can understand why a lot of people are not ready to jump on the wagon just yet because of the upfront costs.

[Taryn]

Oct 8, 2011 20:50:29 GMT -5 Paraiba Ocean said:

Solar energy is quiet, easy to install, and needs little maintenance.

Solar energy is also quite expensive at this current time. While the technology is updating quite rapidly (for example, photovoltaic cells can now come in shingles to go on the roofing of a house) it is expensive to install it for the common household.

Some people know that you can sell your energy back to the power company, therefore the system "pays for itself" in time, however, it is hard for people - especially in this economy - to scrounge together anywhere from $12,000-15,000 for a partly integrated system and $30,000+ for a entirely solar energy-based system.

I think it's a great idea that we need to continue to pursue, however, I can understand why a lot of people are not ready to jump on the wagon just yet because of the upfront costs.

I agree, this is a wonderful idea to pursue & continue to make improvements on, so as to make it more available to the regular citizens of the world. I know some wealthier people will try & urge others to have solar panels installed, but not everybody can whip out that much money and help the environment as easily.

[Appayipyip the Klingon]

I think it's great! Just wish it didn't cost so much.

[attonbitus]

photovoltaic in it's current form is not efficient enough nor economically cost effective as a major power source. That being said, recent break through might change the if they can figure out how to mass produce them economics.

Now Solar Thermal energy technology is what's commonly used in large scale power plants and even in some homes. The difference is that instead of changing the sun's energy into chemical energy like photovolatic, it's harnesses focused light/heat to drive steam turbines. There are over 15 announced Solar Thermal plants with a rating of 100 MW or higher in the US.

Now here's is the REAL down side to solar energy. No sun = no output, that effectively means a solar plant of any type can't produce electricity at night. There's been some tech added like molten salts to keep producing energy at night, but it's not enough to last the whole night.

One of the great challenges to modernizing to cleaner energy is STORAGE. Right now all grids consume power instantly, any excess is wasted. To try to combat waste, they try to schedule their power generation as best they can but that's not what's going to get us to the next level. There's some intresting ideas like a flywheel energy plant that actually transforms electrical energy into mechanical through the rotation of the fly wheel (http://www.greenbang.com/worlds-first-grid-scale-flywheel-energy-plant-to-go-online-soon_15001.html) . This allows the plant to store excess for use later!

Course it'll be interesting to see how it all plays out commercially.

[Gran Gran]

I think the problem is that everybody is looking for 'major' power sources....

A windmill might not be economical enough to power a whole town, but it could move stuffs around. Windmill powered well pumps have been around for ages....

Solar cells could provide valuable auxiliary power in times of high use: Like in the hot summer month, when everybody has the A/C kicking.

All or nothing....
it won't work for much longer.