The One Of The Energy Sources That Is Gaining In Interest

Most power plants in the United States and all over world are using fossil fuels to operate and generate electricity. Fossil fuel has been used as an energy source as long as man has learned to generate power. Fossil fuel has been around for ages and when man started using this energy sources no one though about the consequences. Fossil fuels will run out and there will be a shortage of it in near future. This shortage in fossil fuel will have its affect on our daily live and various industries. Today we see some of these affects already, fossil fuel prizes are raising and electricity is becoming more expensive. Although fossil fuels are more scares, to need for fossil fuels will still be here and will not decrease in near future. To solve this shortage of fossil fuels we will need to look for other possibilities for our energy demand.

Fortunately, alternative sources of energy are growing in fees. For example, locations with high water falls are experimenting on building a hydro-electric power plant, which turns out to be successful. Other locations with high wind speed employ a power wind mills that will convert wind energy into electricity. Also thermal and tidal powers are good choices.

Solar energy is also one of the sources of energy that’s gaining in fees. Solar power has gradually been growing. Today solar power is employed generally in America and the benefits are common. Our solar electricity source, the sun, its lifespan is guestimated to be another 4.5 bill years. It is right to say this power source is nearly never-ending.

Rate of power from the Sun

The sun’s radiation reaches a certain unit of area in space in the region of the Earth’s orbit and is estimated to be at 1,400 watts per square meter. Out of this, photovoltaic cells (also known as solar cells) can capture 19 to 56 watts per square meter (for 15% efficiency) or an equivalent of 0.45 to 1.35 kilowatt per hour (kWh) in an annual day and night average.

Therefore, if there would be more area that will be covered by several solar panels, these panels can produce slightly more energy in the form of electricity than what is currently available from oil, gas, and other sources of energy combined (assuming 8% solar cell efficiency).

Conversion of solar power

There are 2 ways of conversion of solar power. First is the direct solar energy which involves only one conversion into a serviceable form. For example :

Sunlight hits the solar cell, changing it into electricity.
Sunlight hits the absorber surface of a solar thermal collector, changing into thermal energy which can be employed to heat houses during cold season.

The second is the indirect solar energy which involves more than one conversion to reach a usable form. For instance:

Plants use photosynthesis to transform solar power to chemical energy, which can be burned later as fuel to create electricity ( sometimes called bio-fuel technology ).
Hydroelectric dams and turbines are indirectly supplied by solar power thru its interplay with the Earth’s atmosphere.

Pros and Cons of solar power

Just like any other types of energy resources, solar energy has its ins and outs.

Pros :

Pollution-free.
Solar facilities can be run with little extra input or maintenance.
It is abundant. As mentioned earlier, most of the inhabited areas here on Earth can be reached by sunlight.

Cons:

Although it is abounding, non-tropical locations can receive small daylight. Therefore , power that’ll be produced in these locations is a minimum.
Only during daytime therefore unavailable during night time.
Photovoltaic cell technologies generate direct current ( DC ) power which should be converted to AC ( AC ) power employed in distribution grids.

Once massive development of the use of solar energy is materialized, expect that every household or industry in the world will now be powered by solar energy. It is not just a dream, it will be a dream come true.

What you just learned about Solar Pool Heater is just the beginning. To get the full story and all the details, check us out at Best DIY Solar Power House Guide.

Evans D. Smith