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Facts About Solar EnergySolar energy has been there for billions of years – the energy of the sun’s rays has been used by humans throughout the history, in fact, our very existence is possible because of it. The biggest challenge the humankind faces today is how to accumulate and store solar energy once the sun goes down – so that thermal energy could become a stable and reliable source of renewable energy. Solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies are the future for us and the only hope of significantly cutting the world’s dependence on fossil fuels that we are about to run out of. In this respect the ocean is one of the most amazing examples of solar power storage – this natural reservoir that absorbs thermal energy during the day could serve as a huge thermal plant provided that we could learn how to operate it properly. Solar energy that reaches the surface of the earth in the form of sun rays could be converted into other forms of energy. When solar energy is converted into thermal energy it can be used to heat water, spaces, buildings; people also learnt to convert it into electricity which can happen in two ways – by using special solar cells (a.k.a. photovoltaic cells) or by producing in on solar power plants. Solar power plants generate electricity indirectly – the generator is powered by the steam produced when the fluid heated by the sun. Since solar energy cannot always be used directly it is usually converted into electricity by the means of photovoltaic energy. A photovoltaic cell is a special technology used for the conversion and it’s usually manufactured from silicon alloys. Weather conditions have a major impact on the amount of solar energy received and produced. In most cases photovoltaic modules are just 10% efficient in sunlight conversion, and the plans are to raise this number by another 10%. Another way solar energy can be used is for solar thermal heating. This method is used to heat water in the most natural way – it can be later used in swimming pools, in homes etc. saving gallons of water every month. In certain cases a collector is needed to absorb solar radiation that is later circulated via the system of fans or pumps. Often some kind of energy storage system is used. Photovoltaic systems provide direct conversion from sunlight into electricity, the arrays size may vary depending on the individual needs and the environmental impact is minimal – no water is required to cool the system, no by-products are generated that need to be disposed of. As any kind of renewable energy solar energy has a number of disadvantages, namely changeable amounts of sunlight that reach the surface depending on the location and weather conditions, as well as need of assigning a large area for energy collection mechanisms. The biggest problem with solar power is that it can be obtained only when the sun is out – so when it’s cloudy almost no electricity is produced. Many plants located in countries and states that do not get stable portions of sunlight are actually hybrid plants – they work on solar power when the days are nice and switch to burning natural gas to boil water into steam when it’s cloudy. Possessing necessary knowledge and being able to take full advantage of solar energy is especially important at this stage as it’s eco-friendly – there are no toxic wastes produced, no exhaust fumes or danger of explosion. However, there are a number of ways it can indirectly impact the environment – for instance, when silicon is used to convert sunlight into electricity certain waste products are produced. Additionally, large solar thermal farms may cause harm to the desert ecosystems if poorly managed. Article
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