Interesting Facts About Solar Energy

As most of us know, solar energy comes from the sun, which is located about 93 million miles from the earth.

What Can Solar Power Be Used For?

The suns energy can be used for heating our homes, heat water, generate electricity, power solar cars and operate communications equipment just to name a few of the endless potential uses for solar energy.

Without solar energy we would not exist. There would be no plants, no heat, no food and no people. Since everything relies on the suns energy it only makes sense that we utilize its potentially endless supply of energy to reduce, and maybe someday stop the decline of our natural resources.

The amount of solar energy available depends on the amount of sunlight that is available each day and this is determined by weather conditions and even pollution among other things. England for example, may have limitations to solar power that will not be encountered in Oklahoma because of the amount of sunshine. Solar cell research is advancing rapidly to improve on this limitation, for example, mirrors are being used in some systems to concentrate the suns rays for more efficient use.

What Impact Does Solar Energy Have On The Environment?

Are there any environmental impacts related to the use of solar energy? Sure there are, but let’s put things into perspective. There are advantages and disadvantages to all methods of power generation. There are many more benefits to using solar energy than any of the alternative energy sources.

• The process of manufacturing solar components requires the use of fossil fuel but the end product emits no pollution. The alternative is to use fossil fuels day after day and continue adding pollution to our environment until supplies are depleted.
• The manufacturing processes and materials used for making some photovoltaic panels can be harmful to the people working with them. At first this may seem like a reason not to look to solar energy as a solution to our energy problems but compare it the safety concerns of people who mine coal, people who handle spent fuel from nuclear power plants, or what about the harmful emissions from power plants that we use for generating our electricity. These types of emissions are destroying our planet.
• To generate 20 - 50 megawatts of solar electricity requires about 1 square kilometer of land. This land usage affects wildlife and is another negative aspect of solar energy. But currently we are cutting our forests down at an alarming rate, and our trees are a critical part of the environment. Our trees produce much of the oxygen we breath. Many millions of people burn wood to heat their homes. What if we could eliminate just that? That alone would have a positive effect on our environment.

There is a lot of discussion about solar energy and the debate will continue. Lets not let the debate go on until we have used all of our natural resources and destroyed our planet.

Decide for yourself if solar energy is the best alternative for your future energy needs. Don’t rely on information supplied by corporations who have a vested interest in our current energy supplies. If their business relies on selling us their product then they are perhaps not the best source for accurate information.

Many utility companies are researching solar energy and are finding ways to use it today in conjunction with traditional methods of power generation. As consumers we have the power to apply pressure on utility companies because they want our money. Installing a solar system in your home is certainly something should be considered. The benefits are many and the biggest benefit will show in your power bill.

How Do Solar Panels Work

Solar panels are made up of a collection of semiconductor materials that absorb photons. The most common type of semiconductor material used is silicone, which is very plentiful on earth. When photons from the sun strike the semi conductor material of the solar panel they are absorbed by electrons in the silicon semiconductor material. For this to happen, the photons that strike the semiconductor material must be at an energy level of about 1.2. If the energy level is below this minimum, no electricity will be created. About 70% of the photons in sunlight are at, or above this minimum level. The photons with energy levels below the minimum will reduce the efficiency of the solar panel because they create heat instead of electricity and as the panel heats up it becomes less efficient.

Currently solar energy systems still cost more to produce than fossil fuel energy due mostly to costs associated with manufacturing and research but these costs are very quickly dropping due to research and increasing demand. After the initial costs associated with purchasing and installing one of these systems, future costs associated with operation and maintenance are minimal. The lifespan of solar panels is about 20 years and researchers are developing new types of solar panels all the time.

Fossil fuel consumption cannot go on indefinitely because these fuels are not renewable and will eventually become depleted and the next step will be solar and wind power. As the costs of electricity obtained from fossil fuels increase, the cost of installing a system that utilizes solar and wind energy is dropping. In the near future solar power will be the most cost effective source for our heating and electrical needs.

Solar panels generate a steady (DC) voltage and many devices are designed to operate with DC voltage. The typical home is wired for 120 volt AC operation so the DC voltage can be converted to 120 AC voltage using a device called an inverter. It is then available to be used by the power grid in your home.

This reduces the amount of electricity that you will use from the power company. When more power is generated than you need, the extra is automatically diverted out of your house and into the utility companies distribution system and you receive credits for the electricity you provide to the utility. When your solar system can’t provide enough electricity to meet your needs you can then draw from the utility companies distribution system again. This is all done automatically and works very efficiently for both home owner and the utility company.