Articles
Newsletters
| Basics of Solar Power |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Paul Woods |
| Thursday, 24 July 2008 18:08 |
|
Solar power is a non-polluting, renewable, completely free and abundantly available energy source, and for many years now experts have been putting their minds to the question of how to best and most efficiently make use of it. Here are some basic points about solar power and about how it is being used at present. Solar power is very versatile. By using photo voltaic cells it can be converted into electricity. It can be used directly to heat water. When it is used this way it is known as 'passive solar' using it to convert to electricity is known as 'active solar'. Solar energy is received in a weak form which does make it somewhat limiting. If we are to use it effectively then we have to discover a way of harnessing the power and concentrating it. Solar power has been used in its passive state for many centuries. Examples of this include heating water, lighting fires and drying wood. In places where sunlight is available for most days of the year, solar water heaters are popular. There are also solar power plants which can concentrate the energy of the sun and generate electricity in large amounts. Power plants like these are especially economical and useful in out of the way places where conventional electricity is not always available. Even space craft and satellites make use of solar energy. There has been a great deal of interest in recent years in using solar power to power motor vehicles, however this is still in the experimental stages of development. The difficulty here is that the amount of power required to supply the car's engine would need big solar panels, which are impractical on a moving vehicle owing to the panels' size and fragility. Also, at times when there is no sun these vehicles could only run for limited time. So these vehicles are not ready as yet to replace conventionally powered ones. Solar power is increasing in demand, however, it is not widely used. Although the technology is here, the cost of converting solar power into energy is prohibitive. However, with the continuing rising costs of fuel, it could become a viable alternative in the not too distant future. As more people become concerned on the environmental impact of using fuel, more will be looking for more greener and cleaner energy. As this demand increases manufacturers will find it more feasible to produce solar powered devices. About the Author: If you are interested to find out more about solar energy then visit Paul Wood's website for more interesting information about solar energy uses Kindly provided by MoneyHunter.org You are welcome to use this article on your own website, if you include the link just before this text. |
Members : 2608
Content : 2691
Web Links : 1
Content View Hits : 255614
Content : 2691
Web Links : 1
Content View Hits : 255614