Solar Energy is Green Energy

Solar energy is the earliest source of energy known to mankind, and is also the origin of other forms of energy used by man.

Other renewable sources of energy, such as, wind energy, hydro power, biomass and ocean energy are the indirect forms of solar energy. Solar energy has many salient features, which make it an attractive proposition. These features are wide-spread distribution, environment friendly and virtually inexhaustible supply.

The solar energy can also be converted into electrical energy in the solar homes by the use of specially designed Photovoltaic cells. They are also known as PV cells or solar cells. They are basically made up of silicon and a few other elements are added to give a more efficient combination. These days semiconductors are used in the Photovoltaic cells. The Photovoltaic cells convert the incident solar energy into electrical energy. They are assembled on the roofs of solar homes to obtain maximum incidence of solar energy and thus more electrical output. This electrical energy is stored in special storage batteries that can be used for an assortment of purposes. They can be used to heat as well as work cooling devices like fans and air conditioners. Thus during summers when cooling is essential PV cells play a major role. This electricity can be used for refrigeration as well as lighting. They also give rise to less consumption of electricity from conventional sources. Thus the solar energy finds a role in replacing the traditional sources of energy in every field of work not only in a household but in other aspects of life also.

Farming and agriculture are other areas where solar energy plays a major role. India has one of the largest solar energy programs in the world. The Indian government has dedicated a ministry for renewable energy and extensive work goes on in this field. Prominent Indian industrialists like Tata and Birla are involved in this project. Though it is still at its nascent stage these programs have the potential to become a roaring success as this will save a lot of money for the consumers.

How Does Solar Energy Work?

Many people today are trying to save money on their energy bills and one of the more popular ways is through using solar energy. How does solar energy work?

Energy from the sun in the form of heat and light is abundantly available to everyone on Earth, even in places that do not get a lot of a sun. Did you know that the Earth receives more energy from the sun in an hour than our entire population can use in an entire year? With all that clean, renewable energy that is coming from the sun every day, it is worthwhile to figure out a way to use it.

Active Solar

There are two different types of solar energy that can be used to power our homes and daily lives. One is active solar energy, which works through solar panels, which are set up with the use of photovoltaic cells. These cells are linked together in order to produce electricity.

How much electrical output they produce depends on a few factors. One of them is how many cells are linked together in a panel, and how many panels are being used.

The energy from the sun comes in the form of direct current, DC, instead of the alternating current, AC, that is used in your home. For this reason you will need a way to convert the energy. The simplest solution is to buy a power inverter, which convert the sun's energy into usable AC elecricity. Another option is to convert your household's electrical needs to DC power, although this is in most cases impractical especially in existing homes.

Thermal Solar Energy

There is another form of active solar power that uses thermal energy from the sun to heat the water in your home. Devices that circulate and pump the water help to keep it warm. Depending on where you live, solar power can heat water up to sixty degrees or more. While this may not be ideal for taking a shower, it can be effective for dish washing or even doing your laundry. Solar power for heating water can cut your water heating bills substantially, and can be used in combination with solar electricity.

Passive Solar

Passive solar energy uses the power of the sun without the use of any mechanical devices. When you go out on a sunny day, you feel the warm sun's rays, and this principle is really the same for heating your home. A passive solar home has south facing windows and uses building materials that absorb the sun's rays and then dissipates the heat into your home efficiently. Passive solar can also be used to heat water in our home.

Interesting Solar Energy Facts

It's truly important for all people to learn a few standard solar energy facts to ensure that they can truly appreciate the entire potential and various fields of applications for this plentiful energy supply. Solar power is definitely the most ecologically friendly and most desirable of all alternative energy resources. Presently yearly worldwide energy usage is around approximately 550 exajoules (523 Quadrillion BTUs) per year. Every year the earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land masses receive approximately 3,850,000 exajoules of energy from the sun's rays. Once this is taken into account anyone should be able to start to grasp precisely why the solar energy industry is eagerly working to improve processes to harness solar power. The Desertec foundation theorizes that covering just 1% of desert environments around the world with solar PV panels could very well power up the entire planet.

Listed below is a brief background of historical solar energy facts:

- The use of solar power by humankind is not new; countless ancient civilizations have utilized it in one form or another.

- Leonardo da Vinci was actually among the 1st modern thinkers to conceive industrial usage of solar energy to heat up water.

- The French scientist Edmond Becquerel observed the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with electrolytic cells in 1839.

- In 1894, Clarence Kemp, an inventor filed and obtained a patent for the design of the world's 1st solar-powered water heater.

- The world's 1st solar thermal power station was built by Frank Shuman in 1913.The station that was situated in Egypt utilized parabolic trough-shaped mirrors to be able to heat water in boilers to drive a 65 horsepower engine. The engine pumped nearly 6,000 gallons of water each minute from the Nile River to adjacent crops.

- The first modern photovoltaic (PV) solar cell was designed at Bell Laboratories in the year 1954.

Solar Energy Overview

Solar energy is a renewable, clean energy that has been around for thousands of years in one form or another. Following is an overview of solar energy.

Solar Energy Overview

Solar energy is all about harnessing the power of the sun to produce energy. The sun rains enough solar energy on the Earth in one day to power the entire energy needs of the world for one year. Solar energy is considered a renewable energy source because it will exist for as long as our sun does, estimated to be another 4.5 billion years. Solar energy is also considered a clean energy because it does not produce pollutants or byproducts harmful to the environment.

Solar energy was the first energy source used by mankind. Of course, the use was limited to drying things and heating caused by direct contact, but it was a use. In modern times, solar energy has been a power source since the early 1950s, but was not widespread due to technological issues which rendered it an ineffective and expensive energy source. With technology advancements, solar energy is moving to the forefront as a potential alternative to fossil fuels.

The future is indeed bright for solar energy as new solar nanotechnology is close to creating solar platforms that boggle the mind. For instance, a few companies are trying to create solar quantum dots, which will be mixed in the paint you use for your home. Yes, you will actually paint on solar energy panels that will power your home

Currently, solar energy is produced primarily through the use of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells. The process works by placing the cells in direct sunlight. Sun hits the cells causing a chemical reaction that creates an electric current. The current is then turned into electricity. The problem with these cells, however, is they are only about 15 percent efficient.