by admin on September 21, 2008
german solar park
Increasingly, the world is recognizing that we need to be investing in alternate forms of energy. While the UK has long been a leader in the use of solar power, other countries are realizing the benefits of using this very sustainable form of energy. The use of the sun’s energy is gaining much wider acceptance and application in Europe and Japan. Buildings are being constructed with photovoltaic panels built in as skylights, walls and atriums. There are high rises in Japan with outer surfaces completely made of solar absorbing material. The Germans prefer their solar units designed in the form of a power generating container shaped like a massive shoe box. These structures are large enough to contain nine buildings which are powered by the energy that is produced.
Solar power has also been adapted by the military for application in the field. They have developed lightweight portable systems that are used to bring electricity to remote locations. Modern solar equipment is designed to minimize light reflection which helps in reducing the chances of being spotted by the enemy.
Solar energy has been adapted for humanitarian applications as well. Hybrid systems are installed in medical clinics in third world countries. These power plants make use of back up generators in conjunction with photovoltaic cells so that the facility will operate purely on solar power on sunny days, with the back up batteries charging. During the night, and on cloudy days, the generators will kick in. This makes it possible for needy people in remote regions to get adequate medical care.
In remote places of India solar power systems were installed in homes. The introduction of electricity into these areas also brought the advent of television. These people discovered that they were part of a much larger world when news of global events came into their living rooms. These villagers also realized profound changes in their lifestyles. Suddenly there was light available for studying and doing other tasks after dark where once they had to get all of these things accomplished before the sun went down.
The whole world has seen changes in their work habits in the area of agriculture due to solar energy. One example is power pumps used for irrigation. There are many other areas of use for solar power in farming, ranging from lighting for the interior of barns to running a conveyor belt for hay.
In South Africa, where the potential for solar use is great, scientists are constantly working to develop better energy sources. The old silicon based technologies are giving way to cheaper and more efficient solar energy systems. This could be a new age for Africa to transition from being the “dark continent” to being a “continent of light.”
by admin on September 19, 2008
seville solar power tower
Solar power is abundantly available, but the potential for its use has barely been explored. The drive to tap into the sun’s energy by direct means is a fairly recent phenomenon. However, people have always used indirect solar power. The difference between direct and indirect solar power is the number of changes the sun’s energy has to go through to become useful.
The sun is a primal source of nutrition and energy for our planet. Its energy impacts everything from weather patterns to the food we eat. At the most basic level it is at the source of all our energy. Photosynthesis of sun light is critical in the growing of plants, which in turn provides food for the creatures of the earth, including humans. Mankind makes use of the plants and animals for many purposes including the source of other forms of energy. The development of bio fuels would be impossible without the sun’s energy. The fossil fuels we use in the present age is a product of animals that have long been extinct. The sun helped in keeping these animals alive and it also played a role in the decomposition process that made crude oil out of them. These are examples of the indirect uses of solar energy.
The direct use of solar power is when the sun’s energy goes through only one change to become useful. We are just beginning to explore the variety of ways to tap into this resource. Fibre optics is a developing technology where cables can be mounted on the outside of buildings to transmit the sun’s energy for lighting on the inside. Thermal collectors are another way of harnessing the energy of direct sun light. The dark surfaces on these units are capable of absorbing the sun’s heat energy which in turn can be used in a fluid circuit. This is the principle involved in the use of solar panels or photovoltaic cells. This technology is quite effectively used in the building of spacecraft. While in orbit, there is ample sun light available which can be collected and used for many applications aboard a space module. This is very beneficial because the storage capacity for fuel on a space craft is limited.
The sun is our most basic source of energy and it is sustainable. We have benefited from solar power since time began and it hasn’t come close to running out. The sun belongs to everyone. We don’t have to ask for anyone’s permission to tap into its resources. We don’t have to go exploring for it and we don’t have to dig giant holes to find it. It is simply there for us to use.
by admin on September 17, 2008
There are many uses for solar power and as time goes by innovators will come up with even more applications. Homes make up a very important segment of solar usage. People who live in remote areas benefit greatly because of the lack of conventional power sources The sun’s energy can be converted into AC power, by means of an inverter, to operate appliances. It can also be used to heat water and air. Solar power has even been used to bring wireless internet signals to remote areas.
Telecommunication capabilities are enhanced by solar power. For optimal reception and transmission a microwave repeater tower needs to be set in a high place, like on a mountain where it is impractical to run power lines. Solar energy can be used to keep these towers operating and optimize the signal for cell phones, radios and televisions.
Where electricity is used, solar energy can enhance every facet of our lives. In our recreational activities RV’s and boats can be powered by solar energy and equipped to go just about anywhere without worrying about where to buy the fuel. If you are out roaming in the wilderness and you find that you need assistance, emergency call boxes in remote areas can be operated on solar energy. This is a standard practice in California. This allows for a dependable network of phones without the necessity of running buried cables to them. Also, lighted highway signs that were traditionally run on fuel powered generators can now operate on solar power.
At this point in time, solar powered automobiles are experimental. There are people who drive them and there are even racing competitions among the owners. For now they are a novelty, but with advancements in technology, who knows what the future will bring. Applying solar energy in the commercial and industrial setting is practical because the physical plants of these institutions are very large and the available roof space is such that large expanses of solar panels can be incorporated.
Solar energy is self perpetuating. The only thing that is consumed by using it is what goes into the equipment needed to harness this power. There is no waste emissions of spent fuel to pollute our environment either. Research and development is costly as will be the process of retrofitting our lives, but the benefits of making optimum use of this virtually limitless resource are unfathomable.
by admin on September 15, 2008
pro con solar panel
Some believe that solar power is our key to a sustainable future while others believe that seriously considering it to be a viable energy source is an impractical idea. Both sides have compelling arguments. The proponents will point to sustainability and environmental impact, and the cynics will point to unreliability and fiscal impact.
Truthfully, an aggressive effort to adapt our way of living to the point where solar power is a primary source of energy will profoundly impact the global infrastructure. The negative impacts will center around setbacks that will affect a paradigm that has for so long relied on the use of fossil fuels. Presently we are harvesting the fruits of that paradigm. Energy is at the foundation of any society, its importance surpassing even the sovereignty of a nation. Wars are fought over the access to natural resources. The cost involved in purchasing freedom from dependence on another country’s resources is irrelevant compared to the benefits. Add to that the value of an improved environment and a more secure future then the cost is a bargain.
To reiterate, solar power is an environmentally sound energy source that is virtually limitless. Every nation has brilliant minds that can devise better and more sophisticated ways of tapping into this resource. Mankind has proven over and over that he has been blessed with the ability to creatively improve on an idea. We can take this completely safe and natural energy source and come up with ever improving technologies to harness and utilize it. These resources and technologies can be made available to all nations without fear of one having more than the other.
Posts
