There are many advantages of solar energy.
Here are some examples of what it has over oil, the world's current number one energy source:
•Solar energy is a renewable resource. Although it cannot be utilized at night or on cloudy days, its availability may be generally relied upon day after day. The solar energy supply will last as long as the sun.
•Oil, on the other hand, is not renewable. It takes millions of years to form. Currently, oil reserves are being depleted at a rate much quicker than more would take to develop.
•Solar energy is non-polluting. Of all the advantages of solar energy over oil, this is perhaps the most important. The burning of oil releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air. In addition to this, the process of obtaining it may result in damaged ecosystems through dredging or spills.
•Solar cells are long-lasting and require very little maintenance
• Although solar panels and their accessories (solar lights, etc.) may be expensive to buy at the onset, money is saved in the long run. This is because energy from the sun is widely available and free. Today rising oil prices are a major frustration on many government as well as individual levels.
•Solar powered lights and other solar powered products are very easy to install. This is because there are few wiring issues and little need to ever dig supporting trenches.
The many advantages of solar energy range from benefiting your pocketbook to benefiting the environment. In contrast, few features could be considered disadvantages. These include the current costliness of solar cells, as well as the fact that solar power cannot be created at night or on darkened days (though it can be stored during brighter times.)
Still, the advantages of solar energy far outweigh the disadvantages. In addition to this, the disadvantages are sure to be overcome as technology improves.
SAVE ENERGY:USE SOLAR ENERGY
Friday, April 10, 2009
Solar energy-Facts
Solar energy consists of the light and heat emitted by the sun, in the form of electromagnetic radiation.With today's technology, we are able to capture this radiation and turn it into usable forms of solar energy - such as heating or electricity.Although one could go into technical dissertations on the subject of electromagnetic radiation, how it is converted into solar energy, and the exact qualities of its electromagnetic rays, this is not something the average person needs or wants to know.But in order to be able to benefit from the use of solar energy, there are a few facts you should know. Knowing these facts can assist you to make sound decisions, when looking at the use of solar power as a clean energy source for your home, RV, or whatever the case may be.
Environmental Facts about Solar Energy
All life on earth is dependent upon solar energy. In fact, without solar energy, there would be no life at all. Even the lowest life forms, such as plankton and microbes, need solar energy (in the form of sunlight) in order to survive.Solar energy is completely environmental friendly, producing absolutely no carbon emissions or other harmful byproducts whatsoever.Solar energy can be used successfully and cost-effectively just about anywhere on the planet. You do not need to live in a tropical or desert climate in order to benefit from the use of solar energy. Solar power has been used successfully in many cold climates and even in the polar regions.Every area of the United States of America receives enough sunlight to benefit from and make use of solar energy and solar technology.Currently, the cheapest and most effective way of using solar energy in your home is through the use of solar water heating systems. In fact, solar water heating systems have been commercially available in the United States for over a 100 years.Solar energy can be used for heating homes effectively in cold climates, as well as in warm climates. In fact, for decades now, solar heating has been in use several cold-climate northern European countries.Solar energy technology has advanced to the point where it can be now be a viable and cost-effective replacement for regular grid-electricity.Solar energy is rapidly increasing in popularity - so much so that the demand for solar-powered gadgets is currently greater than the supply.
Facts about Solar Energy
Usage Solar energy can be used to provide electricity, heating and hot water for homes.Solar energy can also be used to heat swimming pools. Many pools in Scandinavia and Europe are in fact heated with solar energy.Solar Energy can be used to power vehicles, such as solar powered cars, and even a solar powered airplanes. NASA has successfully designed, built, and tested an airplane which is powered wholly by solar energy.A few examples are: solar battery chargers, solar flashlights, solar calculators, solar radios, solar-powered attic fans, solar power backpacks (to recharge batteries for small devices), hybrid solar chargers (for cell phones, satellite phones, and more), solar-powered garden lights ... and much, much more.
SAVE ENERGY:USE SOLAR POWER
Environmental Facts about Solar Energy
All life on earth is dependent upon solar energy. In fact, without solar energy, there would be no life at all. Even the lowest life forms, such as plankton and microbes, need solar energy (in the form of sunlight) in order to survive.Solar energy is completely environmental friendly, producing absolutely no carbon emissions or other harmful byproducts whatsoever.Solar energy can be used successfully and cost-effectively just about anywhere on the planet. You do not need to live in a tropical or desert climate in order to benefit from the use of solar energy. Solar power has been used successfully in many cold climates and even in the polar regions.Every area of the United States of America receives enough sunlight to benefit from and make use of solar energy and solar technology.Currently, the cheapest and most effective way of using solar energy in your home is through the use of solar water heating systems. In fact, solar water heating systems have been commercially available in the United States for over a 100 years.Solar energy can be used for heating homes effectively in cold climates, as well as in warm climates. In fact, for decades now, solar heating has been in use several cold-climate northern European countries.Solar energy technology has advanced to the point where it can be now be a viable and cost-effective replacement for regular grid-electricity.Solar energy is rapidly increasing in popularity - so much so that the demand for solar-powered gadgets is currently greater than the supply.
Facts about Solar Energy
Usage Solar energy can be used to provide electricity, heating and hot water for homes.Solar energy can also be used to heat swimming pools. Many pools in Scandinavia and Europe are in fact heated with solar energy.Solar Energy can be used to power vehicles, such as solar powered cars, and even a solar powered airplanes. NASA has successfully designed, built, and tested an airplane which is powered wholly by solar energy.A few examples are: solar battery chargers, solar flashlights, solar calculators, solar radios, solar-powered attic fans, solar power backpacks (to recharge batteries for small devices), hybrid solar chargers (for cell phones, satellite phones, and more), solar-powered garden lights ... and much, much more.
SAVE ENERGY:USE SOLAR POWER
solar energy-Principle
This article will describe how solar energy is created and cover some of its basic principles.Solar energy is created by light and heat which is emitted by the sun, in the form of electromagnetic radiation.With today's technology, we are able to capture this radiation and turn it into usable forms of solar energy - such as heating or electricity.Although one could go into technical dissertations on the subject of electromagnetic radiation, how it is converted into solar energy, and the exact qualities of its electromagnetic rays, this is not something the average person needs or wants to know.But in order to be able to benefit from the use of solar energy, there are a few facts you should know. Knowing these facts can assist you to make a sound decisions, when looking at the use of solar power as a clean energy source for your home, RV, or whatever the case may be.
Available Solar ResourceThe technical feasibility and economical viability of using solar energy depends on the amount of available sunlight (solar radiation) in the area where you intend to place solar heaters or solar panels.This is sometimes referred to as the available solar resource.Every part of Earth is provided with sunlight during at least one part of the year. (I say "part of the year" as the north and south polar caps are each in total darkness for a few months of the year.) The amount of sunlight available is one factor to take into account when considering using solar energy.There are a few other factors, however, which need to be looked at when determining the viability of solar energy in any given location. These are as follows:
Geographic location
Time of day
Season
Local landscape
Local weather
Because the Earth is round, the sun hits its surface at different angles, at different locations on the globe. This ranges from 0º (just above the horizon - a good example of this is the north pole during the winter) to 90º (directly overhead, at and near the equator).When the sun's rays are vertical (directly overhead), the Earth's surface gets a maximum of solar energy. The more slanted the sun's rays are, the longer they have to travel through Earth's atmosphere before reaching the surface (becoming more scattered and diffuse as they go along).The more scattered and diffuse the sun rays are, the less concentrated the solar energy is. Because of the fact that the Earth is round, the polar regions never get direct sunlight, and, during their respective winter months, they receive no sun at all.The Earth travels around the sun, in an elliptical orbit. Because of its elliptical path, the northern hemisphere of the Earth is closer to the sun during one half of the year, and the southern hemisphere is closer during the other half of the year.When one part of the Earth is closer to the sun, it receives more concentrated solar energy. This is the time of year that is referred to as "summer."But regardless of summer or winter, the 23.5º tilt of the Earth's axis plays a larger role in determining the amount of sunlight striking Earth at a particular location. The Earth's tilting results in longer days in the northern hemisphere during one half the year, and longer days in the southern hemisphere during the other half of the year.Areas such as the United States and Europe receive more solar energy between May and September - not only because days are longer, but also because the sun is almost directly overhead during this season. The sun's rays are far more slanted during the shorter days of the winter months. Cities such as Denver, Colorado, receive nearly three times more solar energy in June than they do in December.
Diffuse and Direct SunlightAs sunlight passes through Earth's atmosphere, some of it is absorbed, scattered, and reflected.The following is a general list of materials which cause the sunlight to become diffused:
Air Molecules
Water vapor
Clouds
Dust
Pollutants
Sunlight affected in this way is referred to as diffuse solar radiation or diffuse sunlight.Sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface without being diffused is called direct beam solar radiation or direct sunlight.The sum total of all diffuse and direct solar radiation in a given location is called global solar radiation. It is the total amount of sunlight hitting the Earth at any specific spot, both direct and diffuse combined.Pollution and other atmospheric conditions (such as weather patterns) can reduce direct sunlight by 10% on clear dry days. They can reduce direct beam radiation by 100% on thick, cloudy days.Note that the absence of direct sunlight does not imply total darkness, as some diffuse light will still get through.
Measuring Sunlight and Solar Energy Scientists measure the amount of sunlight available in specific locations during the different times of year.They are then able to estimate the amount of sunlight which falls on similar regions at the same latitude with similar climates and conditions.Measurements of solar energy are normally expressed as "total radiation on a horizontal surface", or as "total amount of radiation on a surface tracking the sun".In this last case, the assumption is that one is using a solar panel that automatically tracks the sun.In other words, the solar panel would be mounted on a tracking device so that the panel would remain at right angles to the sun throughout the day.This system is primarily used for industrial setups, when it is used at all.
Solar Energy Measurements Radiation data (the amount of solar energy available at a given location) for solar electric (photovoltaic) systems is often represented as kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m2). Direct estimates of solar energy may be expressed as "watts per square meter" (W/m2).Radiation data for solar water heating and space heating systems is usually represented in British thermal units per square foot (Btu/ft2).
SAVE ENERGY:USE SOLAR ENERGY
Available Solar ResourceThe technical feasibility and economical viability of using solar energy depends on the amount of available sunlight (solar radiation) in the area where you intend to place solar heaters or solar panels.This is sometimes referred to as the available solar resource.Every part of Earth is provided with sunlight during at least one part of the year. (I say "part of the year" as the north and south polar caps are each in total darkness for a few months of the year.) The amount of sunlight available is one factor to take into account when considering using solar energy.There are a few other factors, however, which need to be looked at when determining the viability of solar energy in any given location. These are as follows:
Geographic location
Time of day
Season
Local landscape
Local weather
Because the Earth is round, the sun hits its surface at different angles, at different locations on the globe. This ranges from 0º (just above the horizon - a good example of this is the north pole during the winter) to 90º (directly overhead, at and near the equator).When the sun's rays are vertical (directly overhead), the Earth's surface gets a maximum of solar energy. The more slanted the sun's rays are, the longer they have to travel through Earth's atmosphere before reaching the surface (becoming more scattered and diffuse as they go along).The more scattered and diffuse the sun rays are, the less concentrated the solar energy is. Because of the fact that the Earth is round, the polar regions never get direct sunlight, and, during their respective winter months, they receive no sun at all.The Earth travels around the sun, in an elliptical orbit. Because of its elliptical path, the northern hemisphere of the Earth is closer to the sun during one half of the year, and the southern hemisphere is closer during the other half of the year.When one part of the Earth is closer to the sun, it receives more concentrated solar energy. This is the time of year that is referred to as "summer."But regardless of summer or winter, the 23.5º tilt of the Earth's axis plays a larger role in determining the amount of sunlight striking Earth at a particular location. The Earth's tilting results in longer days in the northern hemisphere during one half the year, and longer days in the southern hemisphere during the other half of the year.Areas such as the United States and Europe receive more solar energy between May and September - not only because days are longer, but also because the sun is almost directly overhead during this season. The sun's rays are far more slanted during the shorter days of the winter months. Cities such as Denver, Colorado, receive nearly three times more solar energy in June than they do in December.
Diffuse and Direct SunlightAs sunlight passes through Earth's atmosphere, some of it is absorbed, scattered, and reflected.The following is a general list of materials which cause the sunlight to become diffused:
Air Molecules
Water vapor
Clouds
Dust
Pollutants
Sunlight affected in this way is referred to as diffuse solar radiation or diffuse sunlight.Sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface without being diffused is called direct beam solar radiation or direct sunlight.The sum total of all diffuse and direct solar radiation in a given location is called global solar radiation. It is the total amount of sunlight hitting the Earth at any specific spot, both direct and diffuse combined.Pollution and other atmospheric conditions (such as weather patterns) can reduce direct sunlight by 10% on clear dry days. They can reduce direct beam radiation by 100% on thick, cloudy days.Note that the absence of direct sunlight does not imply total darkness, as some diffuse light will still get through.
Measuring Sunlight and Solar Energy Scientists measure the amount of sunlight available in specific locations during the different times of year.They are then able to estimate the amount of sunlight which falls on similar regions at the same latitude with similar climates and conditions.Measurements of solar energy are normally expressed as "total radiation on a horizontal surface", or as "total amount of radiation on a surface tracking the sun".In this last case, the assumption is that one is using a solar panel that automatically tracks the sun.In other words, the solar panel would be mounted on a tracking device so that the panel would remain at right angles to the sun throughout the day.This system is primarily used for industrial setups, when it is used at all.
Solar Energy Measurements Radiation data (the amount of solar energy available at a given location) for solar electric (photovoltaic) systems is often represented as kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m2). Direct estimates of solar energy may be expressed as "watts per square meter" (W/m2).Radiation data for solar water heating and space heating systems is usually represented in British thermal units per square foot (Btu/ft2).
SAVE ENERGY:USE SOLAR ENERGY
solar energy - the future source
Solar energy is the most readily available source of energy. It does not belong to anybody and is, therefore, free. It is also the most important of the non-conventional sources of energy because it is non-polluting and, therefore, helps in lessening the greenhouse effect.
Solar energy has been used since prehistoric times, but in a most primitive manner. Before 1970, some research and development was carried out in a few countries to exploit solar energy more efficiently, but most of this work remained mainly academic. After the dramatic rise in oil prices in the 1970s, several countries began to formulate extensive research and development programmes to exploit solar energy.
When we hang out our clothes to dry in the sun, we use the energy of the sun. In the same way, solar panels absorb the energy of the sun to provide heat for cooking and for heating water. Such systems are available in the market and are being used in homes and factories.
In the next few years it is expected that millions of households in the world will be using solar energy as the trends in USA and Japan show. In India too, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency and the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources are formulating a programme to have solar energy in more than a million households in the next few years. However, the people’s initiative is essential if the programme is to be successful.
India is one of the few countries with long days and plenty of sunshine, especially in the Thar desert region. This zone, having abundant solar energy available, is suitable for harnessing solar energy for a number of applications. In areas with similar intensity of solar radiation, solar energy could be easily harnessed. Solar thermal energy is being used in India for heating water for both industrial and domestic purposes. A 140 MW integrated solar power plant is to be set up in Jodhpur but the initial expense incurred is still very high.
Form of Energy: Thermal energyThis energy is used for: Cooking/Heating, Drying/Timber seasoning, Distillation, Electricity/Power generation, Cooling, Refrigeration, Cold storage
Some of the gadgets and other devices: Solar cooker, Flat plate solar cookers, Concentrating collectors, Solar hot water systems (Domestic and Industrial), Solar pond, Solar hot air systems, Solar Dryers, Solar timber kilns, solar stills, Solar photovoltaic systems, Solar pond, Concentrating collectors, Power Tower, Air conditioning, Solar collectors, coupled to absorption, Refrigeration systems
Solar energy can also be used to meet our electricity requirements. Through Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) cells, solar radiation gets converted into DC electricity directly. This electricity can either be used as it is or can be stored in the battery. This stored electrical energy then can be used at night. SPV can be used for a number of applications such as: a. domestic lighting b. street lighting c. village electrification d. water pumping e. desalination of salty water f. powering of remote telecommunication repeater stations and g. railway signals.
SAVE ENERGY:USE SOLAR ENERGY
Solar energy has been used since prehistoric times, but in a most primitive manner. Before 1970, some research and development was carried out in a few countries to exploit solar energy more efficiently, but most of this work remained mainly academic. After the dramatic rise in oil prices in the 1970s, several countries began to formulate extensive research and development programmes to exploit solar energy.
When we hang out our clothes to dry in the sun, we use the energy of the sun. In the same way, solar panels absorb the energy of the sun to provide heat for cooking and for heating water. Such systems are available in the market and are being used in homes and factories.
In the next few years it is expected that millions of households in the world will be using solar energy as the trends in USA and Japan show. In India too, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency and the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources are formulating a programme to have solar energy in more than a million households in the next few years. However, the people’s initiative is essential if the programme is to be successful.
India is one of the few countries with long days and plenty of sunshine, especially in the Thar desert region. This zone, having abundant solar energy available, is suitable for harnessing solar energy for a number of applications. In areas with similar intensity of solar radiation, solar energy could be easily harnessed. Solar thermal energy is being used in India for heating water for both industrial and domestic purposes. A 140 MW integrated solar power plant is to be set up in Jodhpur but the initial expense incurred is still very high.
Form of Energy: Thermal energyThis energy is used for: Cooking/Heating, Drying/Timber seasoning, Distillation, Electricity/Power generation, Cooling, Refrigeration, Cold storage
Some of the gadgets and other devices: Solar cooker, Flat plate solar cookers, Concentrating collectors, Solar hot water systems (Domestic and Industrial), Solar pond, Solar hot air systems, Solar Dryers, Solar timber kilns, solar stills, Solar photovoltaic systems, Solar pond, Concentrating collectors, Power Tower, Air conditioning, Solar collectors, coupled to absorption, Refrigeration systems
Solar energy can also be used to meet our electricity requirements. Through Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) cells, solar radiation gets converted into DC electricity directly. This electricity can either be used as it is or can be stored in the battery. This stored electrical energy then can be used at night. SPV can be used for a number of applications such as: a. domestic lighting b. street lighting c. village electrification d. water pumping e. desalination of salty water f. powering of remote telecommunication repeater stations and g. railway signals.
SAVE ENERGY:USE SOLAR ENERGY
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