Renewable Energy Soultions

Solar Energy

Solar Energy Basics

Solar energy is the radiant light and heat from the Sun that reaches the earth and can be harnessed as a clean, abundant and renewable energy source. The sun has been used by humans to produce energy for billions of years using many constantly evolving technologies. The sun along with other solar resources like wind, wave, hydroelectricty and biomass account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth. The solar energy that reaches earth in a year is around twice the amount that can be obtained from all the non-renewable resources of coal, oil, natural gas, and mined uranium combined. The problem is that only a small fraction of the available solar energy is used. The U.S. solar market needs to produce and distribute solar energy that is competative with the existing fossil fuel sources. This would help the U.S. to be more energy independent and as important be good for the environment.

Solar energy can be converted to electricity in two ways:

• Photovoltaic (PV devices) or “solar cells” – change sunlight directly into electricity. PV systems are often used in remote locations that are not connected to the electric grid. They are also used to power watches, calculators, and lighted road signs.

• Solar Power Plants - indirectly generate electricity when the heat from solar thermal collectors is used to heat a fluid which produces steam that is used to power generator.

Once this energy is converted there are both personal and business applications.

Solar power can be produced individually for homes with solar equipment on rooftops or on the ground close to where the power is used. A partial list for homeowners to utilize solar technologies is for heating and cooling systems that include space heating and cooling through solar architecture, water heaters, potable water via distillation and disinfection, daylighting and thermal energy for cooking. They may be able to produce enough electricity to operate "off-grid" or still be able to be connected to local systems if needed. Homeowners can also sell the extra electricity to the utility companies if local programs provide this program. This program is called net metering.

Businesses and industry can use solar technologies for heating and cooling, high temperature heat for industrial processes, electricity, and water heating. Solar Utilities and power plants are taking advantage of the sun's energy and can offer the benefits to their customers. Solar power systems allow the power plants to create electricity from the sun on a larger scale, and this allows consumers to use solar power without making the investment in solar technology systems.

Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way the sunlight is captured, converted and distributed. Active solar techniques use photovoltaic panels, solar thermal collectors, with electrical or mechanical equipment, pumps, and fans to convert sunlight into electricity. Active solar technologies increase the supply of energy and are said to be supply side technologies.

Solar technologies are passive or active depending on the way the sunlight is collected, converted and distributed. Active solar techniques use photovoltaic panels, pumps, and fans to convert sunlight into electricity. Active solar technologies increase the supply of energy and are said to be supply side technologies, while passive solar technologies reduce the need for alternate resources and are usually called demand side technologies. Passive solar techniques include using materials with good thermal properties or light dispersing properties, designing spaces that naturally circulate air, and positioning a building in relationship to the sun. With the use of passive solar heating and daylighting design strategies, it can help both homes and businesses run efficiently and create pleasant spaces where we live and work.

The major disadvantages of solar energy are:

• The amount of sunlight that arrives at the earth's surface is not constant. It depends on location, time of day, time of year, and weather conditions.

• Because the sun doesn't deliver that much energy to any one place at any one time, a large surface area is required to collect the energy at a useful rate.