Understand the workings of solar power and understand how it can help us by coming into use in various energy generating applications. Where do we get solar power from, and how does it work?
The popularity of solar power seems undiminished even after decades of its discovery. It was what everybody was raving about in the 70′s. The popular frenzy over solar power continued well into the 80′s too. What is surprising to note is that solar power is still enjoying tremendous popularity even today.
So what makes solar power such a ‘hot’ idea (no pun intended) even after all these years? The first, and the most important reason, is the economy. If you’ve ever wondered if there is such a thing as free energy, well, solar power is the closest you can get. The sun is a massive storehouse of abundant energy.
Solar energy is virtually limitless. For millions of years, solar energy has supported life on earth. And now, thanks to modern science and technology, the same energy will help keep our homes warm and bright, especially during those cold winter days.
This is when the alternative is going mainstream, at least in the field of energy generation and commercial power production. The need of the hour is to produce an abundant quantity of ‘green,’ renewable, and low-cost energy to stop putting excessive strain on our natural resources.
How can solar power help us?
The sun is the ultimate source of energy for the planet. The sun is a gigantic storehouse of unfathomable energy. It has countless benefits, some obvious and some that are less apparent.
In fact, mankind has always benefited from the sun in many ways from the earliest times. It is continuing to receive its best every day even now. No other source of power save solar energy offers so much better without causing any harm to us or the environment we live in.
Thanks to modern science and technology, we now have many sophisticated and ingenious means of capturing solar energy in various applications. Devices like photovoltaic cells are implemented for converting solar power into electricity.
Other modern types of equipment that gets its power from the sun include solar chimneys, solar cells, solar water heaters, solar thermal devices, etc. All these devices use solar radiation for their operation and offer a degree of economy and convenience that is simply unmatched.
However, the actual performance of these applications may vary greatly depending on several incumbent factors.
Solar technology can be categorized into two main types – active and passive. This classification is based on how solar radiation is captured and converted into the desired form of energy and distributed.
The various solar devices mentioned above fall under the active solar technology category. They involve the direct conversion of solar radiation into the required form of energy. On the other hand, passive solar technologies cover all those materials that have favorable thermal properties and involve designing buildings and spaces with prime and proper air circulation and ample exposure to sunlight.
Be it active or passive, both forms of solar technologies serve the purpose of increasing solar power conservation. Active solar technologies encourage solar energy production, while passive solar technologies lessen our dependence on non-solar power.
No other means of generating power save solar power helps us preserve and protect our environment. This is achieved under solar energy’s clean and ‘green’ nature.
Finding out the areas where solar power is used
Using solar panels is one of the best alternative means of getting the energy that we need daily. Today, solar power is used in a most diverse range of applications and is used far and wide worldwide.
The list of the many uses of solar power starts with the contribution of solar energy in architecture and urban planning that emphasize features like orientating buildings towards the sun, adopting selective shading, compacting proportion, and so on.
When carefully matched with the corresponding climate and environment of a particular area, all these factors can lead to the development of well-lit spaces.
The list of solar applications continues with its use in agriculture. The sun’s power has long been used by farmers everywhere to optimize and improve the productivity of crops. Techniques like fruit walls and sloping walls have been practiced to enhance solar energy collection and improve crop yields.
Other solar power applications in agriculture include powering water pumps, drying crops, and more. A greenhouse is another technology applied for specialty crops that are not suited to the local climatic conditions and require year-round heat to reap well.
Yet another significant role of solar power is in the domestic field, including technologies like daylighting, solar thermals, water-heaters, and cooking.
Photovoltaic cells and solar panels are implemented to convert sunlight into electricity. The list thus goes on with numerous applications of solar energy in our daily lives and specialized fields like chemistry labs where sunlight is converted into chemical energy.
Some rare chemical reactions require solar energy to be triggered. Such reactions can be broadly divided into thermo-chemical and photochemical reactions depending upon how solar energy is used in the process.
Finally, there’s the big economic advantage of using solar energy, which is probably the cheapest energy source!
Installing a solar energy panel at home is one of the best decisions you will ever make. Not only will you be happy to watch your energy costs go down radically, but you will also be glad to know that you are doing your bit for the environment and ensuring a greener tomorrow for your children.
The best thing about solar technology is that it can be realized with even the simplest means. Building your very own solar system (and thereby bypassing the usual high expenses of a commercially available installation) is very much possible. A step-by-step guide, which walks you through all the necessary steps, can prove to be useful in this regard, especially if you are new to solar energy.