All About Solar Energy
A Brief History of Solar Power
Solar power has been around for a long time. It was discovered in 1905 by Albert Einstein, and was demonstrated by Bell Laboratories in 1954. NASA was the first to make widespread use of solar power, by using solar energy to power spacecraft as early as the 1960s.
When solar power began to be used by homes, it was mostly off the grid in rural areas. However, it has now reached the point where it is used both off grid and on grid for power.
The initial expense of installing solar panels/array systems have deterred the mainstream use of solar energy. Recent advancements continue to make solar power more affordable, which will contribute to its common use in the near future.
What is Solar Energy?
Solar power is a clean and renewable source of alternative energy. Simply put, solar power is the energy harnessed from sunlight (not from the heat of the sun). This process of conversion of sunlight into electrical energy is achieved with the use of solar photovoltaic panels or solar cells.
How do Solar Energy Panels work?
Solar energy panels, which is also referred to as photovoltaic (PV) technology, play a vital role in converting sunlight to electricity.
In a solar energy cell, two oppositely charged slices of semi-conducting material (such as silicon) are placed under glass. The photons from sunlight interacts with the silicon atoms in such a way that direct current (DC) electricity is generated, which can be converted into AC, which can be used.
Solar Power for Home Use
Home improvement stores are increasing their solar powered inventory. Some of these products are solar panels for: garden/patio lighting, heating the swimming pool, water heaters.
Solar water heaters, however, do not require the use of panels. Rather, they heat the water using the direct heat from the sun.
These products are reasonably priced, and can help you substantially save on your electric bill.
On a larger scale, many homes nowadays are fully supported by electricity generated by solar panels. The energy requirement for a whole home requires joining of many small photovoltaic cells to form an array, which can harvest enough energy to fully power the home.
Some Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Power:
Advantages:
- Free, Clean, and Renewable Source of Energy
- There is very little or no maintenance required
- The life span of these systems is around 40 to 50 years
Disadvantages:
- The initial investment for solar panels/arrays can be costly, however, recent advancements can lead to more affordable systems.
- It requires installation and some changes to the home to be run on solar power.
Solar Power And "The Grid"
Much solar power is used "off the grid". It can easily be used to charge batteries, which can be stored to be used even when the sun is not shining. Homes that are completely off the grid can keep and store their electricity and use it in the same way that they would use power from the power company.
Persons who use solar power can also connect to the grid. This allows them to have extra power if they need it. It can also allow them to provide the grid with power, by selling electricity back to the power company.
Selling electricity back to the power company can reduce the owner's electric bill, or can reduce the electric power company's output, which can help the environment, especially if the electric company produces electricity by burning coal.
This page will continue to grow into a more comprehensive resource about all the info you need about solar energy.