Most power plants in the US and all over the world are using coal to operate and generate electricity. Fossil fuel has been used as an energy source as long as man has learned to generate power. Coal has been around for centuries and when man started using this energy sources no one though about the consequences. mineral fuels will run out and there will be a shortage of it in near future. This shortage in fossil fuel will have its affect on our daily live and various industries. Today we see some of these affects already, fossil fuel prices are raising and generated energy is becoming more expensive. Although mineral fuels are more scares, to need for fossil fuels will still be here and will not decrease in near future. To solve this shortage of mineral fuels we will need to look for other possibilities for our energy demand.
Fortunately, green energy sources are growing in interest. For instance, locations with large rivers are experimenting on building a hydro-electric power plant, which turns out to be beneficial. Other locations with strong wind speed make use of a wind generator that can convert wind power into electricity. Also thermal and tidal powers are good alternatives.
Energy from the sun is also one of the alternative energy sources that is gaining in interest. green energy has steadily been growing. Today energy from the sun is widely used in the US and the advantages are tremendous. Our green energy source, the sun, its life span is estimated to be another 4.5 billion years. It is fair to say that this energy source is almost endless.
Rate of Energy from the Sun
The sun’s radiation reaches a certain unit of area in space in the region of the Earth’s orbit and is estimated to be at 1,400 watts per square meter. Out of this, photovoltaic cells can capture 19 to 56 watts per square meter (for 15% efficiency) or an equivalent of 0.45 to 1.35 kilowatt per hour (kWh) in an average day and night average.
Therefore, if there would be larger area that will be covered by more solar panels, these panels can produce a little more energy in the form of electricity than what is currently available from our imported sources of energy combined (assuming 8% solar cell efficiency).
Convert Solar Energy
There are two ways of conversion of solar energy. First is the direct sunlight which involves only one conversion into a usable form. For instance:
• Sunlight hits the solar cell, converting it into electricity.
• Sunlight hits the absorber surface of a solar thermal collector, converting into thermal energy which can be used to heat homes during cold season.
The second is the indirect solar energy which involves more than one conversion to reach a usable form. For instance:
• Plants use photosynthesis to transform solar energy to chemical energy, which can be burned later as fuel to generate electricity (also known as bio-fuel technology).
• Hydroelectric dams and wind turbines are indirectly supplied by solar energy through its interaction with the Earth’s atmosphere.
What is Good and Not Good About Solar Energy
Just like any other types of energy resources, solar energy has its ins and outs.
What’s Good:
• Pollution-free.
• Solar facilities can be run with little extra input or maintenance.
• It is abundant. As mentioned earlier, almost all inhabited areas here on Earth can be reached by the sun’s rays.
Cons:
• Although it is everywhere, non-tropical locations can receive little sunlight. Thus, energy that will be produced in these locations is a minimum.
• Only during daylight hours thus not available after dark.
• Photovoltaic cell technologies generate direct current (DC) power which needs to be converted to alternating current (AC) power used in distribution grids.
Once extensive development of the use of the sun’s rays is materialized, expect that every household or business in the world will now be powered by solar energy. It is not just a dream, it will be a dream come true.
Authored By:
Dennis Killian
