Solar Power Energy

The sun creates an enormous amount of energy every second of every day. If we could harness just a fraction of that solar power energy we could supply the power needs of the entire planet many times over. Solar power technology is now maturing to the point where it has become a feasible alternative for many of the power needs we now meet by burning fossil fuels.

There are mainstream ways we can use solar power energy to create electricity or to create heat. Photovoltaic cells, linked together into modules and arrays are able to produce enough electricity for household or industrial use. Solar panels can also be used to heat water, and solar furnaces can magnify the power of the sun to high temperatures.

Solar power is most commonly used in southern areas which receive a lot of sunshine, but photovoltaic technology is advancing to the point where solar power can be generated in more northerly areas as well. Solar cells are being built that can produce a usable amount of electricity even under cloudy conditions.

Solar cells are built from specially treated silicon that creates an electrical charge when exposed to sunshine. Each cell by itself only produces a small amount of power, but they can be wired together to increase the power to standard levels.

Solar power energy for residential is usually created by installing solar cells on a rooftop that has adequate sun exposure. The electricity produced is available for immediate use and if there is any excess it can be fed back to the utility company for a credit. This system eliminates the need for costly batteries to store the power. One disadvantage is that in case of a black- or grey-out your system goes down too. So this is no solution if there are serious grid problems or for example in crisis situations. One of the reasons that your system shuts down when there is no grid power is that there are people working on the power lines. They assume to be working on "dead wires" during a black-out. If people with net-metering systems keep on feeding power into the grid that can be very hazardous to those engineers.

This means that no matter what net-metering system use apply, always make sure that it shuts down in case of a power failure.

Solar panels for hot water can also be installed on rooftops. The water is fed through the panels in pipes which are painted black for maximum absorption of solar energy. Hot water is stored in insulated tanks for later use.

Solar energy is a clean, renewable source of power. By learning how to harness it for our energy needs we will create a cleaner environment for future generations.

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