These Facts Will Demonstrate Whether We Really Need Solar Energy

The sun is simply one big battery for us.

For decades, we have depended on non-renewable, fossil fuel energy such as coal and petroleum and we still do. Even though the switchover to renewable energy forms have already been started long time back, the uptake is not as rapid and widespread as proponents of such energy systems would like. A mix of technological barriers, implementation costs and environmental constraints is responsible for renewable energy playing second fiddle to non-renewable energy.

Solar energy is one of the important renewable energy sources that people use to light up homes, cook food, watch TV and do a host of other activities. Whether we must go all-out to exploit this energy is a big question. Maybe the following facts will throw some lights on it.

• Every day, the earth receives 174 petawatts of incoming solar radiation. One petawatt is equal to one billion millions watts. While about 30% of this is reflected back to space, the rest is absorbed by clouds, land masses, and water bodies.
• By using solar power, we can convert solar energy into electricity. It can be through either photo-voltaic (direct method) or concentrated solar power (Indirect method). Photo-voltaic uses photo-electric effect to convert solar energy into electric energy while in concentrated solar power, large beams of sunlight are focused into a small area using lenses or mirrors.
• Due to its non-polluting nature and significant role in combating the greenhouse effect created by use of fossils fuels, solar energy is being recognized as the future of alternative energy sources, especially as a viable home lighting system.
• In regard to home solar panels, sunlight is absorbed by these panels and converted to electricity with the aid of solar inverters. The battery stores electricity that people can used during evenings or on cloudy days.
• Horticulture and agriculture seek to make the most of solar energy. For example, green houses are used to convert light into heat to cultivate selected plants year-long. Also promotion of plant varieties and the timing of planting cycles consume huge amount of solar energy.

Conclusion

From solar lamps or lanterns to large solar panels, people in different parts of the world have been utilizing, to some extent, this powerful and generous source of energy. But still there are grounds to cover and milestones to create for mankind to transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy. Encourage families and friends to buy and use solar technologies, which are easily available online these days. Make a difference.