When you are lying in the sun soaking up those rays, think about how this source of energy can be used. The sun has enough energy to take care of the power needs of the world over and over again. It does not pollute the earth. It is not costly and will not be depleted by use.
The light from the sun can be turned into electricity by using a few simple steps. When the sun shines on you, don’t you feel the heat? This is the principle by which solar power works. There are certain materials, such as solar panels which when heated by the sun can be used to power all types of electrical items.
The old time way of creating solar energy used very large crystals. The crystals were made of silicon and when the sunlight hit them, an electrical current was produced. Silicon has electrons which move when the sunlight is directed on them. They help to turn a lot of light into electricity. The only problem with this method is the large crystals are hard to grow.
With today’s technology the development of small crystals are being utilized, which are cheaper than the large ones. The crystals today can be formed into a thin film.
The problem with using solar energy is the expense. When compared to wood or coal the expense of solar energy is higher which is why people are not switching right away. Some people build their own solar panels, which is easier than you may think.
The government is trying to encourage the change from regular fossil fuels to solar power. By offering incentives for changing to solar power in the form of rebates and discounts, their hope is that many people will switch.
Solar panels can be installed on roofs or in yards depending upon where the maximum amount of sunlight is available. The panels are made up of solar cells which are wired together. The whole thing is enclosed under glass to protect it from rain, snow and other types of severe weather. The groups of solar cells are called modules.
On the side which gets the sun, the cells are under a see-through solar glass pane. When the solar cells have a run in with the photons, this transforms the energy into electrons. The electrons are then carried to wires which are connected to the cell. Electricity is available for running appliances or lights.
One hundred fifty watts of electricity can be produced by just one square meter of solar panels. Overcast days will still allow the power to be generated. It just will not be as much power. There is not much change in the voltage; it is the amps and watts that will change.
Once the development of solar power has progressed to the point of being easily affordable, there will be more usage. The problem right now is the high cost of installing the panels. They will pay for themselves over a period of time, but for many people the expense of installing them is more than they can afford at the present.
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[...] is unthinkable, and it is only a matter of time before using solar energy for everything from powering our homes, heating our living spaces and warming our bath water is something that everyone is [...]
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