Nature has provided us with several sources of energy. These sources of energy fall under two broad categories – non renewable and renewable. Majority of our needs are currently being met by non-renewable energy sources such as oil, natural gas, coal, petroleum etc. Unfortunately given the rapid increase in population and energy demands over the last several decades, we are perilously close to exhausting our natural reserves of non-renewable energy.
This leaves us with the renewable sources of energy which include the sun, wind and water. Each of these is abundantly available and can be used to generate large amounts of energy without getting depleted. Of these three, the most widespread and easily available is solar energy. Solar energy has been used for millennia by mankind to dry food and clothes, to cook food and of course to grow plants and crops. Today it has become essential to harness this solar energy and use it to meet our increased energy demands.
Solar power energy is now being harnessed by specially developed solar power systems and mechanisms. This solar power energy can be used in two ways – either as thermal energy to heat water or even spaces, or as electricity. To convert solar power energy into electricity, special cells known as ‘photovoltiac cells’ are used. These photovoltaic cells can be used in everything from a handheld calculator and wristwatches to street lights and even home solar power systems. Electricity can also be generated from sunlight in solar power plants. Here solar heat collectors absorb sunlight and heat a fluid which produces steam to operate a generator.
Solar power energy can also be used for heating purposes. This can be done either passively in which sunlight is directly used to heat water, rooms etc without the use of any machines. Active heating is when solar collectors are used to absorb sunlight and pumps are used to circulate the heated air.
What makes solar power energy advantageous when it comes to generating electricity is that sunlight is free. There is no charge on the source energy and thus everyone can get it. You just need to invest in the power system which pays itself off in a couple of years by the money you save on energy bills. Solar power energy is also better than conventional mechanical generators as the conversion from sunlight to electricity is direct and thus no bulky machinery is required. Another advantage is that photovoltaic cells are easy to install and can be put together in any number and any size depending on how much energy you want to generate. Finally, solar power energy is extremely environmentally friendly and releases no polluting by products.
