What
is solar energy and what is it used for?
By
Bobby Gardineer
What is solar energy? Solar energy
is the energy (solar radiation) received by the earth from the sun. This solar
energy is necessary to support life on our planet. The Sun’s energy provides
the Earth with heat and light. Plants, our food source, use the sun’s energy to
make food and oxygen through photosynthesis. Now people have been able to use
the same solar radiation to create electricity.
The Sun’s energy is needed and used,
one way or another, by every living thing on the planet but the focus of this
writing is the application of the sun’s energy to produce electricity. To
understand how it works we have to look at how the technology was created. The
“photovoltaic effect” was first observed by the French physicist Antoine-César
Becquerel back in 1839. During his experiment Becquerel observed a voltage
develop on his electrode when it was exposed to light. This was the first step
toward the development of a solar cell which is defined as any device that uses
photovoltaics to convert solar radiation to electrical energy.
The solar cells that were developed
before the 1950’s were very inefficient. They could only convert 1% of the
sun’s energy to electrical energy. Because of this reason, solar energy was not
viable as an energy source. In 1954, three American researchers developed a
solar cell made of silicon that was able to convert 6% of the lights energy to
electrical power. They went on to create the first solar panels and a solar
battery for Bell Laboratories’ telephone system in 1955.
Calvin S. Fuller at work diffusing boron into
silicon to create the world's first solar
cell
Since that time the technology continued to
be refined to create better efficiency. Today, most commercially available
solar panels are about 12% efficient at converting light to electricity.
Why is this important? Solar power
(photovoltaic) is a renewable energy source. It’s not like coal, gas, or oil
which have to be found and dug up and ultimately have a limited amount. As long
as the Sun continues to shine down on the Earth, which it will do for billions
of years to come, we will be able to use its energy as a source of power. It is
also different from fossil fuels in the fact that it does not pollute our
environment. Because of these facts it is obvious that solar power will
continue to be used more and more in the future over fossil fuels.
Today, is solar power practical
enough for home use? In my opinion, for the average American the conversion to
solar power is still pricey. The Federal Government offers a 30% tax credit as
well as incentives by state and local utility companies to help reduce the
overall conversion cost. While researching this writing I looked at one website
that offered a medium sized solar energy system that would generate 692 kWh a
month that would cost about $11,000. The site says that with the 30% federal
tax credit along with state a local utility company rebates that the system
would ultimately cost about $6,500. That cost doesn’t include installation.
It is my belief that the use of
solar power will continue to grow in the coming years. The recent economic
downturn has fueled the development of solar power as a new and growing
industry with companies starting up all over the country. Individuals and
companies appear to be looking for ways to cut costs and purchasing a system to
replace/supplement the high cost of electricity from local utility companies seems
to have become more popular.
Solar power is a clean renewable energy
source that I believe is the most viable energy source to replace fossil fuels
in the years to come.
This topic is really controversial just like trying to use nuclear energy as energy.
ReplyDeleteThis topic should not be controversial at all. With nuclear energy, the risks are not worth the rewards, with solar energy there are no ricks, but tons of awards. Solar energy will save you money. You will begin to see a profit from it in about 5 years. Not only r u saving money by producing your own energy, but u also receive major tax breaks from the government
ReplyDeleteAfter a while solar panels will begin to pay for themselves.
ReplyDeleteSolar energy could be the solution to saving our environment.
ReplyDeleteI would really like to see panels that inenergy reaped per square inch. It is truly amazing the amount of research and benefits that have come out of this energy source. however, I beliee it is currently an inconvienience and detterent of many people that just a few and expensive panels take up so much space. Because of their size, they need to get the right amount of light n order fo the expense to pay off. Since for some people the light minimum may not be feesable, the idea of creating something smaller but productive to perhaps put on a pole in your yard is an excellent idea for future progress.
ReplyDelete