Solar Energy

SOLAR ENERGY
What is solar energy?

Solar energy is, simply, energy provided by the sun. This energy is in the
form of solar radiation, which makes the production of solar electricity
possible.
FACTS OF SOLAR ENERGY
Fact 1: Solar energy is a completely free source of energy and it is
found in abundance. Though the sun is 90 million miles from the earth,
it takes less than 10 minutes for light to travel from that much of
distance.
Fact 2: Solar energy which comprises of radiant heat and light from the
sun can be harnessed with some modern technology like photo-voltaic,
solar heating, artificial photosynthesis, solar architecture and solar
thermal electricity.
Fact 3: The solar technology can be distinguished into active and

passive. Photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors which harness
solar energy are examples of active solar technology. Passive technology
includes constructing rooms to improve air circulation, orienting space
to favorably use sunlight.
Fact 4: The earth gets 174 Petawatts of incoming solar radiation in the
upper atmosphere. About 30% is reflected back to space and the rest is
absorbed by oceans, clouds and land masses.
Fact 5: The water cycle is an important result of solar insulation. The

earth, oceans and atmosphere absorb solar radiation and their
temperature rises. Warm air rises from the oceans causing convection.
When this air rises to high altitudes, clouds are created by condensation
of water vapor. These clouds cause rains that bring water back to the
earth’s surface which completes the water cycle.
Fact 6: Solar energy has also another use. By means of photosynthesis,

solar energy is converted by green plants into chemical energy which
creates the bio mass that makes up the fossil fuels.
Fact 7: Horticulture and agriculture seek to make the maximum use of

solar energy. These include techniques like timing of planting cycles and
mixing of plant varieties. Green houses are also used to convert light
into heat to promote year round cultivation of special crops.
Fact 8: Solar powered hot water systems utilize solar energy to heat
water. In certain areas, 60 to 70% of water used domestically for
temperatures as high as 60 degree Celsius can be made available by
solar heating.
Fact 9: Solar chimneys are passive solar ventilation systems. Shafts

connect the interior and exterior of the building. The functioning can be
improved by glazing and using thermal mass materials.
Fact 10: Solar energy can also be used for making potable, brackish or
saline water. Without using electricity or chemicals, waste water can be
treated. Creating salt from sea water is also one of the oldest uses of
solar energy.
Fact 11: Clothes can be dried in the sun using clothes lines, cloth racks
etc.
Fact 12: Food can be cooked, dried or pasteurized using solar energy.
Fact 13: Solar power is the most exciting use of solar energy. It is how
solar energy is converted into electricity by using either photo-voltaic
(direct method) or concentrated solar power (Indirect). Large beams of
sunlight are focused into a small beam using mirrors or lenses in the case
of concentrated solar power. Photoelectric effect is used by Photo voltaic
to convert solar energy into electric energy.
Fact 14: Solar chemical processes replace fossil fuels as a source for
chemical energy and can make solar energy storable and transportable.
Photosynthesis can create a variety of fuels. Technology for producing
Hydrogen is a major area of solar chemical research.
Fact 15: Thermal storage systems can store solar energy in the form of
heat by using common materials with high specific heat such as stone,
earth and water. Solar energy can be stored also in molten salts.
Fact 16: The oil crisis of 1970 revealed the delicate nature of fossil fuels
as a source of energy for the world. As such research in alternative,
renewable energy technology like that of solar and wind energy gained
momentum.
Fact 17: Solar energy is being recognized as the future of alternative

energy sources as it is non polluting and helps combat the Greenhouse
effect on global climate created by use of fossils fuels.
Fact 18: Common domestic use of solar energy is from solar panels
which absorb solar energy to use for cooking and heating water.
Fact 19: Solar energy produce no pollution, have no environmental

effects and is ecologically acceptable.
Fact 20: Solar energy is one of the most widely used renewable source
of energy. One can use renewable energy technologies to convert solar
energy into electricity.
Fact 21: With new advancements in scientific researches, solar energy

could be more affordable in future with decreasing costs and increasing
efficiency.
Fact 22: Solar energy could prove to be the major source of renewable
energy because of its massive potential and long-term advantages.
Fact 23: The earth receives about 1,366 watts of direct solar radiation
per square meter.
Fact 24: Solar energy can also be used to power calculators.
Fact 25: Solar panels are virtually maintenance free since the batteries
require no water or other regular service and will last for years. Once,
solar panels are installed, there are no recurring costs.
Fact 26: Solar power can significantly reduce the electricity bills.
Moreover, there are many tax incentives and rebate programs designed
to spur the use of solar, and save home owners money at the same time.
Fact 27: Solar power is noise pollution free. It has no moving parts, and
does not require any additional fuel, other than sunlight, to produce
power.
Fact 28: A home solar panel system consists of several solar panels, an
inverter, a battery, a charge regulator, wiring, and support materials.
Sunlight is absorbed by the solar panels and is converted to electricity by
the installed system. The battery stores electricity that can be used at a
later time, like cloudy days or during the evening.
Fact 29: The sun is also the main source of non-renewable fossil fuels
(coal, gas and petroleum) which began life as plants and animals
millions of years ago
How solar panel works
Solar panels actually comprise many, smaller units called photovoltaic
cells. (Photovoltaic simply means they convert sunlight into electricity.)
Many cells linked together make up a solar panel.
Each photovoltaic cell is basically a sandwich made up of two slices of

semi-conducting material, usually silicon — the same stuff used in
microelectronics.
To work, photovoltaic cells need to establish an electric field. Much like

a magnetic field, which occurs due to opposite poles, an electric field
occurs when opposite charges are separated. To get this field,
manufacturers "dope" silicon with other materials, giving each slice of
the sandwich a positive or negative electrical charge.
Specifically, they seed phosphorous into the top layer of silicon, which
adds extra electrons, with a negative charge, to that layer. Meanwhile,
the bottom layer gets a dose of boron, which results in fewer electrons,
or a positive charge. This all adds up to an electric field at the junction
between the silicon layers. Then, when a photon of sunlight knocks an
electron free, the electric field will push that electron out of the silicon
junction.
A couple of other components of the cell turn these electrons into usable
power. Metal conductive plates on the sides of the cell collect the
electrons and transfer them to wires. At that point, the electrons can flow
like any other source of electricity.
There are other types of solar power technology — including solar

thermal and concentrated solar power (CSP) — that operate in a
different fashion than photovoltaic solar panels, but all harness the
power of sunlight to either create electricity or to heat water or air.

Solar Energy

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SOLAR ENERGY

What is solar energy?

Fact 3: The solar technology can be distinguished into active and

Fact 5: The water cycle is an important result of solar insulation. The

Fact 6: Solar energy has also another use. By means of photosynthesis,

Fact 7: Horticulture and agriculture seek to make the maximum use of

Fact 9: Solar chimneys are passive solar ventilation systems. Shafts

Fact 17: Solar energy is being recognized as the future of alternative

Fact 19: Solar energy produce no pollution, have no environmental

Fact 21: With new advancements in scientific researches, solar energy

Fact 24: Solar energy can also be used to power calculators.

Each photovoltaic cell is basically a sandwich made up of two slices of

To work, photovoltaic cells need to establish an electric field. Much like

There are other types of solar power technology — including solar

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