The energy sector has been faced with many challenges in recent times. A majority of these problems are attributable either directly or indirectly to an unfavorable political environment in the regions that are regarded as the main producers of oil. This has forced many governments and other entities to seek other alternatives to fossil fuels. The many benefits of solar energy that have been realized have encouraged investors to start taking this option more seriously.
Power derived from the sun is infinite in supply. Apart from the initial costs that go into acquiring the necessary equipment, this alternative is absolutely free. There are two main ways in which it can be harnessed. These include the use of concentration systems and photovoltaic cells (PV). Concentrating systems use lenses to focus the incident rays into a single beam. Photovoltaic cells, on the other side, convert sunlight into electricity by using the photoelectric effect.
Energy derived from the sun can be used both for domestic uses and in industries. The original idea was to produce power that would meet the requirements of a home but this has since changed. Many industries have installed the equipment now. Most homes as well as the industries use this to complement what they get from the grid. Still, there are some who produce an excess that is sold to the supplier using an agreed formula.
Just like the conventional sources, this option can meet most of the requirements in the home. Common uses include indoor and outdoor lighting, ventilation, cooking, heating of water and swimming pools, pumping water, drying clothes and at times, powering vehicles. Special cookers are used to facilitate the cooking process. The general principle is that incident rays are converged to form a single beam that is used to heat stem to a temperature of between 90 and 150 degrees.
In industrial set-ups, there are a number of applications. The technologies are used in distilling salty water to make it more potable. Related to this, is the disinfection of contaminated water. This is achieved by putting the water in plastic bottles and exposing them to sunlight for between 6 and 48 hours. This is primarily dependent on the prevailing weather conditions. The World Health Organization has approved this method of water treatment.
Agricultural and horticultural industries have also benefited in a big way. The use of greenhouses is a practice that ensures that crops and flowers are grown throughout the year. The houses help in the conversion of sunlight into heat which helps regulate the temperature around the plants.
The widespread use of solar power is victory in the war against climate change. This option results in no form of pollution. Fossil fuels release greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide which are associated with global warming. A great advantage is that the power does not leave behind any residual waste unlike the fossil fuels.
Even as numerous benefits of solar energy continue to be realized, there are a number of concerns that may discourage widespread adoption. A major disadvantage is that this power cannot be trapped during the night or during any condition in which the rays of the sun are obscured such as during a cloudy day or in a highly polluted environment. The efficiency of the cells is also a bit low with a conversion rate of only 22%.
The Little Green Energy Company are specialist solar panel design and installers, based in Kent. Visit their website for more info http://www.littlegreenenergycompany.co.uk
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