Solar energy is the sun's rays, or solar radiation, that reaches the earth, which can then be converted into other forms of energy, such as heat and electricity. One of the first uses of converted solar energy was in the 1830's, when the British astronomer, John Herschel, used a solar thermal collector box to cook food during an expedition to Africa.
Solar energy can be converted to electricity in two ways. Photovoltaic devices or >solar cells change sunlight directly into electricity. Such systems are often used in remote locations that are not connected to the electric grid. They are also used to power watches, calculators, and lighted road signs. There are also solar power plants which indirectly generate electricity when the heat from solar thermal collectors is used to heat a fluid which produces steam that is used to power generator. You can search through all of the latest solar power products and more by visiting solar-power-answers.co.uk. See if you can generate your own energy and save some money.
Visit this Solar Products website to have your say and to also find out some great ways of saving energy in and around your home. This solar blogg site, like many others online, is great for telling people about your own ideas and products you have used to help you save on energy bills. You could also try treenex.com for information regarding solar energy and sustainableenergyblog.org to find out the latest news and ideas regarding wind power.
Advantages of solar energy are it is free, its supplies are unlimited, and using solar energy produces no air or water pollution. However it may indirectly have a harmful impact on the environment. For example, manufacturing the photovoltaic cells consumes silicon and produces some waste products, and large solar thermal farms can also harm desert ecosystems if not properly managed.
Some other disadvantages of solar energy as an energy source are that the amount of sunlight that arrives at the earth's surface is not constant, depending on location, time of day, time of year, and weather conditions. Further, solar energy from the sun is spread over the whole earth's surface and cannot be directed into a specific place, it doesn't deliver large amounts of energy to any one place at any one time. Thus a large surface area is required to collect the energy at a useful rate.
Solar energy can be converted to electricity in two ways. Photovoltaic devices or >solar cells change sunlight directly into electricity. Such systems are often used in remote locations that are not connected to the electric grid. They are also used to power watches, calculators, and lighted road signs. There are also solar power plants which indirectly generate electricity when the heat from solar thermal collectors is used to heat a fluid which produces steam that is used to power generator. You can search through all of the latest solar power products and more by visiting solar-power-answers.co.uk. See if you can generate your own energy and save some money.
Visit this Solar Products website to have your say and to also find out some great ways of saving energy in and around your home. This solar blogg site, like many others online, is great for telling people about your own ideas and products you have used to help you save on energy bills. You could also try treenex.com for information regarding solar energy and sustainableenergyblog.org to find out the latest news and ideas regarding wind power.
Advantages of solar energy are it is free, its supplies are unlimited, and using solar energy produces no air or water pollution. However it may indirectly have a harmful impact on the environment. For example, manufacturing the photovoltaic cells consumes silicon and produces some waste products, and large solar thermal farms can also harm desert ecosystems if not properly managed.
Some other disadvantages of solar energy as an energy source are that the amount of sunlight that arrives at the earth's surface is not constant, depending on location, time of day, time of year, and weather conditions. Further, solar energy from the sun is spread over the whole earth's surface and cannot be directed into a specific place, it doesn't deliver large amounts of energy to any one place at any one time. Thus a large surface area is required to collect the energy at a useful rate.
