Obviously, everyone is aware about the solar energy that normally derived from the rays of the sun. Based from the facts, the sun provides as much as 5000 times energy to the earth. But how is solar energy used? Maybe, there are people who do not know the purpose of this solar energy and the advantages provided by it from their day-to-day life.

Solar energy has utilized its radiant energy from the sun. The solar power is specifically refers to the sunlight conversion of electricity either through the use of some experimental technologies like solar ponds, solar chimneys, and thermoelectric converters or by some concentrating solar thermal equipments and photovoltaic.

To give you an idea on how is solar energy used, listed below are some of its purposes:

o Shading and solar energy shall be given an important consideration that can be used for building design. The thermal mass is the one that is used for the conservation of the heat while the light of the sun is the one that delivers the building. Whereas, the solar water heaters provide a domestic hot water and heat swimming pools. In terms of agriculture, the powered solar cells are the ones that expand the growing season of the greenhouses. While the evaporation ponds clean the waste streams of contaminants and can be used to harvest the salt.

o The methods of solar disinfections and distillation have produced portable water for many people around the globe. Some of the simple applications included are clotheslines and the solar cookers that focus sunlight for pasteurization, drying and cooking. Many of the sophisticated technologies have magnified the light of the sun for industrial chemical production, metal smelting, and material testing with high-temperature. A variety of prototype solar vehicles provide sea transportation, air and ground.

A country that is recognized to have the highest count of sunny seasons every year is the South Africa. That is why is considered as the most appropriate place around the world that can use to have the solar power energy. So how is solar energy used by some of the Africans? The photovoltaic sell can be used through the light of the sun that is used to create an electric current. It is not actually the heat of the sun that provides electric current as everyone thought. The power of electric current may therefore depend on the amount of energy provided by the sunrays. However, the efficiency of the photovoltaic will decrease when the cell is extremely heated by the sun due to the resistance that builds up the material. These photovoltaic panels therefore will not work efficiently to some places that have an extreme warm climate. Summertime in South Africa is very hot, so these panels will work less efficient during this season.

Rising fossil fuel prices, increased energy requirements, improvements in materials science, and many other factors are making solar energy more valuable than ever. Solar energy offers many advantages now and in the future. The future of solar is bright.

If you’ve read the book this far, you now know that solar energy is more than just installing photovoltaic (PV) panels on your roof. And in the future, a new world of solar products will be available, including nano solar, bio-solar, and chemical solar, which are being created through a convergence of technologies that was not available in the past.

The future for solar energy as an industry is excellent, provided that governments continue to support the growth of solar energy. Renewable energy currently receives energy subsidies similar to those offered for coal and other fossil fuel production.

Thin-Film Type

Thin-film solar has the most potential of any new solar technology. With a 19 percent efficiency rate shown in the laboratory, it produces less energy than PV panels in direct perpendicular sunlight, but thin-film produces more energy than PV panels in indirect sunlight and when the angle of the sunlight is not perfectly aligned.

Thin-film can be used on a roof, similar to other PV panels, and it can be formed and colored to conform to other shapes and sizes, such as roof shingles. Small projects, such as solar chargers of any size, can be designed and built to meet the needs of any application. Converging technologies are creating new products in conjunction with thin-film solar.

Micro Type

A modified form of solar capture, micro solar offers “glitter-sized” PV power. Micro solar cells can be applied to buildings, cars, and even clothing.
Micro solar may be able to produce the same amount of electricity as traditional solar cells, but using 100 times less silicon-the energy producing and most expensive component in any PV system.

Nano Type

Nano solar cells are even smaller than micro solar. Nano solar has the greatest promise because of a host of emerging nanotechnologies.

One of the greatest promises comes from the Idaho National Laboratories, which is working on a “nano-antenna” technology that could turn out to be 80 percent efficient. This film is so small it can be applied anywhere, and so efficient it could capture energy from moonlight.

Many companies are claiming that because of increased production, nano solar electricity will be more affordable than coal energy, currently the lowest priced fuel for energy production. Several companies claim that they will be producing nano solar panels that will produce energy costing only $1 per watt of electricity. Such benefits could mean a nano solar revolution in the future.

Because solar panels can become up to 30 percent less effective when they accumulate dust, dirt, and bird droppings, researchers at Tel Aviv University have created a new nano-material that repels dust and water. The material could be applied as a sheer coating, creating self-washing windows and solar panels-Teflon for your solar panels.

Benefits of Solar Energy:

1. Solar energy is renewable. We never have to worry about running out of sunlight or using it all up. The sun is a consistent power source meaning it’s always going to be there every day.

2. Solar energy is environmentally friendly. Compared to fossil fuels which release greenhouses gases, carcinogens and carbon dioxide, solar cells don’t release anything into the air.

3. Solar panels are extremely reliable. There are no moving parts so you don’t have to worry about replacing anything. In fact, most people generate electricity for 1000s of hours with little or no maintenance.

4. Solar cells make no noise while collecting energy. There are no other renewable energy sources that are completely silent.

5. In the long run, solar electricity is cheaper than buying it from the power company. There is a start up cost, but then it starts paying for itself. Once you break even, everything after that is profit. Compare this to paying a monthly bill and getting no return on investment.

6. There is a huge variety of solar panel systems available. Some can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and some cost just a couple hundred. This means anyone can get into solar, there’s an entry point for just about everybody.

7. You’re not required to connect to the power grid. You can be completely self-sufficient and live off-the-grid. Imagine never paying another monthly bill or hook-up charge.

8. Sell excess electricity. If you build a large enough solar panel system, you can make your electric meter spin backwards! Most power companies will gladly buy or credit you for this excess electricity. Contact your local power companies for more details.

9. Government tax credits. Most governments will provide some kind of tax credit or incentive for people purchasing solar energy systems. On average, rebates usually cover 20-30% of the system cost. Contact your local representatives for more details.

10. Solar technology is constantly improving. Solar installations are increasing by an incredible 50% every year, most of which are small homemade systems. Learn how to make your own solar panels and use the benefits of solar [http://www.squidoo.com/renewableenergyforhome] energy to your advantage.

The amount of development in green technologies today is mind boggling. Alternative energy in particular is getting a lot of attention and receiving support worth billions of dollars from government grants, corporate investments and venture capitalists. With so much of talk about alternative energy sector it is very hard to differentiate between the substance and fluff – this chapter elaborates over two specific green technologies that may have a huge impact on everyone’s lives very soon.

First is geothermal power, the concept of Geothermal power is mostly well understood but for those who do not understand, following is a simple explanation. If one goes into a conventional wine cellar which is about six to eight feet in depth has a constant temperature of around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Geo thermal power uses the exact same principle to cool homes in summers and heat them in winters. This is done by simply pumping water or any other suitable liquid underneath a conventional home, which changes its temperature using the constant temperature present underneath and is then pumped back around the parameter of the house. This therefore becomes a heat sink during summers and a source of heat during winters; this helps dramatically to reduce electricity and requirements of gas for heating or cooling.

Geothermal technology is available to all and is almost limitless as it can be used for more than just heating and cooling. Therefore more implantation of this technology around the world can be expected in recent years to come.

The second technology is that of advanced bio fuels. Before moving forward it must be noted that advanced bio fuels refer to transportation fuels that are different from Ethanol. This is because although Ethanol can be produced locally and reduces the dependence on imported fuel, it is far more inferior to other fuels as it only contains about 60% fuel value of Diesel or Gasoline. Ethanol also has many other problems such as being largely dependent on crops eat for food (and hence effect their supply), being corrosive, ability to absorb water which makes it incompatible with many existing engines and the vast network of pipelines meant for transferring oil.

On the other hand advanced bio fuels have a fuel value equal to fuel value of gasoline or that of diesel and are largely produced by non food crops and cellulose. By using non food crops and using land not meant for food production they have eligible impact on food prices or their supply. Furthermore as they are not corrosive or absorbent to water they will seamlessly replace petroleum derived fuels without any compatibility issues. This will in turn have a great impact on the world’s energy dependence on imported oil without incurring any significant transfer cost.

To sum it all up these two technologies will bring about significant changes to the world as we know it because of their efficiency and cost effectiveness. They will therefore help countries make better use of their resources and reduce the overall problem of climate change.

The debate on utilizing renewable energy sources is an ongoing one. Finding sustainable energy that’s affordable yet environmentally friendly has drawn much attention from industry experts and media alike. Several possibilities exist that would meet our existing needs without mortgaging future energy concerns. As we continue to hear about these opportunities, we must break down the basics of how green energy can benefit consumers, business, and most importantly our nation’s energy independence.

The most common green energy sources we hear about today are wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and to some extent nuclear. All of which have inherent benefits. However, an argument can be made for each alternative as to why it would be most cost effective, environmentally sound, and scalable. We’ll take a look at the very basics of each in the following sections…

Wind Energy

Without getting into the science of atmospheric pressure and how wind is created, wind energy is created by turbines that use wind to generate electricity. Wind speed is incredibly important when using wind turbines. Even the slightest increase in wind speed can generously increase the production of a turbine. Hence, turbines must be operating at optimal capacity. In the right geographical areas, wind farms can have a tremendous positive impact on local economies. Farmers and landowners can benefit from leasing several acres to wind energy companies. It is estimated that wind energy provided 2% of the world’s energy in 2009.

Solar Energy

Solar energy has been harnessed by humans since ancient times. Creating solar power is the generation of electricity from sunlight. Sunlight is converted into electricity using photovoltaics in which cells of photovoltaic material convert solar radiation into electricity. You can see simplistic uses of this technology in everyday life, like on a solar powered calculator. Perhaps the greatest attraction of solar energy is the relative low cost and the fact that it is pollution free during use. It is estimated that solar power provided .02% of the world’s energy in 2008.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy refers to power generated by extracting heat stored in the earth. This heat exists from the radioactive decay of minerals. One detractor from geothermal energy is that it has been limited to geography near tectonic plate boundaries where high temperature resources are abundant. Several gases and pollutants are associated with geothermal energy as well. Most notably, carbon dioxide. However, the levels of these pollutants are much smaller than those of conventional plants. The main cost of geothermal energy is the capital needed to drill and explore potential sources.

Hydro Energy

Hydroelectricity is the generation of electricity by harnessing the force of falling or flowing water. Naturally, the greater the potential energy of a water source, the higher the production of energy. Hydroelectricity emits no carbon dioxide and is not dependent on fossil fuels. One danger associated with the use of hydro energy is dam failure. Past dam failures have resulted in some of the worst man made disasters every recorded. Hydroelectricity accounted for 5.74% of all electricity in the US in 2009, while it accounted for 61.12% in Canada and an impressive 98.25% in Norway.

Obviously, this is a fundamental review of green energy alternatives for those trying to grasp the basics. The more we can do to aid the progress of renewable energy the better. Please visit us for an extended look on Green Renewable Energy