Solar energy
Solar energy is, simply, energy provided by the sun. All day a vast amount of energy streams outward in all directions from the sun. This energy is called solar energy. Some of this raw power reaches Earth’s surface. When it does, it can be used to heat homes and pools, or even to create electricity. Solar energy that has been collected and put to use is called solar power. This energy is in the form of solar radiation, which makes the production of solar electricity possible. In 1876 William Grylls Adams and his student Richard Evans Day found that selenium when exposed to light would create an electrical charge. Although these early solar cells could not provide enough electricity to power equipment. In 1953 physicist Gerald Pearson made a solar cell from silicon which created significantly more electrical power. Scientists Daryl Chapin and Calvin Fuller improved on Pearsons work and built the first solar cell able to power electrical devices.
There are many advantages worth considering when it comes to solar energy and everything that it offers. There are many advantages that solar energy has over fossil fuels. Not only does solar energy benefit your pocketbook, but it also benefits the environment as well. However, there are two sides to everything, and there is a list of solar power disadvantages to accompany the list of advantages.
Advantages:
1- Solar energy is a free resource that is not only sustainable for energy consumption, it is a completely renewable resource. This means that even when we cannot make use of the sun’s power because of nighttime or cloudy and stormy days, we can always rely on the sun showing up the very next day as a constant and consistent power source.
2- Solar cells make absolutely no noise at all. while extracting useful energy from the sun. On the other hand, the giant machines utilized for pumping oil are extremely noisy and therefore very impractical.
3- Solar energy creates absolutely no pollution. This is perhaps the most important advantage that makes solar energy so much more practical than oil. Oil burning releases harmful greenhouses gases, carcinogens and carbon dioxide into our atmosphere.
4- Very little maintenance is required to keep solar cells running. There are no moving parts in a solar cell, which makes it really hard to really damage them. Solar cells tend to last a good long time with only an annual cleaning to worry about.
5- Solar panels and solar lighting may seem quite expensive when you first purchase it, but in the long run you will find yourself saving quite a great deal of money. After all, it does not cost anything to harness the power of the sun. Unfortunately, paying for oil is an expensive prospect and the cost is still rising consistently. Why pay for expensive energy when you can harness it freely?
6- Solar powered panels and products are typically extremely easy to install. Wires, cords and power sources are not needed at all, making this an easy prospect to employ. Solar energy can be used in remote areas where it is too expensive to extend the electricity power grid.
7- Solar power technology is improving consistently over time, as people begin to understand all of the benefits offered by this incredible technology.
8- Many everyday items such as calculators and other low power consuming devices can be powered by solar energy effectively.
Disadvantages:
1- The Solar Cells and Solar Panels that are needed to harness solar energy tend to be very expensive when you first purchase them. Solar power stations can be built but they do not match the power output of similar sized conventional power stations.
2- Oil, which is what most people currently use to power their homes, is not a renewable resource. This means that as soon as the oil is gone, it is gone forever and we will no longer have power or energy.It is estimated that the world’s oil reserves will last for 30 to 40 years. On the other hand, solar energy is infinite (forever).
3- Solar power cannot be harnessed during a storm, on a cloudy day or at night. This limits how much power can be saved for future days. Some days you may still need to rely on oil to power your home.The amount of sunlight hitting the Earth's surface is not constant.
4- Large areas of land are required to capture the suns energy. Collectors are arranged together effectively to capture the sun’s rays and electricity is produced and used in the same location
There are many advantages worth considering when it comes to solar energy and everything that it offers. There are many advantages that solar energy has over fossil fuels. Not only does solar energy benefit your pocketbook, but it also benefits the environment as well. However, there are two sides to everything, and there is a list of solar power disadvantages to accompany the list of advantages.
Advantages:
1- Solar energy is a free resource that is not only sustainable for energy consumption, it is a completely renewable resource. This means that even when we cannot make use of the sun’s power because of nighttime or cloudy and stormy days, we can always rely on the sun showing up the very next day as a constant and consistent power source.
2- Solar cells make absolutely no noise at all. while extracting useful energy from the sun. On the other hand, the giant machines utilized for pumping oil are extremely noisy and therefore very impractical.
3- Solar energy creates absolutely no pollution. This is perhaps the most important advantage that makes solar energy so much more practical than oil. Oil burning releases harmful greenhouses gases, carcinogens and carbon dioxide into our atmosphere.
4- Very little maintenance is required to keep solar cells running. There are no moving parts in a solar cell, which makes it really hard to really damage them. Solar cells tend to last a good long time with only an annual cleaning to worry about.
5- Solar panels and solar lighting may seem quite expensive when you first purchase it, but in the long run you will find yourself saving quite a great deal of money. After all, it does not cost anything to harness the power of the sun. Unfortunately, paying for oil is an expensive prospect and the cost is still rising consistently. Why pay for expensive energy when you can harness it freely?
6- Solar powered panels and products are typically extremely easy to install. Wires, cords and power sources are not needed at all, making this an easy prospect to employ. Solar energy can be used in remote areas where it is too expensive to extend the electricity power grid.
7- Solar power technology is improving consistently over time, as people begin to understand all of the benefits offered by this incredible technology.
8- Many everyday items such as calculators and other low power consuming devices can be powered by solar energy effectively.
Disadvantages:
1- The Solar Cells and Solar Panels that are needed to harness solar energy tend to be very expensive when you first purchase them. Solar power stations can be built but they do not match the power output of similar sized conventional power stations.
2- Oil, which is what most people currently use to power their homes, is not a renewable resource. This means that as soon as the oil is gone, it is gone forever and we will no longer have power or energy.It is estimated that the world’s oil reserves will last for 30 to 40 years. On the other hand, solar energy is infinite (forever).
3- Solar power cannot be harnessed during a storm, on a cloudy day or at night. This limits how much power can be saved for future days. Some days you may still need to rely on oil to power your home.The amount of sunlight hitting the Earth's surface is not constant.
4- Large areas of land are required to capture the suns energy. Collectors are arranged together effectively to capture the sun’s rays and electricity is produced and used in the same location