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Renewable Energy: The power of solar energy

The sun is a powerful source of energy that has produced energy for billions of years. This form of renewable energy uses photons or rays of solar energy and heat from the sun to absorb energy, which in turn generates electricity. Along with solar thermal19 technologies, it is believed that solar energy is an adequate source to supply our19 energy needs that can be used for heating purposes and electricity. This can offset the energy used and often wasted, particularly with heating, cooling, ventilation, and additional power sources.

Thermal energy from the sun is defined as low, medium, or high energy that is collected through thermal energy technology. The two basic types of solar heating systems are liquid or air. These systems are heated in a device where a fluid is heated by the sun called a collector. These systems that use liquid heat through a hydronic collector. An air-based system heats energy from in the sun in an air collector.

Solar energy can also be converted into electricity through photovoltaic (PV devices) or solar cells. This converts light from the sun into electricity. It uses concentrating19 solar19 power and various technologies to utilizing solar energy. This allows a direct conversion of electricity, without a large and bulky mechanical generator. The devices to convert photovoltaic energy generally have a quick installation and can be installed in a variety of sizes. They are also correlated with minimal impact on the environment, so the water system and no by-products are emitted.

Solar technology is characterized as either passive solar or active depending on the way sunlight is captured, converted, and distributed. Active solar technology uses electrical or mechanical equipment where it converts sunlight through photovoltaic panels or solar thermal collectors. Passive solar technology uses materials such as thermal mass or light from the sun. These properties naturally circulate the air and heat from the sun and Increase its energy flow19. Passive solar technology is more prevalent while passive solar technologies are believed to be more environmentally friendly and alternate resource as they reduce the demand and need for non-renewable energy sources.

Opponents of solar energy say that utilizing the sun has its downfalls since the amount of sun that reaches the earth is not consistent and can affect the amount of energy that an area receives and is dependent upon. One solution is to create the necessary technologies needed for consistent and steady solar energy.

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Renewable Energy vs. Fossil Fuels

At present, the vast majority of the world’s energy resources come from the burning and manipulation of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels include oil and coal; essentially, generating electricity from already-formed substances found on earth. Most of us have seen gigantic oil rigs towering on the horizon and coal mining is still an important industry for many countries; it is from these industries we get most of our energy and electricity.

However, there is a problem. Fossil fuels such as oil and coal are not sustainable resources; in essence, one day, they will run out. Oil and coal generate over thousands – if not tens of thousands – of years, and humans have been tapping these resources ever since the Industrial Revolutions of the 19th century. While it may sound like scare mongering, one day these fuels will cease to exist.

With solar power being flaunted as one of the realistic alternatives to the burning of fossil fuels, it is only natural that enlightened thoughts are turning to the reliability of the energy it can create. After all, the sun is an intermittent energy source. It does not always shine, with most countries experiencing cloud cover for large portions of the year. There is also the issue that the sun is only available for, at most, 12 hours out of every 24. Could the world’s energy demands really be sustained from what seems like such an unreliable heat source?

The answer is probably no, which is why solar energy is only being spoken of as one of the options for continued energy production. However, solar energy is one of the most viable of the options mentioned, even if it could not meet the entire world’s demands for energy by itself.

The reason for this is simple; the sun is a constant. The sun will continue to shine for as long as there is life on earth; by the time the sun begins to dim, the earth as we know it will begin to die. Unlike the expendable resources of coal and oil, this makes the sun very dependable – it will be here for as long as the world will.

The sun is also relatively easy to ‘tap’ into, as it shines directly onto earth and needs no human interaction for it to work to its full potential. While manufacturing solar panels can be expensive, they are relatively hassle free once created, and the only engineering they require to function is to be pointed as directly as possible toward the sun. This is certainly more viable than having to dig into the earth for coal, or send rigs out to sea to collect oil.

Solar power is, therefore, a reliable energy source. How effective it is is a matter of debate, but one should largely assume that much – if not all – of the world’s demand for energy can be satisfied by our most powerful celestial friend.Various estimates can be found on how much fossil fuel is left, though most scientists agree we have mined over the ‘half way’ point. This is means that the Earth only has around 40% of its total supply of fossil fuels left to give, and it would take millennia to create more naturally.

Therefore, the search for renewable and sustainable energy has become pressing. Various options are being presented, most of which capitalize on the free natural resources of the planet we live on. Wind and solar power are increasingly spoken of as the natural alternatives to fossil fuels, while tidal and water power are also viable alternatives. Whichever method is chosen as the way forward for energy generation, they will need to both viable and sustainable so they can meet the world’s increasing demand for energy.

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