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What is Solar Energy
For billions of years the sun has been producing vast amounts of power through nuclear fusion. This is the process by which four hydrogen atoms combine to produce one helium atom.
What is
Solar Energy / If measured outside of our atmosphere the energy that reaches Earth has about 1,300 watts per square meter. This energy is in radiant form and about a third of it is reflected back into space. A certain amount is absorbed by the atmosphere which is the primary cause of weather. Ultimately the energy that reaches the surface of the Earth averages out to about 1,000 watts per square meter on a cloudless day. Of course some arid and desert areas receive more. This means that on a 24-hour day the energy that reaches earth is equivalent to one barrel of oil every year per square meter. These numbers stand for the maximum energy that reaches the Earth from the sun but current technology allows only a small amount of this energy to be collected and converted to other forms of energy which can be more readily used.
Solar power has been harnessed by humans since ancient times. The technology that has been used to harness solar energy has been evolving since then. Since the use of the oculus at the Parthenon in Rome daylighting techniques have been used by ancient architects. Natural light has been dominant method in the history of lighting. During the industrial revolution the use of coal had increased steadily and has shifted from wood and other kinds of biomass to fossil fuels. In the 1860’s there was the expectation that coal would soon be exhausted as a power source so there was research conducted into solar power. However during the early part of the 20th century the development and research of solar power slowed and stopped because of the increasing availability and cost effectiveness of coal and petroleum at the time. In 1973 during the oil embargo and the 1979 energy
crisis there was a review and reorganization of energy policies around
the world and especially in the industrialized countries. This brought
new life to solar power research and development of solar power
technologies. What is Solar Energy / The Future The technologies used in harnessing solar power are on the verge of rapid growth and development in the 21st century. Architects and engineers are increasingly aware of the advantages of building in passive solar power into their designs. The cost of solar water heaters is becoming increasingly
competitive with more conventional water heaters in certain areas.
Photovoltaic technology is slowly becoming a cheap way of generating
electricity. Of course the expansion of solar power industry will
encounter some problems but these can be overcome. In spite of
difficulties put up by some utilities for grid connected photovoltaic
systems there will be increased use of these technologies and solar
power will be increasingly crucial in ending our addiction to fossil
fuels and fighting the threat of global warming and assuring a future
based on renewable and clean energy. http://www.epa.gov/RDEE/energy-and-you/affect/non-hydro.html Return From What is Solar Energy to the Benefits of Recycling home page.
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This is the
mechanism that the sun uses to generate its