Solar Energy

What is Solar Power?

Pros and cons of solar energy
How Costly is a Solar Power System
Top 5 Reasons to Use Solar Power
Does solar power have a future?
Solar Energy News

What is Solar Power?

The sun is the focal point of our solar system, and provides heat and light to all the planets revolving around it in the form of radiation. The infra red heat rays of the sun are incident on the earth’s surface during the day time. There is a high potential in these incident rays. This potential is harnessed by man in the form of power called the solar power.

Solar power is being used by us in two different forms

1. thermal energy
2. solar electric energy

The thermal energy of the sun is directly used for heating purposes. The application of this can be seen in heating water of swimming pools, either directly during sunny days or indirectly using heat conducting fluids in pipes and transferring the heat to the water in the swimming pool during cloudy days. Thermal energy is also used directly in drying clothes, drying seeds and other food products to keep them from pest attack and improve their shelf life. We also use thermal power for plant growth. Direct heat is also used in cooking food, as in solar cookers. Here a series of heat absorbing black coloured panel is used to absorb rays falling on it. This is reflected on the cooking vessel by a mirror there by  maximising the effect of heat falling on it, solar water heaters also work in a similar fashion but do not have mirrors attached to them.

The energy got from the sun can also be used to produce electricity. This is called the solar electric energy. This energy is harness by using solar panels which in turn are connected to grids that carry the electricity. The electricity producing power of solar energy is called Photovoltis.

Solar electricity can be produced in three different ways.

1. Stand alone system – here panels are set up to absorb the incident solar radiation. This is then converted to electricity. The electricity is not being stored and is rather used directly without the help of a grid. Such systems are useful in situations like that of a lone forest guest house where difficulty may be faced in laying electricity lines. Here the cost of installing solar power panel might work out to be cheaper than laying power lines.

2. Grid connected system – such system is commonly used in houses for use in various small household electrical appliances. Here the produced energy is saved in a grid which can be used later. This helps in a continuous supply of power and can be reliable, and regular use is possible in such a system.

3. Back up system – in situations where the power grid may be unreliable a back up is used. The reason to use backup may be due to frequent power failures. In such conditions, most of the household appliances are connected to the backup system, if there is a power failure they take up energy from the solar batteries. This can also be used in community lighting and other larger power requirement can be fulfilled.

Pros and cons of solar energy
Pros and cons of solar energy

As all other energy sources solar energy also has its own pros and cons. The various pros of solar energy are as given below:

• Pollution free – The most important advantage is that it does not produce any harmful gases or effluents during power production. This is important in current context of growing importance of ozone layer depletion and global warming etc.
• Renewable source of energy – solar energy is the harnessing of energy received from the sun, thus it is renewable, and does not get over when used, unlike other fossil fuels which become lesser and lesser over time and becomes extinct completely.
• Energy can be harnessed in remote areas – The best feature of solar energy is that it can be harnessed in very remote areas, where every other form of energy production is risky or not possible at all. An example of this is the production of electricity in satellites.
• Does not require special area/place to install – Installation of solar panels does not require special or large areas, the panels can be installed in the roof tops of buildings.
• Free source to produce energy – Solar energy need not be bought, it is free of cost. The installation process is the only stage where money is spent.
• Dependence on fossil fuel is reduced – the emergence of solar energy has reduced the high dependence on the fossil fuels which is becoming very costly.
• Reduces health costs – increased use of solar energy reduces the cost spent on health indirectly because there is no emissions like carbon, sulphur di oxide, etc and also acid rains.
• Independent working – once installed the solar panels work on their own and do not require any manual operation.
• Low to no maintenance – maintenance cost of solar panels is meagre. Sometimes no maintenance is required.

Pros and cons of solar energy
How Costly is a Solar Power System
Top 5 Reasons to Use Solar Power
Does solar power have a future?
Solar Energy News