Photovoltaic Energy * Photovoltaic devices utilize the light from the sun to power calculators, watches, satellites, communications equipment and homes. Photovoltaic devices use solar cells to absorb solar particles from sunlight that contain energy. When enough solar particles, or photons, have been absorbed, electrons are released and through the process of negative and positive charges, electricity is generated. The complexity of photovoltaic systems can vary from simple, containing few solar cells, to complicated systems utilizing arrays of thousands of cells. Examples of simple usage would be that of a watch or calculator, while the more complicated applications may include powering homes, large-scale communication devices and water-treatment plants. Photovoltaic energy is clean energy and poses a minimal threat to the environment.
The Importance of Solar Energy
With the impending scarcity of many valuable resources, people are now starting to consider other means or sources of energy. While there have been many studies on the viability of wind or water energy, when it comes to an easy transportable energy solution, solar energy is now the major contender since it is the easiest to collect energy from. All you will ever need is a trusty solar panel.
At this point in humankind's existence, most of the energy that many households consume is gathered from the numerous power plants that are then powered by fossil fuels. Fossil fuels unfortunately are nearing their extinction and becoming more and more expensive to source and this is why we're faced with rising electric bills each month. Not only is it an expensive resource, but it also contributes negatively to the environment. The gas that are emitted by the major power plants cause such a harmful effect on our environment that we are now facing a much bigger problem called global warming.
So with all these problems, it is about time to capitalize more on developing energy from the sun. Solar energy is free as the sun is a free resource that anyone can take advantage of. And it is readily available since anyone can have access to it. Just by utilizing a couple of solar panels in your home or office will be able to make all the difference, not just on your utilities expense, but also on the current state of the environment.
And it would be a major expense saver once the winter months come when electricity bills start soaring because of the heaters that many people use in their homes. Imagine the convenience of being able to use a free source of energy to make all our lives much comfortable.
So it is time to invest in your own solar energy power system that could help cut back on the consumption from the major power plants. The startup may cost a substantial amount at first but it will soon prove to be a great investment with all the savings that you will be able to benefit from. Not to mention you will be able to do your part in mitigating the effects of global warming. Don't hesitate to get on the bandwagon today, you'll realize that the rest of the world will be getting on it soon as well.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Photovoltaic solar cells are a wafer or thin film of solid-state material, such as silicon or gallium arsenide, that is treated with certain metals in such a way that the film generates electricity when solar energy is absorbed. Essentially they can convert sunlight directly into electricity and are usually used by a large amount of panels that absorb sunlight even on cloudy or rainy days.…
- 655 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Energy is an important factor in todays society, it is neccesary to power business, manufacturing and the transportation of goods and services all around the world. Solar powered energy is energy from the sun. This energy can be conerted into different energy like heat and electricity. Heat can be used to heat water or heat spaces, for example heating for houses, buildings or even swimming pools. Solar energy can be converted in two ways, by Photovoltaic or “solar cells” which change sunlight directly into electricity or by concentrating solar power plants which generate electricity by using heat from solar thermal collectors. Coal powered energy has played an important role in the advancement of civilization and will continue to be a major fuel source for at least the next quarter century. It is used primarly to produce electricty and heat through a dirty process which involves mining and combustion of the fuel. The two most common types of coal mining used today are surface mining and underground mining. In the long run, solar energy has greater potential than coal powered energy.…
- 1129 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Solar Energy: The sun is the greatest source of energy available on planet Earth and it comes for free and it is very efficient . Solar energy is already a proven technology that is easy in construction and therefore easy to transport and…
- 1574 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
There are three main ways to collect solar power. The first two are called passive system and active system. These use the sun 's energy to heat up an object which can be transferred to another object or an empty space. An active system 's power can even be turned into electricity. An even better way to get electricity from the sun is achieved by panels called photovoltaic cells. The sunlight is directly converted into electricity by the panels and can run almost anything, sunlight providing. These three different techniques show us that there can be many different ways to acquire power other than the conventional and hazardous methods we use today. Passive heating, thermal energy, and photovoltaics give the world many different ways to reap the benefits of solar power.…
- 2225 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
Solar energy is lauded as an inexhaustible fuel source that if free of pollution and has very few adverse effects on the earth. An example states that big windows placed on the sunny side of a building allow sunlight to heat absorbent materials on the fllor and walls. These surfaces then release the heat at night to keep the building warm. Similarly, absorbent plates on a roof can heat liquid in tubes that supply a house with hot water. (National Geographic) In my own life, I have experienced the amazing power of solar energy. As a small child growing up in Guyana, South America, I remember taking cold showers in the morning. By the afternoon time, the sun would heat up our plastic, Rubbermaid water tanks and I would experience for a short period, ‘hot water.’ Of course, this has improved over the years, and many households in my country choose to apply solar water heaters to their homes. This helps to save on electricity and other costs.…
- 859 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Nersesian, R. L. (2007). Energy for the 21st Century: A Comprehensive Guide to Conventional and Alternative Sources. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe.…
- 1239 Words
- 4 Pages
Best Essays -
Solar energy is one of the most widely used energy resources throughout the world solar energy is the most promising renewable energy resources. It is widely available and easy for any one to use it is practical for individual use to power a single home or for a company facility such as bright sources solar facility in the Mojave Desert California. The facility can produce up to 377 megawatt. It uses three towers with mirrors surrounded by solar panels to reflect the light on to the solar panels to harness the suns energy. The benefits of solar much more out weigh the negatives solar can save billions of trillions of dollars for nations. The reliability of solar energy is great rising and setting of the sun is consistent while cloudy days are less predictable there are more than enough sunny days to power homes. “She…
- 975 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
* Solar energy is an extremely clean energy source. It is environmentally healthier than traditionally fossil related forms of energy since it does not emit any known pollutants to the environment.…
- 540 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
transformed into electricity, it is called photovoltaic energy. This is a simple way to get electricity. Photovoltaic panels can be put on the roof of a house to provide electricity or can be used in remote places where there is not electricity from other sources. Solar energy also powers cars without the use of gasoline which is made from the fossil fuel oil.…
- 1147 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Sun had been the main source of energy since the Earth was born. It is the source for primary production. People have been using the energy of Sun in various ways. Apart from these usages, people have finally learnt to generate Solar Power from the solar energy.…
- 2187 Words
- 9 Pages
Powerful Essays -
1. First I will explain solar energy technology and how it can be used in houses.…
- 1534 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays -
One of the most advantages of solar power is that It’s a renewable energy source.The sunlight is permanet so pp take advagtages of using solar enrgy over centuries in many traditional technologies day to day like Heating, electricity, transportation, and other innumerable important photochemical processes.Second,like other modern technologies it do not cost as money. Almost all the new technologies Science in the modern era are not cost much even they may be great convenience to us.Therefore,any one irrespective of their financial strength or weakness can afford solar energy. Furthermore, Solar energy is efficient as well as it is pollution free . Solar energy does not need fuel, thus it’s impossible to pollute the environment by burning fuel.Solar energy is clean, sustainable and doesn’t let out carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide or other harmful gases. So, it doesn’t contribute to global warming, acid rain or smog..…
- 1062 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
There are many inventions that were made to produce green energy for all of us to use. Solar energy is the most easily available alternate energy resource for the people worldwide. It lights up our days, supports all life on Earth, drives the Earth 's climate and weather and is predominately responsible for the class of resources collectively known as renewable energy.…
- 1042 Words
- 5 Pages
Powerful Essays -
PV is a solar power technology that uses solar cells or solar photovoltaic arrays to convert light from the sun directly into electricity. Photovoltaic is the direct conversion of light into electricity at the atomic level. Some materials exhibit a property known as the photoelectric effect that causes them to absorb photons of light and release electrons. When these free electrons are captured, electric current results that can be used as electricity. Solar cells produce direct current electricity from light, which can be used to power equipment or to recharge a battery. The PV arrays can be used either for standalone applications or grid connected. The first practical application of photovoltaic was to power orbiting satellites and other spacecraft and pocket calculators, but today the majority of photovoltaic modules are used for grid connected power generation. Grid connected photovoltaic energy conversion systems are composed of a dc-dc converter and an inverter. The dc-dc converter is controlled to track the maximum power point of the photovoltaic array and the inverter is controlled to produce voltage in such a way that the grid current has low total harmonic distortion (THD) and it is in phase with the grid voltage.…
- 9673 Words
- 39 Pages
Good Essays -
Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaic (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and…
- 1410 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays