Solar Power
by Dawn St John
Solar power is perhaps one of the unsung forms of alternative energy, and yet evidence of its use can be found along highways across the country. The lighted construction and detour signs on many of our interstates are powered by solar panels.
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So how does it work? There are number of different types of solar panels: photoelectric cells, solar thermal collectors, solar sails, light mills and reflective channels. The photoelectric or photovoltaic cells are used to convert solar energy into electricity. The same principles apply to thermal collectors, which absorb the sun's heat. These are a similar concept to the wind turbines, in that they are just taking what Nature gives us and converting it to useable energy. Because it is natural, solar power creates absolutely no pollution of its own. the only negative contribution it makes at all is in the production of the panels and other equipment. Once the equipment is in place, however, it basically operates itself and requires very little in the way of manpower for maintenance or operation. For this, and a number of other reasons, solar power is also economically sound. It can be used in places where there is no access to a traditional electric grid, and even in places that do have grid access, it can be powerful enough to provide electricity even during peak hours. |
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Unfortunately, any energy form has its disadvantages as well. With solar, the most obvious disadvantages are clouds and nightfall. When there is little to no direct sunlight, solar power requires backups. These backups must be kept active at all times, to assure there is no power loss during solar outages, and therefore the costs and pollution being offset by cleaner, natural energy are still in use. There are also a number of conversions and transportation issues, which reduce its efficiency.
All that being said, the average solar panel is able to generate 20-50 watts of electricity per square meter. At current electricity prices and panel efficiency rates, a solar panel one square kilometer (about 250 acres) in size would provide $83,000 worth of electricity per day, enough to power quite a number of households. If the unpopulated areas of the Sahara Desert - where there is less cloud cover and the sun's rays come in at a more direct angle - were to be covered by solar panels, it could provide for the Earth's current energy usage (including oil, gas, coal, nuclear and others) fifty times over. The problem, as is the case with solar power in general, is the initial cost. However, if we could find a way to fund it, over time it would pay for itself.
Solar power has been used for many centuries, particularly in places too remote to utilize fossil fuels. Combined with other earth-friendly energy sources, it could certainly offset a significant portion of our reliance on fossil fuels. Maybe it cannot fully replace them on its own, but every dent we can make in the problem is a step closer to a solid solution.
Sources:
http://conceptwebsites.com/phpBB2/solar-panels.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power