Solar Energy
| Solar energy is quickly becoming more and more popular as the concerns about fossil fuel consumption increase. The sun provides a virtually unlimited source of energy which can help feed our power-hungry world. Once the initial cost has been recovered, solar energy becomes a free, inexhaustible supply of power that can be used almost anywhere. Solar energy is the conversion of sunlight into electricity by photo voltaic cells, or photoelectric cells. Inside these cells sits a semi-conducting material (most commonly silicon) which looses an electron when it is exposed to heat. This movement of electrons becomes an electric current. This current enters an inverter which converts the current into a 120 volt current, which can be used by most household appliances. Although solar power used to be fairly expensive, the cost of it has declined dramatically as photoelectric cells become easier to build and install. It is now much cheaper to use solar energy for your home. Another money saving advantage to solar energy is the ability to sell your power to companies. In many areas you can connect your power to a system which exports the excess electricity to the utility grid when the batteries are full. In turn, when there is not enough solar energy being produced, power can be drawn from the grid in order to keep your home supplied with electricity. |
Sources "Energy Resources: Solar Power." Energy Resources. 12 Feb. 2008. 04 July 2008 <http://home.clara.net/darvill/altenerg/solar.htm>. "About Solar Energy." Natural Resources Canada. 26 Apr. 2006. 03 July 2008 <http://www.canren.gc.ca/tech_appl/index.asp?CaId=5&PgId=121>. |