Understand the workings of solar power and understand how it can help us by coming in use in various energy generating applications.

Where do we get solar power from and how does it work?

The popularity of solar power seems undiminished even after decades of its discovery. It was what everybody was raving about in the 70’s. The popular frenzy over solar power continued well into the 80’s too. What is surprising to note is that solar power is still enjoying tremendous popularity even today. So what makes solar power such a ‘hot’ idea (no pun intended) even after all these years? The first, and clearly the most important reason, is economy. If you’ve ever wondered if there is such a thing as free energy, well, solar power is the closest you can get. The sun is a massive storehouse of abundant energy. Solar energy is virtually limitless. For millions of years, solar energy has supported life on earth. And now, thanks to modern science and technology, the same energy will help keep our homes warm and bright, especially during those cold winter days. This is the time when alternative is going mainstream. At least, in the field of energy generation and commercial power production. The need of the hour is to produce abundant quantity of ‘green’, renewable and low-cost energy in order to stop putting excessive strain on or natural resources.

How can solar power help us?

That great ball of fire up in the sky that we call the sun is the ultimate source of much of the power that is generated and used by man. Solar power is full of potential and has many benefits of which some are obvious and a few others that are not so easily realized by us. In fact, the sun has always been benefiting mankind in many ways from the dawn of history. No other source of power save solar energy offers so much goodness without causing any harm to us or the environment. Modern science has given us some excellent means of capturing solar energy for use in various applications. By using ingenious devices like photovoltaic cells and solar panels we can easily convert solar power into useful electricity. Today, one comes across an array of equipment and appliances that are powered by the sun like the solar chimney, solar cookers, solar water heaters, solar thermal devices and so on. All these devices use solar radiation for their operation and also offer unparalleled savings and a whole new degree of convenience. However, the actual performance of these applications may vary greatly depending on some incumbent factors.

To cut a long story short, solar technology can be broadly categorized into two main types - active and passive. The basis of this classification is the way solar radiation is captured, converted and distributed. The various solar devices already mentioned earlier fall under the active solar technology category as they involve the direct conversion of solar radiation into the required form of energy. Passive solar technology on the other hand, include the use of thermal and solar materials and involves designing buildings and spaces with prime and proper air circulation and ample exposure to sunlight. Active solar technologies encourage the production of solar energy while passive solar technologies lessen our dependence on non-solar power. However, no matter whether you are looking at the active kind or the passive kind, both the forms of solar technologies serve the purpose of increasing solar power conservation. In all frankness, no other means of generating power save solar power helps us so much in preserving and protecting our environment.

Here are some applications of solar power

Using solar panels is one of the best alternative means of getting energy that we need on a daily basis. Today, solar power is used in a most diverse range of applications and is used far and wide by the entire world. The list of the many uses of solar power starts with the contribution of solar energy in architecture and urban planning that emphasize features like orientating buildings towards the sun, adopting selective shading, compacting proportion and so on. All these factors, when carefully matched with the corresponding climate and environment of a particular area, can lead to the development of well-lit spaces.

And that’s not all! The list of solar applications continues with its extensive use for agricultural purposes. Farmers around the world have been using the sun’s energy to optimize and improve the productivity of crops. Techniques like fruit walls and sloping walls have been practiced to enhance solar energy collection and improve crop yields. Greenhouse is another technology applied for the specialty crops that are not really suited to the local climatic conditions and require year-round heat to reap well. Yet another significant role of solar power is in the domestic field including technologies like daylighting, solar thermals, water-heaters and cooking. Photovoltaic cells and solar panels are implemented to convert sunlight into electricity. The list further continues with numerous applications of solar energy in our daily lives as well as specialized fields like chemistry labs where sunlight is converted into chemical energy. Some rare chemical reactions require solar energy to be triggered. Finally, there’s the big economical advantage of using solar energy which is probably the cheapest source of energy! From homemade solar panels to industrial sized professional setups, solar power is ubiquitous and a great money-saver everywhere.

Installing a solar energy panel at home is one of the best decisions you will ever take. Not only will you be happy to watch your energy costs go down radically, but will also be glad to know that you are doing your bit for the environment, and ensuring a greener tomorrow for your children. The best thing about solar technology is that it can be realized with even the simplest of means. Building your very own solar system (and thereby bypassing the usual high expenses of a commercially available installation) is very much possible. A step-by-step guide, which clearly walks you through all the necessary steps, can prove to be really useful in this regard, especially if you are new to solar energy.