There is tremendous growth in the demand for renewable energy. The driving force behind this increase is a sustained campaign by environmental activists and governments as the effects of global warming begin to be experienced. The two most commonly used modalities are wind and solar. If they have plans of making use of solar energy Missouri residents need to understand a number of things beforehand.
The conversion of sunlight to electricity can be achieved either directly or indirectly. The direct conversion technique uses photovoltaics. These have the ability to convert light into electric current. The indirect technique is basically solar power concentration. This is done using lenses and mirrors that help focus sunlight into a single small beam. The most useful form of energy that is generated in this manner is thermal energy.
The use of this kind of electric power was initially restricted to smaller appliances used in remote areas (such as calculators). The next frontier was the use of this modality to power residential homes found in areas that are not connected to the grid. Today, this option has grown and is now used to power commercial entities alongside the traditional fossil-based fuels. Many countries have launched huge projects in a bid to reduce over-dependence on petroleum.
Photovoltaic cells (PV cells) achieve their effect through a process known as the photovoltaic effect. A direct current (DC) is produced from this process. DC current tends to fluctuate with the changing sunlight intensity hence the need to convert it to a more stable, alternating current (AC). The converters make it possible to produce electricity at a preset voltage. At the same time they make it possible to regulate the frequency of the alternating current.
Concentrated solar power (CSP) is usually harnessed using a special collector (such as the parabolic trough) fitted with mirrors and lenses. When generated on a large scale, thermal energy from CSP is usually used heating a working fluid. The fluid produces steam that runs turbines to produce electricity. Thermal energy can be stored for up to 24 hours which makes it possible to generate electricity around the clock.
Hybrid systems are another type that are becoming quite common. As the name suggests, these are made of different types of systems that may not necessarily be similar. For instance, they may comprise CSP, photovoltaic cells and a diesel engine. This means that they can run on sunlight both directly and indirectly and can still generate electricity when there is no sunshine. With such a system, interruptions in electricity generation are minimal.
Statistics show that the use of solar power has been growing by 40% since the year 2000. The main regions where most of this growth has been taking place are the United States, Asia and Europe. In the next thirty years, close to one third of world electricity consumption is projected to originate from solar sources. 16% of the energy will be in the form of photovoltaic sources and 11% will be from CSP.
The factors that contribute to the increased demand for solar power sources are mainly two: economic benefits and environmental conservation. In general, renewable sources result in less carbon emissions and are considered safe. This makes the, a preferred mode of energy for both developing and industrialized countries. The economic benefits are realized simply because they are readily available in the environment.
The conversion of sunlight to electricity can be achieved either directly or indirectly. The direct conversion technique uses photovoltaics. These have the ability to convert light into electric current. The indirect technique is basically solar power concentration. This is done using lenses and mirrors that help focus sunlight into a single small beam. The most useful form of energy that is generated in this manner is thermal energy.
The use of this kind of electric power was initially restricted to smaller appliances used in remote areas (such as calculators). The next frontier was the use of this modality to power residential homes found in areas that are not connected to the grid. Today, this option has grown and is now used to power commercial entities alongside the traditional fossil-based fuels. Many countries have launched huge projects in a bid to reduce over-dependence on petroleum.
Photovoltaic cells (PV cells) achieve their effect through a process known as the photovoltaic effect. A direct current (DC) is produced from this process. DC current tends to fluctuate with the changing sunlight intensity hence the need to convert it to a more stable, alternating current (AC). The converters make it possible to produce electricity at a preset voltage. At the same time they make it possible to regulate the frequency of the alternating current.
Concentrated solar power (CSP) is usually harnessed using a special collector (such as the parabolic trough) fitted with mirrors and lenses. When generated on a large scale, thermal energy from CSP is usually used heating a working fluid. The fluid produces steam that runs turbines to produce electricity. Thermal energy can be stored for up to 24 hours which makes it possible to generate electricity around the clock.
Hybrid systems are another type that are becoming quite common. As the name suggests, these are made of different types of systems that may not necessarily be similar. For instance, they may comprise CSP, photovoltaic cells and a diesel engine. This means that they can run on sunlight both directly and indirectly and can still generate electricity when there is no sunshine. With such a system, interruptions in electricity generation are minimal.
Statistics show that the use of solar power has been growing by 40% since the year 2000. The main regions where most of this growth has been taking place are the United States, Asia and Europe. In the next thirty years, close to one third of world electricity consumption is projected to originate from solar sources. 16% of the energy will be in the form of photovoltaic sources and 11% will be from CSP.
The factors that contribute to the increased demand for solar power sources are mainly two: economic benefits and environmental conservation. In general, renewable sources result in less carbon emissions and are considered safe. This makes the, a preferred mode of energy for both developing and industrialized countries. The economic benefits are realized simply because they are readily available in the environment.
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