Solar Energy To The Rescue In Remote Areas

While solar energy utilization may have caught our fancy in recent times, they have been used in the less fortunate African countries as well as many of the remote areas of the US. From providing electricity to irrigational needs and much more, solar power has come about to play a versatile role in such areas to provide a affordable yet innovative approach to solve the energy needs in these cultivation and animal rearing belts.

The most efficient usage is made in using solar energy for running pumps and other equipments for irrigating the fields. Since most of the activity is done in the daytime, therefore, solar powered irrigation projects have a quick turnover time and also pay out much faster as compared to electricity generating systems used in the cities.

Companies are also coming out with sound producing solar devices that can be effective in keeping away pests like rodents and other similar species from destroying the crops. These systems basically have a capture device at the top to catch the solar energy and convert in high frequency sound waves that are effective in keeping such nocturnal pests away. Since the power input for these devices is very less, the excess solar energy can be saved up in small holding elements in the device and used up in the night time.

Lighting requirements in such areas are also provided for by solar energy in the form of solar powered LEDs (Light Emitting Devices). These lights apart from consuming very low power directly produce light without having to go through a energy transformation components. As a result, they provide an affordable option for landscape lighting for both animal husbandry as well as farmhouses.

Greenhouse concept is another efficient way of growing crops in wintery conditions in the outskirts. By using passive glass sheets to cover the roof and surrounding enclosure, the sunlight and warmth is captured inside the glasshouse, and not let to escape. The plants raised in such manner can be ensured the requisite amount of solar energy necessary for photosynthesis.

Solar home systems are also the favoured choice when it comes to electricity needs for holiday homes. These include integrated solar energy systems that provide the heating and cooling solutions, lighting as well as the electricity needs for the home. The construction uses passive systems that directly use solar power to produce the requisite kind of energy. This includes using thermal masses for producing the heat by using convection laws. Solar troughs and cookers are used for heating food and water. The lighting and electricity is taken care of by solar panel arrays that take care of most of the power needs.

What Are The Advantages Of Solar Energy?

Sun is the only source of energy, which provides light and heat to our planet. Solar energy supports every single life form on earth since the day of its existence. In the ancient history, Sun was worshiped, and it has continued until this day. Even the scientists have found the beneficial facts about the energy from the Sun that can protect our earth from the major problem of lack of energy resources.

Sun is a huge ball of fire where fusion of energy takes place and this is a never-ending process. Therefore, solar energy is considered as renewable source of energy that can be used as a substitute for all the fossil fuels, oil, petroleum, etc that are the non-renewable sources of energy.

Advantages of solar energy are numerous and can be applied in our daily lives in following ways.

Eco friendly in nature

Solar energy when used as an alternative source of energy helps to reduce the poisonous gases that are released in to the air while burning fossil fuels. Hence, it can be used for controlling the adverse effect of pollution on environment, which is harmful for every creature’s existence on the earth. Greatest advantage of the energy is that, it does not emit carbon dioxide, methane or any gas that warms the atmosphere. Therefore, it helps in reducing global warming and lessens the chance of formation of a hole in the ozone layer by ozone depletion.

Reduces cost

If we make solar energy as a primary source for powering the households or industrial appliances then initially, the set up of grid will be a bit expensive, but it will reduce cost on various factors like fuels. Maintenance of the grid is not required very frequently. Once it is set up, it starts working for a long time without decaying in its property, and this reduces cost. With increase in cost of fossil fuels, development of technologies for the alternative sources such as solar energy is advancing fast, and price of its cost of production is reducing.

Various other applications

Solar energy is a reliable source of energy. It is independent of every political and economical issue also. It is suitable for those remote areas, which are not connected with power grid and can be a source of income and employment is such undeveloped areas. In addition, it assures the safety of life. In some poorer countries, people use fire to heat and lighten up the house; this causes respiratory diseases and impaired eyesight. Sometimes it results in accidents evoked by the fire. This can be easily avoided by using solar energy.

3 Common Solar Energy Devices Applications Used Around The World

The primitive humans employed solar power for the day to day activities and as the world became sophisticated and solar energy could no longer meet our power requirements ways of harnessing the sun’s energy into various forms took shape. There are still certain solar energy devices which convert sunlight directly into electrical or mechanical energy. They are used all around the world as they are not only cost effective but also the pollution factor is low while using them. Their popularity is rising with the people around the world feeling the heat of global warming and also is crippled by paying huge amount of electricity taxes to the government, so want a way out of the grid power.

• Solar house is the new concept of producing zero power houses in which the power loss is zero. It is not only economical but also prevents the pollution and wastage of valuable energy. The greenhouse buildings are modeled on similar concept of zero power buildings and they use solar energy for the protection and growth of plants in colder regions. A greenhouse consists of glass roofs and walls to serve as excellent retainer of infrared rays from sun and keep the surroundings warm. Certain homes around the world also have greenhouse windows which are a smart form of utilising solar energy. In this device, the window sashes are opened about 6 inches and air current is allowed to develop. The cool air from rooms is pulled into the green house and warm air is circulated out. At night the reverse follows and thus helps to maintain optimum germination conditions for seeds and growth of plants.

• The most important domestic work is water heating and constitutes of major share of our electricity bills. Solar heaters are used for producing hot water and are easy to set up over the roof tops near the water tanks. They are made of glass panels coated with acrylic paints which enable it to collect solar energy and water is distributed using metal pipes insulated from exterior to minimise heat loss. They also utilise solar energy in form of driers and simple solar concentrator mirrors can be used to speed up the evaporation of water from palm and sugarcane juices, which is the source of oil and sugar for rural population as well.

• A recent development is the solar irrigation system which is gaining popularity steadily. They use photovoltaic power to run a low volume pump in which the amount of water circulated depends on the solar energy obtained by the cells. Thus when the heat is at its peak the solar energy is used to water the plants effectively by continuous water supply and preventing water lock. There are numerous applications of solar devices and in future they will become efficient and economical.

Portable Solar Power Energy Devices

The growth of the hi-tech world is mainly due to the fact that it provides numerous applications in easy to carry frames. The use of cell phones and the laptops sizes are shrinking each day and are becoming portable. The solar power energy has reached all levels of society and equipments are gaining popularity as they not only are elegant but also convey the message of going green by producing power without any cost and by using renewable sources of energy.

The most widely used solar power energy device is the solar battery charger. It finds its applications in the remote areas where electricity is unavailable. They mainly consist of a solar panel and an array of photovoltaic cells which can be varied based on the requirements of power. These devices are not only portable but easy to construct as the materials required are easily available.

Solar ovens are getting noticed as they have the power of cooking raw food without destroying the natural essence and nutrients. They can very easily cut the costs of electric bills by getting rid of electric heaters and also the money spent every month on cooking gas can be minimised. These are portable and use solar power energy directly to heat and cook food. They can be easily prepared by using two flaps like reflectors made from thin plywood and covered with heavy duty aluminium foils or shiny Mylar to retain heat in the oven. This device is efficient to harness solar power energy when kept in direct sunlight and thus can be very handy while going on picnics or to high altitudes where electricity cannot be carried.

A lesser known device called site evaluator is also very portable form of solar power energy. It is used to calculate the hours of sunlight or shade a site will receive during any time of the year. It is widely carried by architects along with them to the sites to determine the intensity of sunlight available at a place and this knowledge in turn helps to design homes and offices and also to select sites for parks and gardens. These devices are a very smart form of harnessing solar power energy.

If you have to go on along business trip and you want to take the garden with you, then there is a way of using the solar power energy in form of greenhouse windows. It provides cool air to the plants and keeps the surrounding warm at nights. The lovely way to harness solar power energy is to create a home for the pets which mainly takes the heat from the animal’s body and retains it by the use of various insulating foams inside the house. These solar power energy devices are portable and your dog will always find a place in your excursions and holidays and also remain safe while you are away for long.

5 Lesser Known Facts Of Solar Power Energy

The importance of solar energy in the survival of living species and proper functioning of life cycles are well known to the people around the world but there are certain facts which can amuse you about the solar power energy.

• Solar power energy has been used by the Greeks and Romans as the means to light the lighthouse to guide the ships around the rocky shores. They were also used as weapons with large concave mirrors focussed sunlight on the enemy ships and burned them down with sun’s energy. Sundial was used to keep a track of time in very early days by the Indians and its proof can be seen in the jantar mantars in Jaipur and Delhi.

• The plant kingdom is the major storage body for solar power energy as the leaves of plants utilise solar energy to prepare food through a process of photosynthesis. The green pigments called chloroplast trap solar radiations and use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Thus they maintain the CO₂ content and keep the surroundings full of oxygen. The rapid deforestation which has led to global warming is due to rise of this gas as the action of industries and automobiles.

• When a plant material is burned in air, it yields 6KWh of energy in the form of heat per kg of material burned. In the sugar cane fields of tropical regions about 10 kg/m² of dry organic matters is present. Burning this would yield about 60 KWh/m² of solar power energy. This can be very useful prospects for poor farmers as they can harness the solar power from the wastes of the industries.

• Dry algae can be used to harness solar power energy by using sun’s radiations in algal growth tanks. The slurry of partly decomposed sewage is fed into the tank along with algae and they are completely digested in the digester and decomposed to give various forms of nitrates and phosphates which serve as fertilizers and a fuel gas is produced whose major component is methane. Thus such hydrocarbons are easily liquefied and transported for consumption as fuel. This method of solar power energy utilisation still is in development stages.

• Solar cells are the important devices for converting the sun rays directly into solar power energy which can be used to support the household activities of charging, heating or lighting. They are the most commercially viable and the photoelectric cell array for spacecrafts is used by Earth resources Technology Satellite (ERTS). These photovoltaic cells not only store heat from sun but also radiate to make the interiors of spacecrafts cooler.

These facts about solar power energy shows tremendous future in solving the energy crises faced by humans and also will prevent widespread deforestation and global warming. It is the power of future.

Solar Thermal Energy Simplfied

Solar thermal energy, in simple terms means the heat energy that is produced by the Sun. Many times, it happens that we are looking for a simple explanation about things, but we come across definitions that are structured in a complicated manner. Thus, instead of getting a clarification, we seem to be even more confused than what we were when it all started.

Therefore, to simplify the complete process of understanding, we are going to discuss the concept of solar thermal energy and solar light energy in a nonscientific manner. It is easy actually. When we see the Sun, we know that it has a lot of heat and light. The energy produced by the sunlight is used to supply power for running appliances in our homes and at work. This is the concept behind solar thermal energy generation.

In our solar system, Sun is the source of energy for all of us. The Sun produces so much energy in one single day, that it can supply abundant power to the complete United States for one complete year! The solar thermal energy is extremely powerful in its effectiveness.

Now, we cannot use the solar thermal energy in its raw form. Therefore, to utilize this energy, we have to convert it in either of the two forms. The first way is to convert the solar thermal energy into electricity and the second option is to convert it into heat energy. Both these purposes have uses in domestic as well as industrial arenas.

When solar energy is used in the domestic front, it can help in heating up of water for using in the kitchen and other household purposes. You can even heat your swimming pool using solar thermal energy. You can either position your windows in a manner to gather the maximum amount of heat, or use solar panels that will capture and transfer the heat.

These solar panels can be put up in groups and use a motor to provide solar thermal energy for generation of electricity. The panels can be made at home in case you want to save money. Otherwise, if there is a dearth of time, completely assembled solar energy kits are available off the shelf. These can be used effectively to power homes and offices.

Using this form of energy is extremely beneficial for the environment, as it does not have any harmful side effects. Another assurance that is accompanied with the solar energy is the longevity. This form of alternate renewable energy is here to stay!

Have You Ever Wondered About The History Of Solar Thermal Energy?

Solar thermal energy has become one of the most talked about topics all around the globe. So, did human kind really take these many years to recognize the potential of solar thermal energy? Did we start looking for alternative renewable sources of energy when the depleting sources of conventional energy, left us no choice?

No, that is not the case. You will be surprised to know that it was as early as the 1800s when people started being aware about the gradual death of non-renewable sources of energy. However, the crisis that we face today was a distant possibility back then. This was the very reason why urgent efforts were not made to save the situation.

In the later years of 1830s, Edmund Becquerel had written his findings on the possibility of turning light into energy and had published these. However, the findings were never paid heed nor applied in any form during those times. Therefore, in many records you will be able to find the origin of solar thermal energy applications dated to the experiments conducted by Augusted Mouchout, who was an instructor of mathematics at the Lyce de tours.

Mouchout, in 1860s, had received funding from the then French monarch, so that he could work on a new resource of energy. Using this, he had created a few appliances that used solar thermal energy to run. That included a steam engine, which used solar thermal energy to run itself, and a motor running on solar thermal energy. He even had the sense of humor to create ice by using the energy from the Sun! Mouchout had achieved this by connecting a refrigerating device with the solar powered steam engine.

There was no looking back after these inventions. Slowly but steadily inventions and discoveries related to solar thermal energy started growing. Some of the well known inventions are as follows:

• In 1870s, a deputy registrar by the name of William Adams founded the ‘Power Tower Concept’ that used the solar energy and mirrors to run a steam engine. This concept is still being applied in the modern world.
• In the year 1883, Charles Fritz discovered how to generate electricity by using sun rays.
• In the later part of 1880s, Charles Tellier installed an appliance to heat water for his domestic purposes, by using the solar thermal energy.
• In 1950s the Bell Laboratories team of Calvin Fuller, Daryl Chaplin and Gerald Pearson, discovered the semi-conductor properties of silicon, which is being used in the solar cells till this day.

Hence, it is just a misconception that the energy crisis of the 1970s, had led to the discoveries and inventions related to solar and other alternative renewable sources of energy.

7 Interesting Facts About Solar Thermal Energy

Whenever you hear about solar thermal energy, you generally associate it with mundane data available over the internet on solar panels, solar kits, guides, components, etc. It might have also happened that you had to submit a science project on solar power during your school times and you have that memory refreshed every time you come across anything related to solar thermal energy. Therefore, you will attach certain seriousness to solar thermal energy as if it is all about scientific work.

As mentioned earlier, this is simply because you are unaware of the fun and interesting facts about this clean renewable source of energy. Getting light and heat energy from the sun and converting it into different other forms of energy for our daily use, is an exciting prospect. If you understand it well, you will be keen on trying out new and innovative gadgets that are solar powered.

When I came to know about these seven fun and interesting facts about solar thermal energy, I was amazed, so will you be. Thus, read the facts and enjoy!

1)      The amount of sunlight that hits the earth surface over a period of an hour is enough to fulfill the entire world’s demand for energy over one whole year! Therefore, if we can utilize the solar thermal energy properly we will have abundant energy in one day to survive for 24 years!

2)      Sir Albert Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in the year 1921 for his revolutionary work on the solar photovoltaic cells and the solar thermal energy.

3)      Many European farmers used to utilize solar thermal energy in their fields to solar power them. This is not a recent innovation. It used to happen as early as the middle ages. Yes, even then, people knew how to use the immense power provided by the Sun.

4)      The total power of the solar radiations gets reduced by at least 23-25% by the time it reaches us. Once the sunrays hit the earth surface, they are reflected and absorbed. After this phenomenon, the light and heat of the solar radiations is further diminished by the pollution, dust and clouds that are prevalent in the air. Therefore, finally what reaches us is 3/4^th of the actual solar energy potential.

5)      The solar panels that are installed everywhere, on an average, converts a minimal of 15% of the sunlight to electricity. The balance is wasted.

6)      Architects are taught how to use the solar thermal energy to the optimum level while planning a building. They can design the structure and make the windows in such a manner that sunlight can be a major source of heat and light for the building!

7)      Plants use the solar power to make food for their survival through a process called photosynthesis.

Surely, after reading this you do not find solar energy mundane anymore!

Some Unusual Applications Of Solar Power Energy!

We have all been hearing about how solar power energy is changing the way in which the world is look at power consumption. However, what is interesting about this concept is that it can be actually helpful in home based situations other than heating and electricity.

In the case of conventional energy sources like fossil fuels, which need to be burned to produce heat energy that is then converted to either kinetic energy (for moving a vehicle from point A to B) or electricity (to power our homes, offices and industries). Solar power energy, on the other hand, already reaches earth in different forms of energy i.e. visible light, infrared (heat energy) and ultraviolet range. Therefore, based on the requirement, the requisite component of solar power energy can be utilised.

Here are some unusual applications of solar power energy:

Wireless Solar Powered Speakers: Companies are coming out with the amped speakers that work as two units i.e. the gathering unit and the audio unit. The gathering unit consist of solar panels that can catch solar power energy and charge a battery. This unit can then produce sharp sound quality, which is then transferred to the speakers. These speakers can be wirelessly connected to MP3 and other audio devices. Being wireless by nature, you can carry your speakers to any room in your home while the gathering unit can be kept stationary in another.

Solar Charger for handhelds: This is the ultimate in charging. No more scurrying around to find a power outlet to charge your mobiles, handhelds and portable music and video players! With Solio’s Universal Hybrid solar charger, you can now charge your devices on the go. The best part with this solar power energy harnesser is that it weighs just 5.6 ounces, meaning you can easily carry it around.

Hybrid Solar Lighting (HSL): This device lights up a home using solar technology. So, what is new about it? Well, first and foremost, HSL is a lighting innovation that uses direct sunlight to produce the necessary ambiance in your home where a system of gatherers simply siphon the light component of solar power energy and provide the same to hybrid light panels. As a result, you can enjoy the actual light of the sun distributed around your home instead of the artificial brightness of CFLs and florescent lamps.

Solar Powered Rodent Repelling Device: This is an interesting device that uses solar power energy to produce sonic waves underground. These waves are quite irritating to the rodents. As a result, installing this device with a battery source will make sure that these annoying creatures stay away from your homes for good!

Think Seriously About Solar Energy

The needs of the humanity are no longer limited to the fulfillment of the basic amenities of food, clothing and shelter but have grown over the centuries. The wide spread industrialization few centuries back saw an outburst of industries and going down of prices of commodities which were reserved for the rich people. With globalization in recent times, the energy demands have soared to new heights and this pressure has proved to be back breaking for the coal and petroleum reserves which face extinction. Now is the time to think seriously about other avenues of producing power and the best option is to start thinking about solar energy not as a small scale power generator but also a large scale provider.

Any person who wishes to know about solar energy, should search through the web and get access to technical magazines to know the importance of the solar power and its effect on energy harnessing processes in near future. They as the name suggests use sunlight and convert it directly to electricity by using cells known as solar cells. These gadgets contain small receptors which stimulate upon reacting with sunlight and produce a voltage across the circuits. They can be a boon in places like mid Asia and deserts where sunlight is abundant and readily available throughout the day.

Oceanography, nuclear power and other fuel cells have a great future but lack the ease in installation and cost-efficient of the solar power generation. You can always generate residential solar power to get freedom from the increasing bills of grid and the best part is that you can build the solar panels and systems required for the purpose by subscribing for green sites and tutorials over the net. The advantage of harnessing solar energy is that it can be calculated for certain regions with accuracy. Controlling and regulating the power supply of homes is another advantage about solar energy. They are manifested in forms of water heaters and rechargers. Generators and other lighting tools can also run with the solar energy.

The main fact about solar energy is that it is never going to get exhausted like the fossil fuels and that it is so clean that it hardly affects the environment in an adverse way. Once you find ways of harnessing it, it is yours for the taking and can be applied over appliances even at nights or when the skies are cloudy. So if you want to go green with your approach then know about solar energy and endorse it today. It is the sure way to reduce the sky high electric bills.

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