Solar Power and Its Many Uses

The sun is a large star millions of miles away from the earth. It is powerful enough to provide heat energy to our planet from that distance. Scientists have pondered the uses of solar power for generations but not until now has it been used on a larger scale.

What is Solar Power

Solar power is power from the sun. The sun’s rays shower our planet in solar radiation. About 30 percent of that radiation is reflected back into space before it even reaches the earth. The rest is absorbed by the land, the oceans, and the clouds.

The power of the sun helps plants to grow providing food for animals and humans. We need trees to breathe the oxygen they produce. The sun makes this possible.

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The sun also produces convection currents that lead to the winds around the earth. These currents can also produce cyclones and other natural disasters. The sun is a very powerful force and that energy can be harnessed to fuel the earth’s needs.

Solar Applications

Over the years, scientists have discovered several applications for solar energy:

• Agriculture
• Utility power source
• Hot water system
• Cooling systems

We think of solar power as a way to lower the cost of our utility bills. This is a major application seeing as the fossil fuels we use now are a non-renewable energy source. No one knows with any certainty how long they will continue to last.

One thing that we do know is that fossil fuels have also caused some problems. Look at the greenhouse effect. As the years go by, the phenomenon gets worse. The emissions given off by motor vehicles have produced a barrier that prevents heat from escaping into the atmosphere. As a result, our polar ice caps are melting.

Solar energy is renewable and clean. The ozone layer filters out much of the harmful radiation leaving us with enough energy to use. Besides our homes, power companies are also looking for ways to produce electricity using solar means instead of fossil fuels.

As they work to find a cheaper form of energy for all of us, some are using solar power to run their homes and cut their energy bills now. Solar energy has caught on as the price of complete systems and building your own go down. It is important to understand a solar system before purchasing one.

Agriculture

Solar power is a renewable resource for homes for electricity but it is also useful in agriculture. The sun plays an important role in plant growth. Many greenhouses use artificial light to grow plants indoors but natural light is better.

Solar power can be used to bring as much natural light to plants as possible. Harnessing solar energy can aid in crop production in areas with not a lot of sun. Scientists are considering the idea of solar collectors in the atmosphere to harness more power. It is an idea limited by present technology but taller collectors can be useful.

Plants also need heat. When the sun is not present, solar radiation from the sun is a viable substitute. Greenhouses use solar panels to generate heat for their plant production. Plant production can be increased. Several countries like the Netherlands are already using this technology.

Hot Water

Hot water heaters use natural gas to power them. Natural gas is more efficient and costs less than electricity but solar energy is an even better alternative. Large solar collecting systems can be used to heat water for residential use and commercial. The most commercial use that comes to mind is community swimming pools.

Cooling Systems

The use of solar energy to cool off our homes sounds like a paradox but it works. Solar energy can power air conditioning systems that give us relief in the summer months. Our air conditioning systems will take less energy and be more efficient that before.