News about Solar, Wind and alternative green power technologies

We increasingly hear about renewable or alternative sources of energy. Renewable energy is becoming a buzzword and amidst its subsidiary terms solar energy is making the front page of many investment projects. What is making solar such a peerless source of energy, the answer certainly lies in its abundance and constant supply all year round.
What is Solar Energy?

Solar energy is the energy that can be extracted from the light and heat that the sun produces with its rayon. The exclusive and endless supply of solar energy is constantly delivered every minute-hour and the year-out on the surface of the globe. The astonishing constant source does practically not produce any bio-waste or greenhouse gases. This is purely clean or so-called Green technology. Even the solar panels can later be recycled.

What makes solar unique is its widespread use. Calculators have been using solar energy since a very long-time now. The more interesting part is that solar energy can be used to either produce energy or save energy. During the day, daylight can be used to reduce electric lighting and otherwise it can be used to produce the electricity needed to light the bulbs. LEEDS (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design Standards) building standards focus on making solar energy a widespread source used in schools, homes, commercial and governmental buildings.

Conversion of Solar to Electricity
Nowadays, there are mainly two types of technologies used to convert solar power into electricity.

1. Photovoltaics (PV)
This source is mainly used by homes or businesses to either become more self-reliant or stop to rely on the electricity-grid totally. The photovoltaics technology consists of thin layer of usually silicon-based materials placed on solar panels. Energy is produced from the photovoltaic effect. The process is as follows: when photons of light reach the solar panels they eventually tap electrons and change them into higher state of energy, which does thereby produce electricity. PV technology does convert light directly into electricity current.

2. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is used at much larger-scale. The technology is based on the heat produced by the sun. It uses mirrors to converge rayon of the sun to a concentrated point. This elevates an intense heat; this heat is thereafter used to produce electricity in a steam generator, similarly to traditional technology coal-steam generators. CSP is not a new state of technology, it has already been in use for above 15 years by utility companies.

Solar is a Gold-Cave
Installation of solar is considerably diminishing dependency on electricity grid for homeowners, businesses and other industrial projects. Solar energy produced at home can even be sold back to the electricity grid, if there is an overflow of energy.

Moreover, geographical locations that are off-grid can be supplied with the use of solar panels. This is even giving solar power a role in agricultural, to provide electricity to pumps used to irrigate land or to small communities in providing light.

Constraints about Solar Power
Solar energy remains relatively expensive. It cost is around 40 cent per KWh whereas wind energy costs around 5 cent per kilowatt-hours. Despite that, the cost is at a fall, it remains a very expensive source of energy compared to wind energy and other renewable sources of energy.

It is a raw-fact that the sun does not provide energy during the night. In our actual state of technology, storing electricity is subject to substantial loss of the energy gathered. There is thus dependency on alternative sources of energy during the night that represents peak hours for homeowners unlike businesses.

Solar energy has experienced a tremendous fall in cost during recent years. It is likely that soon it will become nearly comparable to wind energy, making it even more competitive for households, businesses and industries. Solar power has always remained a widespread source of energy that can be harnessed around the globe.