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.
The process by which photovoltaic cells produce electric power is called the photovoltaic effect. The process creates direct current (DC) whose stability is greatly influenced by fluctuating sunlight intensity. There is a need to make it more stable by converting it to alternating current (AC). This is achieved with the use of special converters within the cells. As a result a fixed voltage and frequency of AC current can be obtained.
SPC requires the use of special collectors. One such collector is the parabolic trough. In the collectors are a number of mirrors and lenses. A series of mirrors and lenses produces a thermal beam that is used to heat fluid. Steam is produced from this process and used to turn turbines. Thermal energy may be stored for close to 24 hours hence electricity generation can occur around the clock.
Hybrid systems are becoming increasingly common due to their greater efficiency. Such systems contain both photovoltaics and CSP features. More advanced systems even have a different sources of energy such as biogas, wind or diesel which ensures that electricity generation is faced with very few interruptions. Thermoelectric devices facilitate the switch from one mode to another depending on the intensity of the sun. Hybrid systems have particularly useful on islands.
The use of solar power has been exponential with some studies showing that an annual growth of 40% has been experienced. Regions in which most of this growth has been taking place include Europe, Asia and the United States. By 2050, it is projected that at least 27% of world electricity consumption will be contributed by solar (16% will be direct in the form of photovoltaics and 11% as 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.
The process by which photovoltaic cells produce electric power is called the photovoltaic effect. The process creates direct current (DC) whose stability is greatly influenced by fluctuating sunlight intensity. There is a need to make it more stable by converting it to alternating current (AC). This is achieved with the use of special converters within the cells. As a result a fixed voltage and frequency of AC current can be obtained.
SPC requires the use of special collectors. One such collector is the parabolic trough. In the collectors are a number of mirrors and lenses. A series of mirrors and lenses produces a thermal beam that is used to heat fluid. Steam is produced from this process and used to turn turbines. Thermal energy may be stored for close to 24 hours hence electricity generation can occur around the clock.
Hybrid systems are becoming increasingly common due to their greater efficiency. Such systems contain both photovoltaics and CSP features. More advanced systems even have a different sources of energy such as biogas, wind or diesel which ensures that electricity generation is faced with very few interruptions. Thermoelectric devices facilitate the switch from one mode to another depending on the intensity of the sun. Hybrid systems have particularly useful on islands.
The use of solar power has been exponential with some studies showing that an annual growth of 40% has been experienced. Regions in which most of this growth has been taking place include Europe, Asia and the United States. By 2050, it is projected that at least 27% of world electricity consumption will be contributed by solar (16% will be direct in the form of photovoltaics and 11% as 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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