Renewable Solar Energy                 There are two primary ways that light from the sun can be converted into electricity, and these are solar thermal power and photovoltaic cells. With solar thermal power, mirrors which are parabolic in shape direct sunlight towards containers which are filled with oil. This oil will heat up and boil water using an exchange of heat. Steam will be produced, and the movement of this steam will cause a turbine to rotate. The rotation of this turbine will produce electricity. Experiments conducted in California show that this method of using solar energy can provide electricity to millions of homes across the United States. Solar thermal power is the most complex of the two. Photovoltaic technology is much cheaper and basic. However, it is in the experimental stage as of this writing. It is composed of cells made from semiconductors which will transform sunlight into electricity. Right now, it is being used primarily for calculators, pumps, and smaller devices. Photovoltaic cells are expensive to produce, and this is one factor which limits their demand. A plan is currently underway in Australia to build a solar power plan which can produce up to 20 kW of AC electricity. If either of these two methods are used, they can greatly allow cities and countries to reduce their electrical consumption levels. People may also want to use what is called passive solar energy. Examples of this could be window coverings, proper insulation, and water heating units. While solar energy power plants could be produced with current technology, they are in the experimental stage, and may not be capable of supporting entire cities. Because of the costs involved with producing them, photovoltaic cells are too expensive to be used in power plants. If solar energy is to be used in places where the weather may not be favorable, a back up energy source should be used. The good news about photovoltaic cells is that they are relatively inexpensive to install. However, if the plant requires extensive amounts of land, the cost to install could dramatically increase. Once the solar energy unit is installed, it will be easy and inexpensive to maintain. A large group of employees will not be required to run the plant. The best thing about solar energy is that it is renewable. There are hardly any disposal costs which need to be added. For solar energy plants to be effective, they must be located in the best places. These are places which get large amounts of constant sunlight. The obvious answer is deserts. However, if the plant is built too far away from consumers, the costs involved with transporting it to them will be figured into the amount they will have to pay for it. This is one advantage that photovoltaic cells have over solar thermal plants. They can be placed on homes, and will allow people to generate their own power instead of relying on a remote plant. Despite the challenges which must be overcome to use solar energy, it is one of the best alternatives currently available.   Bookmark and share: