Solar Energy Overview                 Solar energy can be defined as a number of methods which are used to obtain energy from the Sun. While the concept of solar energy has existed for hundreds of years, it has become very popular in recent years as people around the world look for alternative energy sources. Solar energy is seen as being a low cost alternative to fossil fuels. Solar energy is currently being utilized primarily in remote places. The amount of solar radiation that reaches areas that are within the vicinity of the Earth's orbit is called the solar constant. Of all the energy that reaches Earth, about 20% of it is consumed by the atmosphere. Clouds will reflect over 30% of this energy. At sea level, the ideal amount of solar power is about 1000W/m^2. The standard amount of power is generally lower than this. Once the light of the Sun has traveled through the atmosphere of the Earth, it will exist in the form of Infrared or visible radiation. Photosynthesis is used by plants to generate energy in the form of chemicals. Humans have used this energy for thousands of years by burning wood, or when they consumed these plants. There are a number of different technologies which have been developed to utilize solar energy. All of these technologies can be broken down into two types, and these are direct solar power and indirect solar power. Direct solar power will transform sunlight directly into a form which can be used. As an example, Sunlight will strike the photovoltaic cell, and it will create electricity. With other methods, the light from the sun will hit a surface which is designed to absorb it. The surface will become warmer, and the heat will be transported in the form of electricity. This is called a solar thermal collector. Solar sails are another example of direct solar power. Light from the Sun will strike the solar sail, and the force of this light striking it will cause both the solar sail and the space craft to move. Indirect solar power is a form of solar energy in which transformation occurs in multiple steps. Many people consider some indirect solar energy devices to be inefficient when compared to direct solar energy devices. Hydroelectric dams are operated by solar energy. It is indirect because it is dependent on the connection between the Sun and the atmosphere of the Earth. There are a number of both advantages and disadvantages to solar energy. The advantages of solar energy are that it is free of pollution, and structures which utilize it do not need to be maintained after their initial construction. The cost of solar energy continues to increase because the cost to produce solar energy products has been reduced. However, solar power is not without disadvantages. First, it is only efficient in areas where the climate is good. Many of these places are remote. It is also inefficient at night and in environments which have a large number of clouds. Many proponents feel that most of the disadvantages of solar energy will be reduced as the technology continues to advance.   Bookmark and share: