This article will address some of the most intriguing solar energy facts. Solar power is generally one of the most ecologically friendly and attractive sources of power at this time. Let us begin with the obvious. Solar energy has been in existence since the beginning of time. It has always been utilized by plant, animal, and microbial life as a primary energy supply. Plants, making use of photosynthesis, generate the majority of the food on earth and are at the base of the food chain. Furthermore the fossil fuels we rely on so greatly these days are created from plants and animals that existed a long time ago. Only just recently have human beings been able to capture solar energy in a form that is able to be used at any time of day or night, and in any weather, stored and transferred.

Annually, the earth's atmosphere receives 3.85 million exajoules of energy from the sun. This probably doesn't mean much to you, but in comparison, the total use of electric energy by all people today on the earth is just 56.7 exajoules per year. This indicates that in a matter of a few hours, the earth absorbs more energy from the sun than people today use in an entire year! Solar energy is an exceptionally clean source of power since, unlike fossil fuels, using this type of energy source won't release carbon dioxide or various other harmful toxins into the atmosphere. Additionally solar energy is collected by nearly every form of life. You have probably never observed a reptile collect wood to start a fire, but you in all probability have experienced one lying on a rock to absorb solar energy. Solar power is in all probability the most environmentally sound energy option readily available right now.

You may be wondering exactly what solar power is capable of doing for our natural environment. On a yearly basis, humans consume 467 exajoules of energy by utilizing several main power sources: burning coal, gasoline, and oil, along with 'green' sources like wind, solar, and hydro energy. In the event that we could capture just 10% of the sun's energy, we would have the ability to replace all of the fossil fuel sources and have adequate room for growth. Indisputably solar energy facts like this clearly show just how much better solar power is for the environment and how big the opportunity actually is for solar energy progress.

Now that you have looked over some of the most remarkable solar energy facts and have a better understanding in regards to what solar energy can do for our planet, you would almost certainly like to know precisely what solar energy is. Quite simply, solar energy is the heat and light energy released from the sun. During the course of a day the sun produces enormous quantities of energy into our solar system. Approximately 30% of the sun's energy that will reach the earth is immediately reflected back by the atmosphere, and another 20% is usually absorbed into the atmosphere. Having said that, approximately 50% of the energy actually gets to the earth's surface, where it fuels photosynthesis in plants, sustains hot tropical and warm temperate climates, maintains the temperature of the ocean, and generally speaking preserves life as we know it.. Every bit of this is attained without creating any pollution or destruction of precious natural resources.

A large number of people today don't realize how solar energy works on a technical level, and so they wonder just what solar energy is going to provide to their households, businesses, and communities. In the last three decades, solar energy technology has developed at a rapid rate. Solar energy is gathered at several substantial power plants in the U.S., Spain, Australia, and in other nations, where it delivers power directly to the power grid. This implies that many houses throughout the globe currently receive electrical energy generated by the sun. One of the lesser known solar energy facts is that solar power can also be employed on a much smaller scale. Solar panels on households and businesses, can certainly generate a percentage (or possibly all) of the energy these buildings will need. On a still smaller scale, solar panel systems are utilized in India and Indonesia to disinfect water, and compact solar burners and ovens are often used in order to cook food in other areas of the globe . Solar energy can potentially be employed to fuel practically any procedure you can think of, from large-scale electrical power generation for towns and cities to boiling one single pot of water.

What makes pretty much all of these diverse uses achievable is the creation of solar energy systems. You will notice that there are two fundamental varieties of solar energy technologies currently employed at this time: solar thermal energy (STE) and photovoltaic (PV) energy. Solar thermal collectors merely harness the heat or thermal energy released by the sun. This thermal energy is typically used to heat water which in turn may be stored and used for ordinary household requirements or piped for use in a household heating system. STE is able to be stored by heating up or energizing a thermal mass that is designed to continue to give off heat energy when the sun is not shining. Solar thermal collectors have always been a lot more efficient compared to photovoltaic collectors but on the other hand energy storage is a little more cumbersome. Photovoltaic solar panels produce an electric current when exposed to sunlight. The resulting electric current can be utilized at once or stored using batteries for later use. This is one of the most valuable solar energy facts when working with PV energy systems. Battery storage is incredibly important since it means it is feasible to store solar energy for use during hours of darkness or even during cloudy or stormy periods.

Solar energy is an essential alternative energy source which will certainly make it possible to take care of our environment. It can also help to cut down our dependency on fossil fuels. You may very well be curious about just how large of a cost it could be for you to switch to solar power? Solar power is not really as costly as many people think. A total solar energy system for a home can easily cost the homeowner around $30,000, however this does not necessarily mean you will end up paying that whole amount. To start off, you'll discover lots of types of incentive programs, including tax credits, rebates and grants, that can reduce the expense of installing solar panels by 30% or more . A different choice you may wish to think about is a smaller sized solar energy system that merely supplements your home energy needs. A smaller sized system is going to cost significantly less, while still lowering your current energy bills, and it will help make your home more environmentally sound. Presently most electricity is produced using fossil fuels. So reducing your current use of electrical energy from your area power company by 50% is definitely a important measure in the direction of developing a sustainable power grid.

In this article, we have tried to supply you with a number of important and thought provoking solar energy facts. While you think about these facts, also consider the amount of importance you put on the condition of the natural environment and on humanity's obligation to help preserve it. No matter if fossil fuels don't run out in the next 50 years, it is likely that their ongoing use as our primary energy source is going to cause environmental havoc. Investing in solar energy now will probably not immediately save you money, however your investment may well provide a better future for everybody under the sun.