If you want information on renewable energy sources, you've come to the right place. The environmental importance of alternative forms of energy production is extremely important in today's world. The use of solar power, wind power and micro-hydro power should be actively encouraged to every consumer and home owner alike everywhere. Solar power, wind power and micro-hydro power are non-polluting, renewable and sustainable forms of energy.

The sun has produced free energy for years and solar energy can be converted into other forms of energy, such as heat and electricity. It can be used to heat water for use in homes, buildings, or swimming pools. It can also be used to heat spaces such as inside homes, offices and other important buildings.

Solar energy can be converted to electricity and there are two different ways of doing that. First, photovoltaic devices, also known as PV devices or solar cells, can change sunlight directly into electricity. They are often used in remote locations that are not connected to electrical grids. They are also used to power smaller devices such as watches and calculators. They are even used to power road signs that we often see everywhere. The other way is more of an indirect method used in solar power plants. They generate electricity by heating a fluid from power collected from the use of photovoltaic devices then using the heated fluid to generate steam which is in turn used to power generators.

Some advantages of photovoltaic systems are that the conversion from sunlight to electricity is direct and bulky mechanical generator systems with moving parts are not necessary in order for the system to produce power. Also the environmental impact is minimal at most and the system requires no water for cooling and generates no by-products that are harmful to the environment.

Photovoltaic cells, or photovoltaic devices (PV devices) as they are called are very much like batteries and they generate direct current (DC) which is generally used for small loads used for light electronic equipment. When DC from photovoltaic cells is used for commercial applications or sold to electric utilities using the electric grid, it must be converted to alternating current (AC) using a device call an "inverter". Inverters are solid state devices that convert DC power to AC which in needed in the stead of DC for some applications, especially commercial uses.

The performance of a photovoltaic array is absolutely and totally dependent upon sunlight and climate conditions. Climate conditions, including clouds and fog, have a significant effect on the amount of solar energy received by a photovoltaic device and its performance. Most current technology photovoltaic modules are about 10 percent efficient in converting sunlight. Further research is being conducted to raise this efficiency to 20 percent.

Understanding and installing your own solar electric system will give you a feeling of confidence and self-reliance. It will make you feel better about harming the environment less.