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►Solar Power:
Solar power may be the energy of the
twenty-first century. At the present time solar power is relatively
limited.
Solar power uses photovoltaic cells (PV's) to gather thermal energy
directly from the sun and use it to produce electricity. One community
could be supplied by one field of PV's . Passive solar cells could also
be used to heat water, replacing the need for today's hot water heaters.
PV's do not emit any greenhouse gases, but they are very expensive and
more development is needed in order for this to be realistic energy
source for the future.
Solar power can be broken down into
two categories:
-Passive solar
-Active Solar
-Passive Solar
Energy:
Passive solar energy is making direct or indirect use of the thermal
energy from the sun. Indirectly, we can take advantage of the fact that
a southern exposure guarantees the maximum exposure of the sun's rays.
Special metal leaf covering over windows can block out the sun during
the summer months.
Special thermal solar collectors can circulate water through the
collection unit that collects the sun's thermal energy for the purpose
of heating the water for use. More expensive units can use the thermal
energy of the sun in a heat exchange pump for the air conditioning of
small buildings. These thermal solar collectors have been coming down in
expense but are limited by the geographical setting where the sun's
energy is at its maximum.
-Active Solar
Energy:
Active solar energy is the direct use of the sun's electromagnetic
radiation in generating electrical energy. Technically, this is
accomplished by the use of semi-conductor Silicon Boron solar chips. The
problem with these solar chips is that they have a low efficiency ratio
and can only be used in supplying the energy needs of small devices like
calculators, watches, radios, or as a
limited power source in satellite systems. However the present
technology does not allow the use of these solar chips to supply the
power needs for whole communities.
Active solar power could be a power source for the near future.
Presently experimental autos are driven by electrical energy by solar
conversion.
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Solar Energy -
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