Solar energy refers to energy from the sun. The sun has produced energy for billions of years. Our sun is a natural nuclear reactor. It releases tiny packets of energy called photons, which travel the 93 million miles from the sun to Earth in about 8.5 minutes. Every hour, enough photons impact our planet to generate enough solar energy to theoretically satisfy global energy needs for an entire year. Currently photovoltaic power accounts for only five-tenths of one percent of the energy consumed in the United States. But solar technology is improving and the cost of going solar is dropping rapidly, so our ability to harness the sun’s abundance of energy is on the rise.
The consumption of non-renewable sources like oil, gas and coal is increasing at an alarming rate. The time has finally come to look after some other renewable sources of energy i.e. solar, wind and geothermal energy. Although many countries have started utilizing solar energy extensively but still they have to go a long way to exploit this energy to fulfill their daily demand for energy. Here are few facts on solar energy that can help you assess the potential of solar energy to meet global requirements.
When photons hit a solar cell, they knock electrons loose from their atoms. If conductors are attached to the positive and negative sides of a cell, it forms an electrical circuit. When electrons flow through such a circuit, they generate electricity. Multiple cells make up a solar panel, and multiple panels (modules) can be wired together to form a solar array. The more panels you can deploy, the more energy you can expect to generate
In recent years the lifestyle of all human beings is changed appreciably with abundant energy usage leading to environmental damage. Environmental degradation is measured by the concentration level of CO2 in the atmosphere which changed from 65 parts per million (ppm) at the time of evolution of earth to 165 ppm in the 18th century before the industrialization started. However, in the last 250 years, this level has been increased appreciably and presently it is 415 ppm stressing the need for CLEAN and GREEN ENERGY-SOLAR ENERGY. Corona pandemic has made everyone understand the urgent need for the moving from fossil fuel usage to Solar power generation.
"Long term investment in solar energy can provide clean, green and renewable electricity for decades"