A Brief Solar Electricity System Overview

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The amazing progress that humans have made in the past hundred years with regards to standards of living has been driven by the use of more and more electricity. This use will continue to increase as the technology that will carry us through to the future continues to be electricity dependent. Further, as more and more of the world’s economies began using electricity to spur their own growth, so also will continued exponential growth of electricity use.

The use of fossil fuels and coal has long been the key ingredient in our production of electricity, but the green house gases released and the climate changes caused by the burning of these fuels is unsustainable in the long term. To avoid damaging the planet further, scientists have been looking to develop cleaner and safer energy sources. Solar electricity systems are one promising for of technology now available as a result of the search for clean energy.

There are two methods by which solar electricity systems harness the energy of the sun to produce electricity. The first, known as the direct method, uses photvoltaics, commonly known as solar cells, which are made up of crystalline gallium arsenide, silicon or other semiconductor materials that convert solar energy into electricity. The cost of this form of energy has been cut as low as 20 cents per kilowatt-hour by linking large numbers of these cells together. Such systems have been used to power satellites and other space observation equipment for some time.

These solar cells provide long term sustainable energy systems since they use no mechanical parts like those found in power plants. Where these cells lack, however, is in their efficiency and the fact that their output relies heavily upon the time of day and season of the year. Also necessary is the conversion of the produced DC voltage to usable AC voltage before households and businesses can do anything with the electricity.

The second form is known as the indirect method, which relies upon focusing solar radiation to heat or boil liquids which are then used to power electricity producing turbines for commercial or home use. Most of the time solar energy is concentrated through a trough that is made up of a linear parabolic reflector into a receiver positioned on the focal line. Running along the focal line is tubing connected to the turbine which is filled with liquid intended to absorb the heat produced by the solar radiation. This is much more efficient than the direct method due to the fact that the heat of the sun is being directly utilized. This efficiency can be further extended through the use of solar dishes and power towers.

While fossil fuels have enabled humans to vastly change the scope of what is possible in our day to day lives, their use has also done significant damage through the release of greenhouse gases and other byproducts. In moving forward, we must embrace clear and more sustainable energy that harness and utilize the energy of the sun. Our past lay buried where fossil fuels can be found underground. Our future remains in the sky where the sun beats down solar energy each and every day.