Harnessing Solar Energy
As research continues and technology is constantly developing, the PV (photovoltaic) cells which collect solar energy and convert it into electricity are becoming more compact and more efficient; they now have concentrators so that they can produce the same amount of electricity but without taking up as much space. The cost per watt hour of solar energy is now around $4, whereas seventeen years ago it was double that amount.
As there is no waste and no toxic emissions caused by this kind of energy production, it is also environmentally friendly, and a practical method for domestic use since it makes use of solar panels installed on the roof.
Even on cloudy days there is enough solar radiation for the PV cells on a house roof to collect a sufficient amount for domestic purposes. Today's advanced technology means that PV collectors are now available which can store the excess radiation collected on sunny days and make use of it on overcast days.
Solar energy collected on sunny days, and which is excess to the household's needs, can also be transferred to the grid. The conventional sources of energy which are supplied through the grid for most areas are less environmentally friendly, and the grid also has the disadvantage of power outages. Thus solar energy use can not only reduce a household's dependence on the grid but reduce the power outage problem. It is also possible for a centralized PV collection system to supply a small community, rather than each having their own system.
Larger companies are now realizing the benefits of solar energy. Examples of these are Wal-Mart, with plans for their own 100 MW solar plant, and Google, the corporate headquarters of which now has a 1.6 MW solar generator installed on it. This adoption of solar energy by large corporations shows that it is now becoming more widely used and is an economically viable alternative to the currently prevalent forms of energy production.
Many governments around the world, including Japan, Germany, the US and Switzerland, are now providing tax incentives and subsidies for individuals and companies to use solar energy as their electricity source, or at least for heating purposes, thus actively promoting its use as an alternative to conventional energy sources. As the technology for its collection, conversion and storage is improving and becoming more widely available, more and more people and corporations are realizing the environmental and economic benefits to be gained from investing in it, and this should have the effect of making solar energy more popular than ever as time goes on.
Again, solar energy is a way of freeing yourself from being dependent on the power grid and the issues accompanying that dependence, including power outages and cost increases, and it is also non-damaging to the environment. The benefits of domestic solar power extend even further than the individual, who can sell his or her excess on to the power company, making it of benefit to other users.
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