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Renewable resources.
Its a problem that we face every day whether we realize it or not.
And one day, that fuels going to run out.
So why dont we use the one energy source that wont run out - the sun?
The sun is a magnificent entity.
It provides the world with enough energy to power all of civilization.
The only problem is how do we capture and harness that energy?
What good is a bunch of free energy if we cant convert it into a useful medium?
Therein lies the issue, and its much more difficult to solve than you might imagine.
“Wait a minute” you say, “we’ve had commercial solar electricity since the 1980s!”
And you would be right in saying that.
However, the trouble isnt inhowto convert the suns energy into electricity.
We already know how to do that - just not on a level that can be mass-consumed.
To understand the limits of solar energy, we need to know how solar panels work.
So join me as I dig into the inner workings of solar power.
Lets take a closer look at the process involved in transforming sunlight into a viable fuel source.
Solar energy begins, as you would expect, with the sun.
That giant ball of fire that hangs in the sky is the perfect source of energy.
Unlike coal, the sun doesnt clog up our atmosphere with carbon dioxide.
Its easily accessible so we dont have to go drilling around the world.
Working with solar energy presents no threat to humans (except maybe for the occasional sunburn).
And most of all, solar energy is free.
Apart from building the actual receptors and maintaining the equipment, solar energy has no cost associated with it.
So how does it all work?
Energy is all around us in different forms.
Stillness is (potential) energy.
In most cases, when light hits an object, its converted into heat energy.
Think back to your last beach visit.
As you sat out in the sun, your skin grew hot.
Its a simple fact of life that weve all experienced.
But there exist certain materials that convert light into energies other than heat.
Silicon is one of those materials.
When light hits silicon, it doesnt dissipate as heat.
Instead, the electrons in the silicon molecule jump around move, producing an electrical current.
Older versions of solar technology used silicon crystals.
When something is difficult, the price of it remains high.
If the price stays high, widespread use becomes unlikely.
Nowadays, solar technology uses a different material.
And thats where we are today.
Another way is to use a heliostat.
What is a heliostat?
Heliostats are mostly controlled by computers.
That is, until the sun explodes.
Image Credit: Solar Panel Illustration Via Shutterstock [Broken URL Removed],Solar Panel Photo Via Shutterstock
