Solar Energy

Solar power is one of the most abundant forms of Renewable energy resources  Renewable energy is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. In its various forms, it derives directly from the sun, wind, ocean , biomass  or from heat generated deep within the earth.

Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaic (PV), or indirectly using  concentrated solar power (CSP).  PV or solar cell converts light into electric current using the photoelectric effect. CSP systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam.
Solar Energy Day to Day  Life:

Solar energy can be used for a number of applications such as:
a. domestic lighting
b. street lighting
c. village electrification
d. water pumping
e. desalination of salty water

We can see the Solar street lights in Tirumala (Lord Venkateshwara shrine)  in Andhra Pradesh.

Most solar cookers work on basic principles: sunlight is  converted to heat energy that is retained for cooking. A solar cooker needs an outdoor spot that is sunny for several hours and protected from strong wind, and where food will be safe. Solar cookers don't work at  night or on cloudy days.The solar cooker can be used all year round, it is not affected by outside temperatures and it can be used at any latitude.The solar cooker works a bit like a burning/magnifying glass. The parallel sun rays are reflected by the parabolic mirror to the cooker's focal point. Due to the high on concentration of the sun's rays, the temperatures in the focal point are extremely high.Placing a pot or pan in the focal point allows you to cook or fry a meal.

Solar Water Heaters:

Solar hot water is a different way to make use of sunshine, they actually don’t produce electricity, but can be used to heat water for your home or swimming pool.A solar collector concentrates the sun’s rays to heat water, which makes a closed loop through the heating tank. The hot water is passes into a tank that contains a heat ex changer . As heat is exchanged in the tank, the water is pumped back up to the solar collector . Cold water that passes through the tank heats up and makes its way to your tap.

Solar energy in various fields:

Agriculture and horticulture  seek to optimize the capture of solar energy  in order to optimize the   productivity of plants.Green houses like these grow vegetables, fruits and flowers.In northern India,solar agricultural system is the first preference of farmers because of the scarce availability of water and need of specific area cultivation.Best and useful in step cultivation in hilly areas.DC motor pumping set is available, which run on solar energy, for dawn to dusk operation.

A solar vehicle is an electric vehicle powered by solar energy obtained from solar panels  on the surface (generally, the roof) of the vehicle . Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity.President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday flagged off the DTU passenger solar aar at Rashtrapati Bhavan.The solar passenger car has been designed and developed by a team of Delhi Technological University (DTU). The team comprises of an interdisciplinary group of under-graduate students headed by Dhiraj Mishra of the Electronics and Communication Engineering Department of DTU.

Recent Trends Solar Energy Sources:

nResidential AC is available in a sleek black frame, the module is designed specifically for home and business solar installations.Air can be passed over common, solid desiccants (like silica gel  to draw moisture from the air to allow an efficient evaporative cooling cycle. The desiccant is then regenerated by using solar thermal energy to dehumidify, in a cost-effective, low-energy-consumption, continuously repeating cycle. A photo voltaic system can power a low-energy air circulation fan, and a motor to slowly rotate a large disk filled with desiccant.

The Swiss team built the world's most advanced solar-powered plane. A solar energy plane landed in Morocco on Tuesday June5,

2012, completing the world's first intercontinental flight powered by the sun to show the potential for pollution-free air travel.

New AC Solar Generator Invention Could   Revolutionize Solar Power

Production.More products like the Power G 1800 Watt Solar Generator are coming out into the market, allowing you to benefit from the power of the sun while still retaining that connection to the grid. But the good thing about using these solar products is that you’re no longer dependent on the grid for power.This solar powered backup battery gives you independence that will allow you to run all your essential electrical devices despite whatever power outages or emergencies may occur.

Importance of Solar Energy:

Contrasting to the fossil fuels that we consume and use on a daily basis, solar energy does not fabricate the excessively injurious pollutants that are liable for the greenhouse effect which is known to lead to global warming. Solar power use reduces the quantity of contamination and toxic waste.  It is ultra clean, natural and a sustainable source of energy that you can utilize in the use of making solar electricity, solar heating appliances, solar cooling appliances and also solar lighting appliances.Solar energy is that it has massive financial benefits. 

We can  save the planet from dying out by using solar energy!