The use of renewable sources of electric power has been on the rise for some time now. Sustained efforts by environmentalists aimed at discouraging the use of fossil based fuels. Wind and solar are the two most common forms of renewable energy all over the world due to the ease with which they can be found. If they intend to use solar energy Missouri residents should understand beforehand.
Sunlight can be converted to electricity through direct or indirect mechanisms. Direct conversion is the option that makes use of photovoltaic cells. These cells can convert sunlight to electric current. The indirect option makes use of what is known as solar power concentration, SPC. Strategically positioned lenses and mirrors are used to focus incident rays into one beam that is later utilized as thermal and electric energy.
Although the initial idea was to develop this form of electricity for small appliances (such as calculators) and for domestic energy provision in remote areas. This type of electricity has increasingly become commercialized and is playing a big role even in industrialized nations. Large panels have been set up and fed into the grid to complement the traditional sources. For the less developed nations, energy from the sun has helped reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Photovoltaic cells (PV cells) achieve their effect through a process known as the photovoltaic effect. A direct current (DC) is produced from this process. DC current tends to fluctuate with the changing sunlight intensity hence the need to convert it to a more stable, alternating current (AC). The converters make it possible to produce electricity at a preset voltage. At the same time they make it possible to regulate the frequency of the alternating current.
When generating electricity using the concentrated solar power (CSP) model, there is need for a special collector. The collector is fitted with mirrors and lenses that can produce a thermal beam from sunlight. An example of a collector that is used commonly is the parabolic trough. Thermal energy from the collector is used to heat working liquid to generate steam that is in turn used to turn turbines and generate electricity.
Hybrid systems are becoming increasingly common due to their greater efficiency. Such systems contain both photovoltaics and CSP features. More advanced systems even have a different sources of energy such as biogas, wind or diesel which ensures that electricity generation is faced with very few interruptions. Thermoelectric devices facilitate the switch from one mode to another depending on the intensity of the sun. Hybrid systems have particularly useful on islands.
Since the year 2000, the annual growth in solar power uptake has averaged 40%. Europe, Asia and the United States are the regions that have experienced most of this growth. It is estimated that by 2050 up to 27% of worldwide electricity consumption will be from the sun. 16% is projected to come from photovoltaics while 11% will come from CSP.
The growth of solar electric power uptake is driven by two main factors: environmental sustainability and economics. Renewable sources are considered to be clean and produce very little carbon emissions if at all. Since they can be easily obtained and harnessed from the natural environment, they are cheaper than fossil fuels contributing huge savings both in the commercial and residential settings. Additionally, individual citizens producing their own electric power can sell excess power to the government.
Sunlight can be converted to electricity through direct or indirect mechanisms. Direct conversion is the option that makes use of photovoltaic cells. These cells can convert sunlight to electric current. The indirect option makes use of what is known as solar power concentration, SPC. Strategically positioned lenses and mirrors are used to focus incident rays into one beam that is later utilized as thermal and electric energy.
Although the initial idea was to develop this form of electricity for small appliances (such as calculators) and for domestic energy provision in remote areas. This type of electricity has increasingly become commercialized and is playing a big role even in industrialized nations. Large panels have been set up and fed into the grid to complement the traditional sources. For the less developed nations, energy from the sun has helped reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Photovoltaic cells (PV cells) achieve their effect through a process known as the photovoltaic effect. A direct current (DC) is produced from this process. DC current tends to fluctuate with the changing sunlight intensity hence the need to convert it to a more stable, alternating current (AC). The converters make it possible to produce electricity at a preset voltage. At the same time they make it possible to regulate the frequency of the alternating current.
When generating electricity using the concentrated solar power (CSP) model, there is need for a special collector. The collector is fitted with mirrors and lenses that can produce a thermal beam from sunlight. An example of a collector that is used commonly is the parabolic trough. Thermal energy from the collector is used to heat working liquid to generate steam that is in turn used to turn turbines and generate electricity.
Hybrid systems are becoming increasingly common due to their greater efficiency. Such systems contain both photovoltaics and CSP features. More advanced systems even have a different sources of energy such as biogas, wind or diesel which ensures that electricity generation is faced with very few interruptions. Thermoelectric devices facilitate the switch from one mode to another depending on the intensity of the sun. Hybrid systems have particularly useful on islands.
Since the year 2000, the annual growth in solar power uptake has averaged 40%. Europe, Asia and the United States are the regions that have experienced most of this growth. It is estimated that by 2050 up to 27% of worldwide electricity consumption will be from the sun. 16% is projected to come from photovoltaics while 11% will come from CSP.
The growth of solar electric power uptake is driven by two main factors: environmental sustainability and economics. Renewable sources are considered to be clean and produce very little carbon emissions if at all. Since they can be easily obtained and harnessed from the natural environment, they are cheaper than fossil fuels contributing huge savings both in the commercial and residential settings. Additionally, individual citizens producing their own electric power can sell excess power to the government.
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