Solar power electricity is just one of several methods that are used to generate electrical power. Scientists state that solar energy can potentially supply many, many times the total world energy requirements.
Most of us take the supply of electricity for granted. We are quiet contented to simply plug our heaters, cookers, fridges, computers and televisions into the electrical sockets that are situated conveniently in the walls of our homes.
Most people assume that their electric power comes through the electric grid from a power plant that is situated somewhere not too far from where we live and then pay the utility company for their monthly usage. And that’s the end of it.
But there are different types of power plants generating the electricity that is contributing to the grid for our use. There are hydroelectric power plants that generate electricity by harnessing the power of water, nuclear power plants that harness the power of the atom, coal power plants that use our ever dwindling fossil fuels and wind farm power plants harnessing the power of the wind to generate electricity.
These all have the disadvantage though, of being costly to build, have high maintenance costs and their fuel costs are exorbitant.
Solar energy plants are springing up all over the world as different methods are discovered for harnessing the power of the sun to generate electricity. Governments are pumping millions of dollars into solar plants to test equipment and materials to enable them to add storage for the electricity that they produce.
Solar power electricity falls into the two general categories of terrestrial solar power and space-based solar power.
- Solar power panels use a photovoltaic cell to convert light into an electric current. This is perhaps the method that we are most familiar with as it is these solar panels that are used for generating electricity in the home. This method has also been widely used in power plants around the world. There are different types of photovoltaic cells that are being tested and produced including thin film, monocrystalline and polychrystalline silicon.
- Concentrating solar power is a method of using the suns heat to create steam that drives an electricity turbine. Mirrors that track the sun are used to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam which is then directed at a tower which in turn heats a liquid in the conventional way. Again different methods and types of mirrors are being tested in this area.
- Space-based solar power would use a satellite to collect energy, convert it into electrical energy and then transmit it to earth. This is still very much in the experimental stage but in the not too distant future we will be using electricity that has been beamed down to earth by wireless power transmission using a microwave beam. There are many arguments for using a space based solar system rather than a terrestrial not least because they would be not dependant on weather conditions.
Governments are investing heavily in solar power plants as an alternative method of generating electricity. They are pumping huge sums of money into the development of finding improved ways for storing the electricity.
This may all seem to be taking place on a rather grand scale where we see a solar power plant with many acres of mirrors and solar panels collecting and directing the suns heat to generate power. Yet at the same time governments around the world are offering a selection of grants, tax rebates and other incentives to homeowners who want to build their own small scale solar energy electricity systems. In many situations it is quite possible to sell any excess electricity that you are able to generate back to the utility company.
Want To Know More?
Click Here For The Latest Information solar power electricity
www.solarpowercost.co.cc
Thank you for reading, British Gas Energy Smart
Advice on AdSense
Related Sites:
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
SOLAR-CELL MILESTONES: Solar Photovoltaic cells just got much cheaper!
Lol cool.
As a sometime textbook-writer, I would be the first to agree that they are out-of-date, but only by the time-delay that publishers introduce. However, research scientists do not base their ideas only upon textbooks, but also upon the latest published papers. These days, a genuine new discovery can be assimilated within days: look at the case of ‘room-temperature’ superconductivity. Unfortunately, nonsense like ‘cold fusion’ wastes a lot of valuable time.
Photovoltaic Cells, Quantum Mechanics, Political Economy and the Environment
This is a good view of the new stack! I helped with the road construction on the haul road for this plant! Go Deacons!!!
There is no “invention” here. This is common technology. The problem with concentrating the solar engery is over heating the PVC (Photo Voltaic Cell.)
the umwa supported obama biden now we are looking hard to find work. umwa construction workers wont have much work if coal handling plants are not built or maintained because their product is taxed at a higher rate for not being green. when bush was president we had more work than we could handle now in 2 months or less i will be laid-off till who knows when. any one need to hire a iron worker, welder fabricator ,screen mechanic, heck in two months i may give you a great deal on lawn care.
Should the government give citizen's money if he/she installs a …: I believe that if you took this normally huge…
Nuclear is a terrible Idea Mr Burns damn are people really that blind?? Are we gunna pay to defend the plants from terrorism and how much good water do we have to use to keep them from melting?? How about how much money to build them and how much money to keep them going all through the years. Of course you have a good plan for the nuclear waste for all eternity right?? Give me a break its like the people who represent us are high school drop outs…
just a piece of useful information-
we don't use oil (or foreign petrolium products) to generate electricity.
About 20% is from natural gas, but that's all US supply.
Construction of off shore windpark Princes Amalia (Q7), off the cost of The Netherlands close to the town of IJmuiden. The wind farm has a capacity of 120 MW (60 turbines of 2MW each) and was constructed by Econcern bv in joint venture with Eneco.
Opening of world's largest offshore wind farm: a ‘huge leap in the right direction’ says Lib Dem MEP
Cool stuff: spray on solar cells. Make any surface photovoltaic. New Scientist:
The problem right now is since the first butanol plant isn't yet complete there is no realistic way to answer this question.
Chances are some of the ethanol production plants would be able to adapt fairly simply. More than likely the first butanol facilities will be modeled after ethanol facilities. You also have to remember that there are a number of major differences between ethanol production plants.
RT Chartwell: Utilities Preparing For Electric Vehicles: by Renew Grid on 08 October 2010 New s…
Awesome!
Can Nation's Power Grid Handle a Surge of Electric Cars? via
(PhysOrg.com) — Cornell researchers have developed a new method to create a patterned single-crystal thin film of semiconductor material that could lead to more efficient photovoltaic cells and batteries.
Another cool Arduino/XBee project…
18 Darbuka drums and 36 robotic arms are controlled via wireless communication. Drum music is composed and played at a music sequencer on an iPad. The project was presented at the Bat-Yam international biennale of landscape urbanism, September 2010, as a part of the ‘Green to Blue’ ecological street project. During the biennale, electricity generated by wind turbines and photovoltaic cells was used to operate the robotic Darbuka drums. The drums were mounted on the wind turbines columns, creating a hybrid, digital-mechanic drumming circle, a futuristic-traditional acoustic space.
[Thanks, Liat!]
Read the Full Story » | More on MAKE » | Comments » | Read more articles in Arduino | Digg this!
The Miracle Stuff – Hoodia Gordonii | Energy Drink Brands: Hoodia Gordonii is 1 on the several plants inside the H…
support the HR 1207 BILL!!!!!!!!!!END THE FED
Wind farm developer First Wind has shelved its IPO after cutting its offering price by nearly 25 percent. We reported earlier this week that the company’s success wase up in the air, given its large debt load. The company had planned to offer 12 million shares between $24 and $26. At the mid-point of that range, First Wind’s market value would have been $1.2 billion, according to Renaissance Capital. But on Wednesday, the company pared down the price to $18 to $20 a share, then today shelved its plans entirely. Indeed, Reuters speculates the company’s heavy debt load kept the company from pricing within the range it wanted. Cleantech IPOs have already had some shaky successes this year, with Amyris and Elster recently IPO-ing below planned ranges — but still successfully raising money. CEO Paul Gaynor told MarketWatch that the company “received significant interest” from potential investors, but the “terms” “were not attractive to the company.” It’s certainly not the first cleantech…
Assuming no operator error and efficient valves, piping and equipment condition, the nuclear use for generating power is much efficient because it does not produce air pollution. The only impact is the use of water for cooling but that can be remediated by instaling a cooling pond.
I have learned english by special english program for about 2 and a half years. But I found this channel a few minutes ago. So I feel happy. I want to continue my learning english with this channel. Thank you very much. Mrs. Faith Lapidus is one of my favorite VOA announcers.
RT In the space of just 5 years, Portugal's electric grid leapt from 15% to 45% renewables #energyrevolution
#NatGas articles today on local Govt's making $ on leases and conversion of power plants to NatGas from coal…yet NY freak-out continues.
This is what we need. Good luck to all that are involved.
The #Camera #Reviews Channel: Fujitsu Hybrid Energy Harvesting Device for Generating Electricity #Cameras
When I said “wind panels” I meant “wind turbines”
Electric power engineering.
International News: Thai PTT to invest in foreign hydropower plants: BANGKOK, Dec 28 (Reuters) – Top Thai energy…
yes it may be possible by using solar rays but first experimmentation takes a lot of time and the process may be successful or may not be.
why are you waiting here online Russain wives gettop5.info
Not quite that simple. One of the huge appeals of natural gas and coal is that you can easily transport the fuel to where the electricity is generated, and the rate of production is easily variable on demand by controlling the combustion process.
Wind isn't the same way, it can't be used everywhere it's needed because of geography and weather patterns. You would lose so much power transmitting electricity over long distances, and it's not like you can ramp up the wind during peak demand and scale it back during low demand until you need it.
Plus, you'll get a lot of resistance from people that, ironically, don't want the landscape to be strewn with the hundreds and thousands of enormous wind farms that it would require to replace a single fossil-fuel power plant. Not exactly celebrated as a Kodak moment where I live.
But I'm with you on nuclear power. Of course, I studied it in graduate school so I'm not nearly as concerned with the long-term consequences as the general public. But then, it's the long-term consequences that I have in mind when supporting it. After all, France generates roughly 70% of its electricity from nuclear power, and I don't see why we can't phase out coal powered plants the same way.
You must log in to post a comment.