Renewable Solar Energy

Harnessing Renewable Energy For Use

The energy generated by the sun is quite a miracle in and of itself.  The energy created in one minute by the sun could supply the energy needs of the entire world for a year.  Renewable solar energy is a free and clean source of energy, but the art of harnessing it is fairly recent.  It may not be as recent as many believe however.  As far back as 1767 the first solar collector was built and used to heat food and water, which represented the first solar energy system.  Still, in the history of energy, the idea of harnessing the sun’s energy for practical use is relatively new.  In the 1800s it was discovered that it was possible to actually convert the sun’s energy to electricity with selenium photovoltaic cells, known also as PV cells.

Large panels consisting of thousands of PV cells harness the sun’s energy, which is then sent first to charge the batteries in a system that uses a battery backup.  Next, once the batteries are charged, the energy is sent to an inverter to convert it to AC voltage that can run a home.  Everything in the home works exactly the same and any additional energy is sent back to the meter to be used at times when there is not sufficient sunlight to power the home.

Renewable solar energy does not run out, but since the sun does not always shine there must be a plan for dark times.  When it is raining, cloudy, or the sun is simply down for the night energy can be drawn from the extra that was returned to the grid during the day or drawn from the batteries that were charged before the energy was converted for home use.  In this way, there is never down time when energy is not available, and no energy is wasted.
www.epa.gov to learn more.

While there are many pros to using the sun’s energy for electricity, such as the fact that it is a clean and renewable energy source, there are drawbacks as well that must be noted in the decision making process.  For example, the panels can be somewhat unsightly which makes them a target for some homeowner’s associations.  Another issue to consider is whether or not there are enough daylight hours to allow the sun to hit the renewable solar energy panels long enough to generate the needed electricity for day and night hours.  If not, solar energy may not be something that would be practical in that situation.

In the end, the decision is really an environmental and financial one.  If there is enough available sunlight and the aesthetic appeal of the panels are not an issue, renewable solar energy is much cheaper and better for the environment than many other energy sources.  The initial investment is not small, but the money saved over the course of a lifetime pays for it many times over.