Very simply, "solar energy" is the energy harvested from the sun. Our sun is a rich source of energy. There is warmth and light. The sun was worshiped by some cultures of the past, and even by some cultures that still exist today. The ancient Egyptians worshiped the sun as a god.
The sun is certainly a rich and endless source of power for at least several generations. There are many benefits to using solar energy.
It's free.
Every morning at sunrise, the energy of the sun emitted from the sun is filtered through our atmosphere, providing light and helping to radiate heat. This has been happening for millions of years, but only recently have we begun to take advantage of this abundant, near-infinite source of power.
In the past, Greeks and Egyptians were known to use the power of the sun to heat what they wanted by concentrating their radiation.
Environmentally Friendly
The energy of the sun is clean and free of pollutants. When used to generate energy, in contrast to the various energy sources that exist today, such as petroleum and organic fuels, they often leave residues and release harmful gases.
Very reliable
The sun has been burning for about 4.5 billion years and will probably burn for another 4 to 5 billion years. It's definitely more than our life, and certainly more than a few generations in the future. It illuminates different parts of the world each morning and quickly appears and disappears in the evening.
The maxim "as sure as a day" is not meaningless. Assuming the sun is shining brightly, depending on where you are in the world, you can use the energy of the sun to save it or use it in other ways.
Unlimited
There is no limit to how much energy we can use from the sun. Apparently, the amount of energy that comes out of the sun every few minutes, if used well, can power the entire United States for a year. If we can utilize the enormous energy of the sun, we can solve all the energy problems in the world.
Why
Have you ever wondered why no one ever thought of this? Why is there so much energy around me that it doesn't seem to be able to use it efficiently? Why is so much solar energy completely overlooked and ultimately wasted?
One of the reasons why this wonderful energy reserve is generally wasted is that the sunlight we actually receive is so thinly spread throughout the globe that we can make a significant contribution to its use. In order for us to actually harness the power of the Sun, we must be able to manipulate, focus, and store the energy of the Sun. This may seem simple, but it's easy to say. So far, we have only been able to develop three partially successful methods for harvesting solar energy.
Reflection method – Mirrors / Parabola
The reflection method is based on focusing the sun's rays at a point through a single or multiple mirrors and using the generated concentrated thermal energy as needed. You can use a satellite dish-like parabolic mirror to capture the sun's rays and focus them on one point.
The radiation method
This is the principle behind solar water heaters. A black-painted tube sandwiched between two layers of glass contains water heated by the sun's rays.
Solar panels
A more recent invention, the "solar cell," is made up of treated silicon crystals that, when exposed to the sun's rays, take electrons out of orbit and create cavities that must be filled with electrons from other silicon crystals. This creates an electronic imbalance that causes current to flow and can be used immediately or stored in a battery.
What is stopping us?
Despite the obvious benefits of using solar energy, it is very disappointing that there are very few solar power plants in the world. Unfortunately, in today's technology, cost and reliability are two major factors hindering the mass deployment of solar energy.
Due to technical limitations, the most efficient solar cells manufactured today cannot generate enough power to be commercially viable without occupying a large area. Moreover, relying solely on solar cells is not yet practical. Cloudy days can reduce power generation, which can be disastrous for those who are completely dependent on that energy.
On the plus side, constant innovation and research in solar energy has resulted in much more efficient solar cells that are a fraction of the size of existing cells and generate much more power. It's still expensive at the moment, but it won't be long before it's affordable and available to the general public.
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