Solar Energy is the radiant light and heat from the Sun that has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth. Although it is free and inexhaustible, only a minuscule fraction of the available solar energy is used.
Solar Energy Technologies diversify the energy supply, reduce a country's dependence on imported fuels, improve air quality, and offset greenhouse gas emissions. Using solar energy to its greatest advantage will help eliminate these problems and open the door to boundless opportunities. It is a vast, clean energy resource that is a viable alternative to the fossil fuels that are polluting our air and water, threaten our public health, and contribute to global warming. Technologies implementing solar energy will minimize the damage caused by fossil fuels.
In the broadest sense, solar energy supports all life on Earth and is the basis for almost every form of energy we use. The sun makes plants grow, which can be burned as "biomass" fuel or, if left to rot in swamps and compressed underground for millions of years, in the form of coal and oil. Heat from the sun causes temperature differences between areas, which produces wind that can power turbines. Water evaporates because of the sun, falls on high elevations, and rushes down to the sea, spinning hydroelectric turbines as it passes. However, our goal of true solar energy refers to ways the sun's energy can be used to directly generate heat, lighting, and electricity.
Solar energy technologies are poised for significant growth in the 21st century. More and more architects and contractors are recognizing the value of passive solar energy and learning how to effectively incorporate it into building designs. Solar hot water systems can compete economically with conventional systems in some areas. As the cost of solar PV continues to decline, these systems will penetrate increasingly larger markets, potentially providing half of all new US electricity generation by 2025.
Germany and Japan have been global leaders in solar deployment for years; however, the United States is quickly catching up. The rolling blackouts and soaring energy prices in California in 2000 and 2001 have motivated leaders to create new incentives for solar and other renewable energy technologies. In January 2006, the California Public Utility Commission approved the California Solar Initiative, which dedicates $3.2 billion over 11 years to develop 3,000 megawatts of new solar electricity, equal to placing PV systems on a million rooftops.
Other states such as Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania have specific requirements for solar energy as part of their renewable electricity standards. Many more states offer rebates, production incentives, tax incentives, and loan and grant programs. Even the federal government is offering a 30% tax credit (up to $2,000) for the purchase and installation of residential PV systems and solar water heaters.
As the solar industry continues to expand, there will be occasional bumps in the road. For example, demand for manufacturing-quality silicon from the solar energy and semiconductor industries has caused shortages that have temporarily increased PV costs. In addition, some utilities continue to obstruct grid-connected PV systems; however, these problems will be overcome. Solar energy will play an increasingly integral role in ending our national dependence on fossil fuels, combating the threat of global warming, and securing a future based on clean and sustainable energy.
Source: http://www.ucsusa.org
Solar Energy is the radiant light and heat from the Sun that has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth. Although it is free and inexhaustible, only a minuscule fraction of the available solar energy is used.