subject: The Solar Power Energy Source [print this page] The sun is a truly awesome source for solar power energy and though man has used its energy for many different tasks for many long years; only now has it become abundantly clear that unless we are able to tap its vast power we will soon run out of conventional energy sources.
It is only recently that the sun has become the object of study for those interested in using it as a possible solar power energy source and if enough effort is poured into harnessing this solar power energy source we should soon be able to breathe easier knowing that our energy needs for the future will be well taken care of.
Small Fraction of the Sun's Energy
Even though this amazing solar power energy source (the Sun) is more than one hundred and fifty million kilometers away from the Earth, its power is truly awesome and it only requires using a very small fraction of the Sun's total energy to power up the entire planet without at the same time making even the slightest dent in the Sun's total power capacity.
Just one minute of the Sun's energy can be, when properly tapped into and used, used to meet one year's requirement of planet Earth. At present, solar cells are one of the main ways that the solar power energy source is being harnessed and these cells or photoelectric cells that convert light into electricity are being widely used. However, there is a lot more that can be done to make these cells more efficient and less costly.
Another common use for solar power energy source is to heat water and this is achieved through using glass panels that can be installed on the roof of a home. Such a solution will help to do away with having to use gas or even electricity to heat up the water in your home.
The third way in which solar power energy source is captured is through installing a big array of numerous mirrors that help in concentrating the energy from the sun into tiny spaces where the temperatures soar very high. A good example of this use of solar power energy source is the installation in France in a place known as Odeillo where temperatures rise to as high as three thousand degrees Celsius.
The facility in France is truly the best example of the way that a solar power energy system can be put to good use. The proper harnessing of solar power energy source can lead to generation of truly phenomenal amounts of electricity and at the same time not damage the environment which today is another major cause for concern.