subject: Our Future With Solar Power [print this page] Unimaginable volumes of gas burn furiously in the sun. In time they will exhaust themselves and as they run out the sun will expand and probably frizzle up all life on earth, as prophesied. In the meantime we enjoy beautifully filtered radiant light. Wild animals bask with pleasure in early morning and human beings take off their clothes to do the same. Like solar energy panels, sunflowers turn to gaze as they convert light into oil for fuel and food.
Using photovoltaic cells technicians have devised ways of emulating sunflowers to create energy in the form of electricity. One photovoltaic cell, when exposed to sunlight, produces a tiny impulse of electricity. On its own the volt is insignificant but if numbers of cells are aggregated in the correct configurations significant amounts of electricity can be harvested.
A single panel may collect the electricity from a large number of cells and this can be added to the power supplied by other panels so that an array of panels, each producing its small quota, can amount to something significant. On the roof of a suburban house enough power can be generated to heat water or charge a battery. Some people think that the scale of production is insignificant and not worth the cost of making the modules. Others look to a future in which current methods of power generation will be insufficient and think of ways to contribute.
There are also some operations that have large expanses of modules producing sufficient electricity to feed into national grids. Ironically the austere desert wastes that often cover lakes of oil are also the best places to have sun farms because they receive the most uninterrupted sunlight and have little shade. Undeserved riches from fossil fuel will be succeeded free electricity from the sun.
One of the major advantages of solar power is its cleanliness. Nuclear reactors spew out radio active material and coal generated power produces huge clouds of smoke filled with the carbon that seems to play a role in global warming. Catching sunlight directly and converting into electricity without any attendant smoke or pollution seems to be as harmless as planting sunflowers. Because the energy comes directly from the sun no mines and few land rights are required.
The only environmental downside of solar power seems to be in the area of aesthetics. Little attempt is made to disguise the functionality of installations. Despite their compatibility with nature they appear to be entirely at odds with it, like exposed sanitary arrangements. Perhaps, as they become better integrated with urban environments efforts will be made to improve them aesthetically.
A great deal of research is currently going on now that it is generally accepted that it is feasible solar energy is viable. Different modules are being developed so that there is a steady improvement in efficiency. For example, techniques can now be applied to produce an even generation of power if part of a panel is shaded.
Other developments are sure to follow. New materials and techniques for installation will strive towards greater efficiency and flexibility. As sunlight continues to flow to earth modules will be developed that are more efficient and more closely aligned with natural rhythms. As far as solar panels are concerned it seems that the sky is the limit.
