Solar Energy
What is solar energy?
Solar energy is energy derived from the sun which can take on many forms:
biomass, wind, hydropower, and the one most commonly thought of, radiant
energy. Solar energy is without doubt the greatest untapped renewable
energy source and has the potential to supply the earth's energy needs
many times over, if it could be properly harnessed.
How
is solar energy used and what are some advantages associated with its
use?
Solar energy can be used in many different forms. Solar energy
can be converted to thermal energy and used for domestic and industrial
water heating and space heating. Solar energy can also be converted
directly to electricity by using photovoltaics. The primary advantages
of solar energy are that it is an abundant, clean energy resource; it
can be used in many different forms; it emits no greenhouse gases; and
no adverse environmental affects are associated with its use.
What is the difference between active and
passive thermal solar energy?
Active solar energy refers to use of a pump or fan to transfer heat
provided by solar energy to a particular application. Examples of active
solar energy systems include hot water or heated air systems that use
pumps and fans. Passive solar energy refers to use of a building or
structure to collect or store solar energy, and does not rely on fans
or pumps for distribution within the structure. An example of passive
solar energy is the use of sunlight for direct heating and lighting
in homes or buildings.
What
is the solar energy resource like in Kansas?
Kansas has, as do other locations in the United States, a great solar
energy resource. Enough solar energy falls on Kansas each year to provide
about 1,000 times our annual, current fossil fuel and nuclear energy
consumption.
What
are photovoltaics and where are they used?
Photovoltaics or PVs are devices that convert sunlight into
electricity. PVs contain no moving parts, nor do they have any pollutant
emissions associated with their use, which is a tremendous advantage.
PVs have been used quite extensively by NASA in the space program for
many years to power satellites, etc. PVs are commonly used in a wide
variety of applications that involve traffic and parking lot lighting,
rural water pumping, residential electricity production, electric vehicle
recharging, and even refrigeration in remote locations. PVs are primarily
used in applications where the cost of extending a conventional power
line to the end-use would be prohibitive and infeasible. PVs can be
set up and generating electricity in a relatively short period of time,
especially in emergency situations such as was the case when Hurricane
Andrew occurred in Florida several years ago.
WEB SITES (for more information)
American Solar Energy Society
http://www.ases.org
Center for Renewable Energy
http://www.crest.org
Solar Energy Industries Association
http://www.seia.org
Sustainable Buildings Industry Council
http://www.sbicouncil.org/home/index.html
