Solar Energy
Photovoltaic (PV) devices creates electricity directly from sunlight, an electronic process that happens naturally in certain types of material. Electrons in certain types of crystals are released by the solar energy and can be induced to travel through an electrical circuits, powering any type of electronic device or load.
Solar Energy devices can be used to power small devices like road signs, calculators or phone call boxes, or even large homes, stores, and businesses.
The photovoltaic effect is the process in which the solar energy is created into the electrical energy which we use to power our different items.
History
In 1890, solar energy and the photovoltaic effect was discovered by Henri Becquerel and became a big subject in the scientific world during the 20th century.
This is the late Henri Becquerel, the discoverer of the solar energy processes.
Albert Einstein's only Nobel Prize, came from solar power research.
In 1954, Bell Labs in the United States put out the first solar photovoltaic device, which actually produced a useful and meaningful amount of usable electricity,
and by 1958, solar cells were being used in small and large scale scientific aand public applications, especially for the space program.
Because of the energy crisis in the 1970's, the need of solar cells for power on earth dramatically increased. This resulted in an increase of production and
decrease in cost which is still in effect today.
Present
The global photovoltaic market has grown over 25% yearly for the last ten years. Worldwide, these rates are over 35% over the last five years. Because of these
statistics, there willl be a big increase in the use of photovoltaic energy in homes and businesses in the future.
Different Systems
Concentrating Solar Power devices focus on the thermal energy of the sun to drive a generator or heat an engine. They do this by using lenses or mirrors
arrangedin a dish, trough or tower configuration.
Trough systems focus on using the sun's energy on a pipe filled with a heat exchange fluid, using that heat to turn the steam generator in a central plant. With the
construction of this generation, there should be enough of this type to generate over 100,000 american homes.
Power tower systems use a computer to control mirrors to combine solar heat on a central tower. This system can run over night and work through bad weather
by storing a heat transfer fluid in what is known as a "Thermos bottle".
Dish systems use dish's to attract the sunlight energy onto a heat engine which makes electricity directly from the sun.
SEIA
The SEIA or Solar Energy Industries Association is a national organization that controls distribution, manufacturing, installing, dealing, contracting, consulting,
andmarketing solar energy around the United States.
It is the overall authority on solar energy. They control all the research and planning on every solar power device in the US.
Solar Water Heating
Solar Heating Devices directly take in the sun's rays with specially-coated absorbers to heat air or water for use in a building. Solar water heaters can be used
in large public places like hotels or private places like breweries. Solar water heaters racked for public installation or in attractive installations on residences
anywhere in the US .
Solar water systems can either be "open loop" or "closed loop". With open loop, the heated water flows directly through the rooftop collector. Closed loop is
when the collector is filled with antifreeze solution which then passes through a heat exchanger located on a basic water heater. Closed loop systems can be used
anytime anywhere, while open loop systems must be drained during cole weather conditions. No matter the weather condition the heating system can back up
your existing heater.
Direct solar air collectors are designed to absorb solar heat before pushing air back into the temperature controlled space. Which can be less expensive than using
non-renewable resources such as oil and natural gas.
Works Cited
http://www.seia.org/learn/energytypes.asp