The Sun, which is located more than 150 million kilometers away from planet earth, has been producing extremely powerful solar energy rays also known as solar radiation, for billions of years. The energy emitted by the Sun is so powerful that if a device were invented to capture the solar power that hit the earth for just one minute alone it would be likely to for fill the whole of the earths power needs for more than a year.

How is solar power used?

The following list covers the three main ways in which solar power is put to work using today's technology-

To produce electricity

Perhaps the most well known use today of solar power is to convert it into electricity using a photovoltaic cell or PV unit (Photo Voltaic). Solar cells are much more common nowadays and they are used to power calculators, satellites, street lights, water buoys, charge mobile-phones with the more recent uses including the powering of complete data centers for hosting websites (this amount of solar power output was previously very difficult to achieve). Solar cell development is now advancing very fast and we are currently in the third generation of solar cell technology with efficiency, power storage and output capacity leading the charge.

To heat water

Solar power is most commonly used for general hot water supplies in the home or workplace. This is a relatively simple method which requires the installation of solar heating panels that are then positioned towards the sun so that when water passes through them it is heated. The water can either be available for immediate use or stored in a suitably insulated hot water tank and drawn upon when required. This technology is evolving fast, with costs that are significantly less than 10 years ago and due to the advances in the materials used it is becoming much more viable for homes that are found in less sunny climates.

Solar furnaces

Solar furnaces use a huge and elaborate array of mirrors to concentrate the Sun's energy into a small space to produce very high temperatures of up to 3000 Deg C. The solar furnace principle is being used to make inexpensive solar power cookers, solar-powered barbecues, and for solar water pasteurization and there is currently a prototype reflector being constructed in India for use in a solar crematorium.

Solar Power Today

Solar Power along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass (biomass is a renewable energy source, referring to living and recently dead biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production) account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth. Solar power is an eco friendly resource that should be utilized and today many local governmental bodies are offering rebates to homeowners to install a solar powered system as well as offering grants to researchers to create cleaner energy appliances, including solar energy. Businesses are also incentivized and rebates are offered to companies that put solar powered products to good use.

Summary

All of these factors combined with the recent shortages and price rises in other non-renewable fuels mean that there has never been a better time to invest in solar power.