| I remember years ago discussing solar power with my | | | | today from the manufacturers of solar panels and also |
| family around the dinner table one night. My older | | | | now from the emerging new solar trade contractors / |
| brother is an electrical engineer specialising in | | | | installers. In fact, the rush is on to meet the growing |
| bioengineering but he's always been interested in | | | | demand for solar panels but even more so to improve |
| powerful concepts and innovation. In fact, he's had two | | | | the output and storage capacity of the electricity |
| of his projects featured on TV on a programme called | | | | generated from these natural power sources. |
| "Beyond 2000" | | | | A lot more Research and Development needs to be |
| Back then we only had a little 12volt engine that gave | | | | done both in the manufacture of solar panels to bring |
| us lights and nothing else. We lived out in the bush and | | | | the price down so they are more affordable for the |
| we were a long way from the nearest Power line. | | | | general public and the real winner will be the company |
| Then in 1964 Dad bought a 240V Generator and we | | | | who develops and manufactures a better battery |
| thought our life couldn't get any better. We could get | | | | storage capacity or some other way of storing the |
| rid of the old smoking kerosene refrigerator, have a | | | | excess electricity. |
| toaster for toast all year round and have a vacuum | | | | Electricity, by its very nature, cannot be transported |
| cleaner. Wow! No more sweeping the carpet with a | | | | long distances because it loses too much energy |
| hard straw broom and then running the carpet | | | | through attrition. It can travel short distances safely |
| sweeper over it all again. Best of all though we could | | | | without losing voltage so perhaps one answer could |
| actually have a TV set. | | | | be having our buildings set/powered to both generate |
| My Father scoffed at my brother and asked him | | | | and receive solar power so that the current is always |
| precisely how it was going to be achieved. Donald said | | | | renewed on its journey back to a Power house for |
| then that the excess electricity could be stored in | | | | storage and retrieval. |
| batteries and my Father nearly fell off his chair in a | | | | There are many ways of accessing solar power |
| rush to explain to him/us how batteries couldn't store | | | | information today but if you want to discuss your |
| that much electricity and using the little 12V battery as | | | | particular solar power requirements then contact the |
| an example. Funny, isn't it, how they were both right? | | | | nearest solar power contractor nearest you. |
| There is a lot of solar power information available | | | | |