| Solar power is a phrase generically used to describe | | | | water heating systems. Developments in battery |
| various methods involving harnessing the sun's light and | | | | technology to store the solar power conversion |
| transferring that into some form of other useful | | | | assists greatly in this continuing efficiency. |
| energy. What we know as solar power can be used | | | | Solar power is seen as being open to widespread |
| in a multitude of ways to power machines involved in | | | | interpretation. The term can be used, quite correctly by |
| many different aspects of our lives. Practically anything | | | | those involved in such diverse, but related topics, such |
| one can imagine can use solar energy to complete it's | | | | as solar design in architecture, solar cooking, or solar |
| function; water heaters, lights, pumps, battery chargers | | | | heating systems. All use the term to describe how the |
| and batteries to store the power, as well as many | | | | sun's light is harnessed and changed into a power |
| other uses including transportation. | | | | which is useful to that particular topic, but the way in |
| There are limits to this power conversion however, | | | | which the conversion takes place and the eventual |
| which are being highlighted more and more as the | | | | use it is put to varies dramatically. One can say then |
| sun's light is subject to a phenomenon known as | | | | that solar power is a term open to interpretation by |
| 'Global Dimming'. As we can guess, solar power needs | | | | different people depending on the situation. |
| sunlight to work, the more sun there is the more | | | | The demand for solar power solutions is increasing |
| efficient is the conversion from light to another energy. | | | | and the questions inevitably asked are: how can it be |
| Global Dimming, closely allied to Global Warming, | | | | used for home or businesses; and how can we |
| involves the pollutants in the earth's atmosphere literally | | | | determine if there is enough sun in my area to use it? |
| blocking the sun's rays and so the efficient exchange | | | | The concise answer is that there are very few places |
| of light to energy is affected. This is naturally of | | | | where solar energy would not adequately meet at |
| concern to those who see solar power as a way of | | | | least some of those energy requirements. Any such |
| utilizing a re-usable and sustainable energy source, | | | | system assessed, designed and installed by qualified |
| even though the modern conversion relies on less and | | | | technicians could supply at least part of the energy |
| less sunlight. There are small efficient appliances that | | | | requirements. Typically a solar power system will give |
| work on cloudy days in more temperate climates, but | | | | sufficient energy even on a cloudy day, but would |
| by and large the bigger the intended use the more | | | | obviously give more when it's sunny. |
| sunlight is required. | | | | To get a grasp on the solar energy situation one must |
| Those limits, however, are being pushed more and | | | | rely on information not always available from one |
| more by the continuing development of more efficient | | | | source. The whole subject is gaining prominence as |
| transfer methods such as the photovoltaic cells used in | | | | more notice is taken about the environment, the world |
| modern arrays. Other methodologies using passive | | | | we live in and the limited supplies of fossil fuels. Various |
| solar designs are helping tremendously in achieving a | | | | governments, agencies and experts have differing |
| complete solar energy solution as are solar thermal | | | | ideas on solar power and one really has to make |
| heat transfer mechanisms such as those used in solar | | | | one's own mind up about it. |