| In the last 100 years, electricity provided the means | | | | non-existence of mechanical parts unlike in power |
| and the opportunity for the greatest development and | | | | generating power plants. However, the efficiencies of |
| improvement in the lives of human beings. New | | | | these cells are relatively low and also dependent on |
| technologies and inventions with different electrical | | | | the time of day and seasonal changes. Solar electricity |
| systems are constantly being made with dependence | | | | systems need to convert the DC voltage into AC |
| on the power of electricity. As the growth of the | | | | compatible supply in order to be used for commercial |
| world's economy increases, so does the exponential | | | | and home use. |
| increase on the demand for electricity, which in our | | | | Indirect methods utilize the concentration of solar |
| time has become a commodity we can't live without. | | | | radiation to focus the energy to heat or boil certain |
| Fossil fuels like coal and oil provide us with the | | | | liquids like water to power turbines and eventually |
| necessary resource to produce our own electricity | | | | produce electricity. One common technology is the use |
| with the use of generators in power plants. Since the | | | | of a parabolic trough which consists of a linear |
| recognition of these fossil fuels as unsustainable and | | | | parabolic reflector that concentrates solar energy into |
| dangerous to both life on earth and human beings, | | | | a receiver positioned on the focal line of the receiver. |
| research moved towards the development of safer | | | | In the focal line of the receiver, tubing connected to the |
| and cleaner energy sources. One of which is the | | | | turbine is filled with liquid to absorb the heat generated |
| utilization of solar electricity systems to harness the | | | | by the concentration of the solar energy. Solar |
| sun's energy and generate electrical energy for our | | | | electricity systems such as this have higher |
| needs. | | | | efficiencies because the heat of the sun is directly |
| Solar electricity systems use indirect and direct | | | | utilized. Moreover, other technologies extend the |
| methods in harnessing the energy of the sun. Direct | | | | efficiencies by utilizing solar power towers and solar |
| methods use photovoltaics or commonly known as | | | | dishes. |
| solar cells made from thin slices of crystalline gallium | | | | We have experienced the benefits of fossil fuels and |
| arsenide, silicon, or other semiconductor materials to | | | | realized its negative consequences. Moving the trend |
| convert solar radiation into electricity. By connecting | | | | towards the use of sustainable and cleaner energy is |
| large numbers of these cells into panels, the cost of | | | | a must in ensuring life on earth. Plants have harnessed |
| photovoltaic electricity has been reduced to 20 to 30 | | | | the solar energy even before humans ever existed. |
| cents per kilowatt-hour. This technology has long been | | | | Why can't we replicate this process to take the |
| used in providing electrical energy to satellites that orbit | | | | energy from the sun, since we are more intelligent |
| the earth and to observing satellites in the depths of | | | | beings? We must stop digging the ground and start |
| space. Solar electricity systems provide long term and | | | | looking up to the sky above. Solar electricity systems |
| sustainable energy resources because of the | | | | provide the means in achieving this goal. |