| With ever-rising energy prices and a global need to | | | | very crude and it would take many more years until |
| move towards more sustainable energy alternatives, | | | | fully usable power could be harnessed. |
| solar power is a rapidly growing technology. Each year | | | | Solar power is not just great for our homes either. It is |
| it moves on with better developments. While installation | | | | also widely used in new road building projects. Lights, |
| costs have been a traditionally high barrier for people, | | | | traffic signs, warning signs etc can all be powered, or |
| prices are now coming down. In many places | | | | partly powered by solar technology. This means a |
| government grants are available too. | | | | higher initial outlay for the project, but far lower running |
| So what is a solar panel? Simply put it is a panel made | | | | costs to local governments. |
| up of many smaller solar cells. These are wired | | | | The most popular application in recent years has been |
| together to create a usable output. As each cell is so | | | | that of solar powered external lighting. These types of |
| small, they can't provide sufficient power for our | | | | lights are now available at such low cost and are so |
| domestic needs alone. As a rule size of the panel is | | | | easy to fit that they are now commonplace in gardens |
| selected to supply the correct output, and the larger | | | | across the world. |
| the panel the higher the output. | | | | Space technology has also been enhanced and |
| These panels are designed to take the energy from | | | | improved with the use of solar power. Indeed many of |
| our sun and convert it into electricity. This process is | | | | our satellite applications would not be possible if it was |
| called photovoltaic. | | | | not for the natural power from our sun. A good thing |
| People have been harnessing the power of the sun | | | | to remember the next time you are watching your |
| for many years. Even the earliest cultures used it to | | | | favourite sport in HD. |
| dry food and heat liquid. The process was further | | | | Of course, we must not forget that it not just the cost |
| refined around the industrial revolution. New solar | | | | savings, which make solar power attractive, it is also a |
| applications were constructed to use the heat from | | | | silent process with no emissions to damage the |
| the sun to boil water and create steam to drive | | | | environment. They are also maintenance free. Isn't it |
| factory machines. These, though groundbreaking, were | | | | about time you looked at solar power? |