The Environment Magazine

Ferrero Zhang
Iron Horse Middle School, San Ramon, CA 94582

As the planet we’ve known as home for the longest time is being ransacked of its valuable materials, Earth is no longer the home it used to be. Energy is an essential resource to humans, and the quicker we can get our hands on it, the better. However, the result isn’t always ethical, as releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere deteriorates the planet’s condition. Due to this, people around the globe seek renewable energy sources that are practical and useful. A common approach is solar energy, which is known as one of the most used and popular sources. 

Solar energy is a renewable energy source that uses the sun’s solar radiation. Solar technologies obtain this radiation and turn it into forms of energy that we use. Of course, the amount of energy produced is dependent on the amount of sun that day. There are mainly two types of solar energy: photovoltaics and concentrating solar power. 

Photovoltaics technologies generate power by absorbing solar radiation and converting it into usable energy through solar cells. On the other hand, concentrating solar power uses mirrors to reflect sunlight on a receiver. The heat, also known as thermal energy, from the concentrated sunlight warms a fluid in the receiver. This powers an engine that generates energy. 

Figure 1: Photovoltaics (source: http://www.vectormine.com)

Solar power is generally collected through solar panels. Solar panels are generally found on roofs of houses and buildings. Placed directly on the roof, the panels can receive maximum sunlight throughout the day. Another way is ground-mounted systems, which are structured frames built at certain angles on the ground and are used to support solar panels. These systems offer great stability and simple installations. In addition, they have built-in tracking systems that adjust to the direction of sunlight. 

Image: Figure 2: Concentrating Solar Energy (source: http://www.energy.gov)

Even though solar power is a great renewable energy source, there are a few downsides. For example, solar systems are rather expensive, as they include panels, wiring, and the overall structure. Another downside is that solar energy is completely dependent on the amount of available sunlight. In other words, the energy production decreases significantly during the night, on cloudy or rainy days, and in areas that don’t receive as much sunlight. Additionally, solar farms require a significantly large area of land, which can lead to habitat loss and conflicts over land use for agriculture. 

Despite the downsides, solar energy is an awesome technique for producing renewable energy. Even though solar energy only accounts for 4% of all energy produced, this method is rapidly growing in size and popularity. Solar energy offers many advantages, such as reduced electricity bills and no carbon dioxide or other gasses released into the atmosphere. Being common and efficient, solar power is one of the most popular and simple methods for producing energy. 

References

“Photovoltaics” U.S. Department of Energy, www.energy.gov/eere/solar/photovoltaics

“What is Solar Energy and What are its Benefits?” Repsol, http://www.repsol.com/en/energy-and-the-future/future-of-the-world/solar-energy

“Solar Energy” U.S. Department of Energy, www.energy.gov/topics/solar-energy

“Photovoltaic Effect” VectorMine, vectormine.com/item/photovoltaic-effect-scientific-technology-vector-illustration-diagram/

“Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Basics” U.S. Department of Energy, www.energy.gov/eere/solar/concentrating-solar-thermal-power-basic

“Benefits of Residential Solar Electricity” U.S. Department of Energy, www.energy.gov/energysaver/benefits-residential-solar-electricity

“Solar Energy” SEIA Solar Energy Industries Association, seia.org/initiatives/about-solar-energy/

“Solar Panel Ground Mounting Systems” Mibet Energy, http://www.mbt-energy.com/knowledge/solar-panel-ground-mounting-systems/