Direct Solar Energy - Research Paper Example

The solar technologies are categorized as active and passive solar technologies depending in the manner in which they capture convert and distribute solar energy. For example, active solar technologies use solar power for transforming sun rays into electricity directly by means of photovoltaics (PV) or indirectly through concentrated solar space (CSP). The direct solar energy systems generate electricity in one of the two ways: photovoltaic cells and concentrated solar power. The total worldwide capacity of CSP has been growing at an average annual rate of 50 %.

However, Ellis, et al. (2013) notes that the CSP have lower renewable energy contribution as compared to solar photovoltaics. The current photovoltaic power generation is 189 GW and is produced by crystalline silicon, concentrating, and thin-film PV.Even though the conventional energy account for 70% of the global energy consumption, the current consumption patterns would not be sustainable in future because of their environmental impact to climate change and depletion. In this perspective, solar energy is renewable and it cannot be depleted.

Direct solar energy mitigates global warming, enhances sustainability, reduces pollution, discourages the use of fossil fuels because solar energy is cheap, and reduces the required transmission lines of the electricity grids, as well as improving the quality of water resources.In general, the costs of renewable energy are lower as compared to that of fossil fuels and nuclear energy.