The Sun as an Energy Source - Coursework Example

A Technical Report on Solar Energy Since time immemorial, sun is considered as a natural source of energy. It is massive, nonthreatening to the environment and, by and large, harmonious with daily and periodic energy demands. Solar energy, which generally comes from the sun's heat and beaming light, has been exploited by earlier civilizations through the use of evolutionary technologies. Today, innovative technologies have been invented to generate and store solar power from the sun: solar photovoltaic, solar thermal power, and solar architecture among others, which is believed to provide solution to the most critical problems that the world has today, especially in reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which deteriorates global warming (International Energy Agency, "Solar Energy Perspectives"). Solar energy is, by far, the most experienced form of energy due to its accessibility, and the ease of converting solar energy to electricity. Many solar energy conversion technologies present sustainable and promising potentials in providing renewable energy that does not only reduces the cost of electricity but could also deliver effective mitigating solutions to the environmental problems we have today. The International Energy Agency expresses its confidence over the positive impacts that solar energies could bring to the world. The agency states that the creation of low-cost, unlimited and untainted solar energy technologies will have "huge longer-term benefits" (International Energy Agency, "Solar Energy Perspectives"). The energy agency adds that the stable generation of solar power through the use of solar energy conversion technologies will ensure energy security in many countries; and will cut dependence on power plants that use radioactive materials, which are potentially pernicious to human health. It will also lower down the energy cost, improve sustainability, will help reduce pollution, and will lessen the effects of climate change. Therefore, the agency stresses that since this innovative approach requires substantial amount of financial investments, a careful planning must be employed for an efficient expenditure of financial resources (International Energy Agency, "Solar Energy Perspectives"). The Sun as an Energy Source Normally, the Earth obtains a sizeable load of radiation from the sun. On average, our planet takes at least 174 pent watts of solar energy (Smil 240). Of this, 70 percent is absorbed by the Earth by the clouds, oceans, and ground forms including the mountains and the plains among others. The sun’s rays could either be direct or diffuse (SECO, "Solar Energy"). The direct solar radiation is a type of radiation that travels straight from the sun to the surface of the Earth, on its upper atmosphere. On the other hand, diffuse solar radiation is the insolation that dispersedly travels into the Earth's upper atmosphere but is reflected within the atmosphere "mostly by clouds, but also by particulate matter and gas molecules (SECO, "Solar Energy"). As the Earth receives the insolation (solar radiation) from the sun, the temperature of the planet rises. This is particularly important for the completion of the water cycle. The aggregate solar energy that is being absorbed by the Earth: by the atmosphere, the oceans, and the land masses is about 3, 850, 000 exajoules annually (Smil 12). The amount of solar energy that is being absorbed by the Earth's surface presents a more promising source of highly sustainable renewable energy; the energy that reaches the Earth's surface is even two times the amount of energy that can be generated from all other non-renewable energy sources like radioactive power plants and coal among others in one year. The amount of solar energy that can be exploited and converted into solar power varies at several heights, usually depending on geographical position. Solar Energy and Solar Technologies: Harnessing Solar Energy Solar energy is generated through the use of different solar conversion technologies. Some of the most common examples are solar thermal technologies, solar heating, solar lighting and solar power plants. Solar energy technologies are classified into two main types: passive and active. Categorization is contingent to the manner in which these solar conversion technologies seize, convert and disperse solar radiations. Active solar technologies utilize the widely known "solar panels" to transform solar energy into some beneficial outputs e.g. electrical power. Passive solar technologies, on the other hand, is more of a systematic use of selected materials that can be utilized to provide natural movement of air in a room and using materials with ascribed thermal properties. In a nutshell, the difference is that active solar energy technologies functions as an alternative supplier of energy that mounts the availability of solar energy; passive solar energy technologies minimizes the need to use energy (Cedric, "The Present and Future use of Solar Thermal Energy as a Primary Source of Energy"). Solar Lighting It is a technique that reduces light-related energy consumption by the use of the light that comes from the sun. Solar lighting rather overlaps with solar urban architecture in that it is generally carried out by modifying architectural concepts. While artificial lighting became widely used during the 20th century, solar light was likewise widely considered as an excellent means of reducing energy consumption; although, it is not so beneficial at night time. In the past decades, developments cropped up that focused on fashioning solar lighting systems in order to disperse natural light in any structure. This passive solar energy technology likewise reduces the need for artificial energy source such as cooling systems as air can freely move through the holes – the solar light’s point of entry; and this is mostly common in large medieval structures (Tzempelikos 369). Proper installation of solar lighting systems can dramatically reduce the amount of energy needed for artificial lighting by 25 % (Apte et al., “"Future Advanced Windows for Zero-Energy Homes"). Solar Power Plants Renewable energy power plants, including solar power plants, is ideal in this present generation considering the elevating tension on the deteriorating effects of global warming to the environment. Solar power plants convert sunlight into electrical power by using either photovoltaic that utilizes solar panels, or by the use of concentrated solar power. Solar power plants are present around the world. The world's biggest PV plants are located in India and in the United States. These power plants can generate more than 200 Mega Watts of electrical power. Other types of technologies are solar vehicles, solar chemical, and photovoltaic among others. Methods of Storing Energy Solar energy storage systems are particularly important in that sunlight is not available all day long. That is why, it is crucial because many contemporary energy systems assume constant energy supply (Carr 85). Solar energy can be stocked in either thermal mass systems or thermal storage systems. Thermal mass systems are typically used for diurnal or cyclic intervals. On the other hand, thermal storage systems utilize materials with great specific heat facilities such as stone or water. Other forms of storage method are off-grid PV systems, pumped storage electricity, and by the use of molten salts. The Development of Solar Energy and Its Contribution to the Economy The advent of Industrial Revolution triggered the elevated use of coal in generating electrical power. Due to the very high demand for coal supply, it was postulated that it will soon become inadequate. The introduction of solar technologies, in an attempt to provide alternative source of energy, did not gain much prominence and became idle due to the escalating accessibility, low cost, and usefulness of coal and petroleum (Butti and Perlin 63). The use of solar energy and technologies began to rise in the 1990s, particularly the solar water heating technologies, which showed 20% growth. Today, solar heating and cooling are the most utilized type of solar technology producing 154 GW in 2007 (Weiss et al., "Solar Heat Worldwide - Markets and Contribution to the Energy Supply 2006"). Economically, solar energy and technologies will have a long lasting effect in the economy. It will aid in reducing energy cost, particularly by reducing dependence on expensive artificial energy sources. Works Cited Apte, J. et al."Future Advanced Windows for Zero-Energy Homes." American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, 2008. Web. 3 November 2012. Butti, Ken and John Perlin. A Golden Thread: 2500 Years of Solar Architecture and Technology. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1981. Print. Carr, Donald. Energy & the Earth Machine. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1976. Print. Philibert, Cédric. The Present and Future use of Solar Thermal Energy as a Primary Source of Energy. Paris: IEA, 2005. Print. Smil, Vaclav. "Energy at the Crossroads." Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2006. Web. 3 November 2012. Smil, Vaclav. General Energetics: Energy in the Biosphere and Civilization. Hobokan: John Wiley & Sons, 1991. Print. "Solar Energy." seco. State Energy Conservation Office, n.d. Web. 3 November 2012. "Solar Energy Perspectives: Executive Summary." International Energy Agency. International Energy Agency, 2011. Web. 3 November 2012. Tzempelikos, Athanassios and Andreas Athienitis. "The Impact of Shading Design and Control on Building Cooling and Lighting Demand". Solar Energy 81.3 (2007): 369–382. Print. Weiss, Werner, Irene Bergmann, and Gerhard Faninger. "Solar Heat Worldwide: Markets and Contributions to the Energy Supply 2005." International Energy Agency. International Energy Agency, 2008. Web. 3 November 2012. Read More