| As fossil fuel scarcity continues to be more | | | | technology breakthrough allowed photovoltaic |
| noticeable, rising oil prices and causing more global | | | | modules to be much thinner, smaller and |
| warming, governments seem to have renewed their | | | | consequently cheaper, thus making them much more |
| interest around greener energy alternatives. | | | | accessible for everyday consumers like you and me. |
| Solar power has experimented a clear advance in its | | | | In fact, the appearance of photovoltaic solar cells is |
| development lately and if you take a look at the | | | | kind of futuristic and some domestic consumers treat |
| statistics you will understand the reason: if you could | | | | them as fashion statements as well as energy source |
| harness all the power of the sun for just 40 minutes, | | | | devices. |
| you would be able to generate enough energy for | | | | But solar energy can be used for more than just |
| the entire world for a year. Unfortunately less than | | | | generating electricity, solar thermal technology uses |
| 1% is used today, so despite the great advances in | | | | the power of sunlight to regulate the temperature of |
| this area, there is still a long, long way to go. | | | | spaces and also to heat water (the same water that |
| The use of solar power as an energy source is not a | | | | you can use in the bath or run thru your heating |
| new idea at all. In fact the use of solar electric panels | | | | system). These systems can be implemented in |
| has been documented as early as 1970s, those | | | | either active or passive forms. If the system is |
| panels were really bulky, highly inefficient and | | | | active, some moving parts are involved to be able to |
| expensive but it was a start. Thanks to the | | | | adjust the system to achieve maximum efficiency. If |
| advances in the electronic industry the costs and size | | | | it's a passive system there are no moving parts, the |
| of the components have shrunk considerably making | | | | installation is easier and cheaper but is not as |
| viable the distribution of solar panels. It was precisely | | | | effective as an active system. Those systems can |
| the advances in computer technology and | | | | be combined with conventional heating systems to |
| nanotechnology for thin cells that lead to the | | | | avoid running out of hot water if the sunlight is not |
| development and use of photovoltaic solar panels and | | | | enough. |
| collection systems that made solar energy cheaper | | | | If you compare solar power systems with more |
| and more user friendly. | | | | conventional and less eco-friendly options, they are |
| Nanotechnology uses user very small cells made of | | | | still more expensive but as technology keeps moving |
| silicon and other minerals to collect sunlight and allow | | | | forward, photovoltaic solar electric panels will also |
| enabled developers to produce such things as | | | | advance and will possibly become one of the first |
| spray-on coatings for cells that can also be sprayed | | | | obvious choices, so it's a very good option to begin |
| onto the roof of a building. Those sprays help in the | | | | to think how can you too join the thousands of |
| storage of solar energy and are responsible for | | | | home owners that have decided to jump to the |
| transforming that energy into electricity. This | | | | green energy system. |