Essay on Solar Energy

Introduction:

Solar energy is basically energy from the sun and is received on earth and can be transformed into other forms of energy. Solar energy is usually used to generate electric or thermal energy. The sun provides energy that influences the climate on earth and enables the sustenance of all forms of life. It is a natural source of energy and is freely available. Research into solar energy has been done in attempts to discover methods of harvesting energy from the sun and utilizing it. Some forms of energy that are already in use are in existence due to the sun. An example is wind energy, which is derived from the wind yet in nature, wind develops due to the highs and lows in temperature. The sun plays a central role in terms of energy that is being used in the world.

Applications of Solar Energy:

In the modern world, there are important applications of solar energy that are being used. Applications of solar energy are both domestic and industrial. Domestic uses of solar energy do not require harvesting large amount of solar energy compared to the industrial uses. Domestic applications include solar cookers, solar hot water systems and air conditioners whereas industrial applications of solar energy include electricity production.

Solar cooking is one of the applications in which solar energy is harvested and redirected to produce heat energy for cooking purposes. Solar water heaters have become common application that is being used everywhere. Water heating systems have been designed such that they harvest heating energy from the sun. The same principles have been applied in air conditioning, space cooling and heating and in solar vehicles. There has been generation of electricity from solar energy that enables lighting and other functions.

With the constantly growing advancements in technology and industrialization, there will be increased discovery in the applications of solar energy. Solar energy can pretty much be important in everything it is just that we do not know how to apply it.

Advantages of Solar Energy:

Solar energy has been used widely across the world and its importance has been realized. Solar energy is inexhaustible and renewable. Solar energy will never get depleted at any point in life and that is why it is an important source of energy in the world. The applications of solar energy continually use energy that is renewable without much struggle.

Solar energy is free of expenses because it is naturally acquired. The only costs incurred are those related to the applications and structuring. However, the cost of these equipment is lower compared to the cost of using other sources of energy.

Solar energy does not cause any form of environmental pollution. The process of generating solar energy does not involve any chemicals or products that may cause the pollution of the environment. It is a clean form of energy and its use promotes environmental cleanliness.

Due to the ease of availability of solar energy, it can be used in both rural and urban areas. In rural areas, people are usually challenged because installation of electricity is a problem but with the use of solar energy, most people have an access to electricity and saves on the cost.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy:

In as much as solar energy is important and advantageous, there are some factors that render it disadvantageous. One of those factors is the limitation to daytime use. Solar energy can only be maximized during the day because the sun shines at daytime. Also, the equipment used to harvest solar energy are expensive and delicate. Thee equipment include panels, solar collectors and solar cells. All these equipment are very delicate and require much care to avoid damaging them because the replacement costs are high.

Solar energy require large spaces to collect enough energy for use in various solar applications. The collection of solar energy has to cover a large area through the use of large solar panels, solar collectors and cells so that more adequate energy can be collected.

Solar energy is dependent on the sun and cannot be deployed where there is minimal sunshine. This means that solar energy is limited to areas with ample amounts of sun energy. During seasons like winter, the use of solar energy is totally impossible and therefore other forms of energy have to be sought.

Solar energy can never be an independent source of energy in the world. It is basically an alternative source of energy upon convenience i.e., during summer, specifically during the day. In your summer house you can opt to use solar energy and then use electricity during the rest of the seasons. For those countries who do not experience seasonal changes in climate, it is very convenient and it can be an independent source of energy for them.

The use of solar energy is specific to devices that do not consume large amounts of current e.g., in calculators.

Conclusion:

Solar energy is an important source of energy. Advancements in technology has led to innovations of applications of solar energy that are of great help to human beings. It has been a great era of modern society whereby solar energy has been appreciated through its applications. The uses of solar energy are similar to those of other sources of energy. Everything has its pros and cons and solar energy is no different. The pros of solar energy outweigh the cons and that is why its use has been maintained over the years. However, the limitations of solar energy should not be ignored. These limitations are somehow disrupting the expansion of solar energy use in the world. It is important that solar energy is used widely as a form of energy because of its environmental-friendly characteristic. Other forms of energy especially fuels highly pollute the environment. Not only does saving the environment a priority in using solar energy but also the fact that solar energy is free, renewable and inexhaustible. What a great deal?