| Solar energy comes in many forms. The | | | | heat buildings, generate electricity, or in |
| majority of us are most familiar with solar | | | | industrial processes. |
| cells, but there are actually many different | | | | |
| ways to create and store solar energy. Here | | | | · Solar Chemical - There are a number of |
| are a few of those ways: | | | | different solar energy processes that absorb |
| | | | sunlight in a chemical reaction to create |
| · Solar Cells - Most of us have seen solar | | | | that solar energy. More research is needed |
| cells used on calculators with LCDs. But | | | | on solar chemical energy before we can apply |
| they have also been used in many other ways. | | | | it practically. Much of this research is on |
| Solar cells use semiconductors (oftentimes, | | | | photoelectrolysis of water. |
| silicon) to generate electricity, directly | | | | |
| from the sunlight. | | | | · Solar Updraft Tower - This is a type of |
| | | | solar energy plant in which air passes under |
| · Solar Fibers - This is also a | | | | an agricultural glass house, gets heated by |
| photovoltaic device (like the solar cells), | | | | the sun, and is then channel up toward a |
| only it does not use silicon. Rather, it has | | | | convection tower. It is used to drive |
| a solar tape that is made with titanium | | | | turbines which generate electricity. |
| dioxide. This tape could actually be | | | | |
| combined with building materials or even | | | | · Energy Tower - This tower uses water, |
| clothing. | | | | unfortunately, but it is also a good design |
| | | | and works in a similar way to the solar |
| · Solar Pond - A solar pond is made of | | | | updraft tower. Water is sprayed at the top |
| three layers: the top layer as low salt | | | | of the water. The water evaporates which |
| content. The middle layer is an insulating | | | | causes a downdraft by cooling the air. This |
| layer with salt, and it prevents natural | | | | coolness increases the density of the air and |
| convection in the water (which would normally | | | | then drives turbines that are at the bottom |
| cause heat exchange). The bottom layer as a | | | | of the tower. |
| very high salt content, and this layer can | | | | |
| approach high temperatures. Because of all | | | | These are just a few ways in which solar |
| the densities in salt of the different | | | | energy has been and is being created. |
| layers, there are no convection currents | | | | Perhaps the most common household type of |
| (which normally transfer heat to the surface | | | | solar energy is that created by solar cells. |
| and then the air). The heat that gets | | | | Nonetheless, these other types are very |
| trapped in the bottom layer can be used to | | | | promising and certainly have their place. |