| Sun is the primary source of energy in our | | | | charge them using sun light. |
| solar system. It provides life to billions of | | | | |
| living creatures on planet Earth. It is the | | | | The primary method of using solar energy is |
| source of light and provides life. The | | | | to store them in photovoltaic cells. They |
| bountiful and non-exhaustive resource in the | | | | were first developed in the 1950s for use on |
| form of solar energy is free, available and | | | | U.S. space satellites program. They are |
| omnipotent. Humans have harnessed this | | | | constructed from silicon. When sunlight |
| resource into a usable energy form and are | | | | strikes the solar cell, it makes the |
| using it to the benefit of the society. Many | | | | electrons to move about. The electrons move |
| claim that this energy is going to replace | | | | toward the treated front surface of the solar |
| the other form of polluting energy sources in | | | | panel. This leads to an electron imbalance |
| the near future. The process for this change | | | | between the front and the back surface of the |
| is an extension of human ingeniousness and a | | | | panel. On joining the two surfaces, a |
| fast change of the technology since the | | | | conductor is formed, just like a wire, and |
| 1970s. | | | | current begins to flow. The individual solar |
| | | | cells are arranged together in a PV module |
| Historically, the sun has been the only | | | | and the modules are grouped together to form |
| source of energy for all living beings on the | | | | an array. This current is used to charge |
| planet. With the increase in the consumption | | | | cells and this energy is used to light lamps, |
| of energy in the world today and phenomenon | | | | tube lights and also to drive cars now. The |
| like the greenhouse effect becoming a | | | | current can also be used to run appliances. |
| possible threat to the planet's existence, | | | | |
| solar energy and other alternative forms of | | | | Another method of using solar energy is to |
| energies are gaining favor. They are | | | | use curved reflectors to direct the solar |
| relatively cheaper to produce and do not | | | | rays to a convergence point and then make a |
| produce harmful emissions like carbon based | | | | current flowing system like a photo cell and |
| fuel sources. | | | | store energy. Plants like this are |
| | | | operational in the US and in India. |
| So how does solar energy work? The process of | | | | |
| converting the rays of the sun into a usable | | | | Solar energy is abundantly available in the |
| energy form requires conversion, storage and | | | | world and is perhaps the only freely |
| harnessing of the rays in a form which can be | | | | available source of energy, with little or no |
| used by the energy consuming appliances. The | | | | pollution contribution. Its conversion to |
| various ways in which this energy is being | | | | usable forms of energy has become possible in |
| converted and used depends upon the | | | | recent years and more and more advanced and |
| technology utilized to harness it. For drying | | | | optimized methods are available to us to |
| out clothes, direct sunlight is enough. For | | | | harness its full potential. |
| powering satellites, direct sunlight along | | | | |
| with a storage mechanism is required. Cars | | | | In the energy crisis ridden world, the SUN |
| use a combination of hybrid batteries and | | | | might once again come to our rescue. |