| Without a doubt, solar energy is the way of | | | | must be able to generate. |
| the future. Solar energy production is an | | | | |
| extremely simple process to understand. A | | | | There are a number of options available to |
| solar, or photovoltaic, cell collects energy | | | | consumers that are considering converting to |
| from the Sun. A solar cell is a | | | | solar energy. A basic system that can be |
| semiconductor device that is constructed | | | | used to power a computer and a few other |
| using photovoltaic materials. It contains no | | | | small items can be purchased for |
| liquids or chemicals, and no moving parts. | | | | approximately $1000.00. Naturally, the price |
| Solar cells convert sunlight into | | | | will increase with the production capacity of |
| electricity. | | | | your system. In most regions, the price of |
| | | | an installed system will cost somewhere in |
| A solar panel generally consists of a series | | | | the area of $10.00-$12.00 per watt. |
| of individual cells, which are supported by a | | | | |
| module that allows the cells to work in | | | | Solar energy is one of a few truly renewable |
| unison. The energy that is captured by the | | | | resources that can be used in energy and |
| panel is stored in a battery. Solar panels | | | | power generation. Every hour of every day, |
| generate direct current (DC) energy. Many | | | | the Sun blankets our planet with enough |
| solar energy systems have inverters in them | | | | energy to sustain our global energy needs for |
| which allow direct current (DC) electricity | | | | a year. As the technology behind |
| to be converted to alternating current (AC). | | | | photovoltaic energy advances, consumers will |
| Most consumer products such as appliances and | | | | be unable to resist the urge to convert. |
| electronics operate on AC current. | | | | |
| | | | A lot of resources are being put into the |
| Unless you have a vast expanse of land to | | | | development of solar energy technology. Most |
| house an array of solar panels, it is | | | | of the major oil and energy companies have |
| unlikely that you will be able to power your | | | | entire divisions committed to solar energy. |
| entire home with solar energy. However, it | | | | Researchers and engineers are spending |
| is possible to power a single room in your | | | | countless hours trying to develop the |
| house with a small array of panels fixed to | | | | technology today that will vastly improve |
| the roof of your house. Multiply the wattage | | | | conditions in the world tomorrow. It is no |
| of each individual electrical device by the | | | | secret that we cannot continue down the path |
| number of hours you expect to use them each | | | | we are on. Fossil fuels are no longer a |
| day. That combined number will be your | | | | feasible option for energy production. The |
| benchmark, or the bare minimum your system | | | | future is solar. The future is now. |