| Most power plants in the United States
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| | than what is currently available from
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| and all over world are using fossil fuels
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| | oil, gas, and other sources of energy
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| to operate and generate electricity.
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| | combined (assuming 8% solar cell
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| Fossil fuel has been used as an energy
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| | efficiency).
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| source as long as man has learned to
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| | Conversion of Solar Energy
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| generate power. Fossil fuel has been
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| | There are two ways of conversion of solar
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| around for ages and when man started
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| | energy. First is the direct solar energy
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| using this energy sources no one though
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| | which involves only one conversion into a
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| about the consequences. Fossil fuels will
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| | usable form. For instance:
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| run out and there will be a shortage of
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| | - Sunlight hits the solar cell,
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| it in near future. This shortage in
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| | converting it into electricity.
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| fossil fuel will have its affect on our
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| | - Sunlight hits the absorber surface of a
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| daily live and various industries. Today
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| | solar thermal collector, converting into
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| we see some of these affects already,
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| | thermal energy which can be used to heat
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| fossil fuel prizes are raising and
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| | homes during cold season.
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| electricity is becoming more expensive.
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| | The second is the indirect solar energy
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| Although fossil fuels are more scares, to
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| | which involves more than one conversion
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| need for fossil fuels will still be here
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| | to reach a usable form. For instance:
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| and will not decrease in near future. To
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| | - Plants use photosynthesis to transform
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| solve this shortage of fossil fuels we
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| | solar energy to chemical energy, which
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| will need to look for other possibilities
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| | can be burned later as fuel to generate
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| for our energy demand.
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| | electricity (also known as bio-fuel
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| Fortunately, alternative energy sources
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| | technology).
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| are growing in interest. For instance,
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| | - Hydroelectric dams and wind turbines
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| locations with high water falls are
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| | are indirectly supplied by solar energy
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| experimenting on building a
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| | through its interaction with the Earth's
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| hydro-electric power plant, which turns
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| | atmosphere.
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| out to be successful. Other locations
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| | Pros and Cons of Solar Energy
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| with high wind speed make use of a power
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| | Just like any other types of energy
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| wind mills that can convert wind power
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| | resources, solar energy has its ins and
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| into electricity. Also thermal and tidal
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| | outs.
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| powers are good alternatives.
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| | Pros:
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| Solar energy is also one of the energy
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| | - Pollution-free.
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| sources that is gaining in interest.
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| | - Solar facilities can be run with little
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| Solar energy has steadily been growing.
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| | extra input or maintenance.
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| Today solar energy is widely used in the
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| | - It is abundant. As mentioned earlier,
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| US and the advantages are numerous. Our
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| | most of the inhabited areas here on Earth
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| solar energy source, the sun, its life
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| | can be reached by sunlight.
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| span is estimated to be another 4.5
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| | Cons:
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| billion years. It is fair to say that
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| | - Although it is abundant, non-tropical
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| this energy source is almost endless.
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| | locations can receive little sunlight.
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| Rate of Energy from the Sun
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| | Thus, power that will be produced in
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| The sun's radiation reaches a certain
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| | these locations is a minimum.
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| unit of area in space in the region of
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| | - Only during daytime thus not available
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| the Earth's orbit and is estimated to be
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| | during night time.
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| at 1,400 watts per square meter. Out of
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| | - Photovoltaic cell technologies generate
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| this, photovoltaic cells (also known as
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| | direct current (DC) power which needs to
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| solar cells) can capture 19 to 56 watts
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| | be converted to alternating current (AC)
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| per square meter (for 15% efficiency) or
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| | power used in distribution grids.
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| an equivalent of 0.45 to 1.35 kilowatt
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| | Once massive development of the use of
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| per hour (kWh) in an annual day and night
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| | solar energy is materialized, expect that
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| average.
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| | every household or industry in the world
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| Therefore, if there would be more area
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| | will now be powered by solar energy. It
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| that will be covered by several solar
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| | is not just a dream, it will be a dream
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| panels, these panels can produce slightly
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| | come true.
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| more energy in the form of electricity
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|
