Unlike fossil fuel, which produce significant amount of pollution and enormous amounts of greenhouse gases, the sun’s energy is clean and its supply virtually limitless. In just one hour the Earth receives more energy from the sun that human beings consume during an entire year. According to America’s Department of Energy, solar panels have the potential to provide for all of its current electricity needs.
Yet since they were invented more than five decades ago, photovoltaic solar cell – devices made of semiconductor materials that convert light into electricity – have generated much publicity but little energy. In 2006 solar panels produced only 0.04% of the world’s electricity, according to the International Energy Agency. Solar panels have few customers and the problem is their price. Sunshine is free, but converting it into electricity is not. At present, solar power is at least two the three times as expensive as the typical electricity generated in America.
Even so, many people believe that solar power will be very popular one day, maybe soon. Decades of research have improved the efficiency of silicon-based solar cells, and the price of solar power is expected to be competitive within three to eight year. Wal-Mart, the American retail giant, is placing solar systems on the roofs of many of its supermarkets. Besides producing favorable publicity, the appeal of using solar power is obvious… and bright.
Read more: http://scienceray.com/technology/bright-prospects-the-solar-energy/#ixzz0vUcUnRvE
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