Since the beginning of time and the evolution of humanity, the sun has played an important role. People have worshiped the sun as the sun god, Ra. It has played a role in Greek Mythology and a number of religious beliefs. As far back as the time of the Aztecs and the Incas, to the more modern times of native Americans, the sun has played a part in their religious beliefs. Such as been the background of solar energy.

The appearance of the sun in the sky is prominent due to the fact that it is the closet star to the our planet. The sun not only emits light, but also heat that is transformed into various forms of energy. The simple act of laundry being hung out of doors, uses the suns heat as a form of energy to dry our clothing. The suns light also enables plants to produce food. The uneaten foods would then decay and in a process that took millions of years fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil were produced. Exploding stars referred to as nova’s produce nuclear energy through the emission of uranium atoms.

Today more than ever, the suns energy is being put to use. As far back as the 1890′s, people in the U. S. Were using solar energy to heat water in their homes. The high cost of coal and wood made the suns power much more affordable. Southern states were the first to introduce the solar panel as a method of heating water as the suns energy was strongest in these states. People by the thousands were having panels put into their homes. When rich supplies of fossil fuel were found and the price dropped, many reverted to other heating methods.

Experimental power plants continue to focus on the production of electricity, while others have found ways to produce it. The state of California is presently using the Mojave Desert to collect solar energy using parabolic troughs or ‘solar mirrors.’ The special curve of the mirrors directs the energy to a pipe that can intensify the heat to cause water to boil. The boiling water causes steam and that steam will turn a turbine and make electricity.

Photovoltaic cells, referred to as PV cells, are capable of changing sunlight into electricity. When the sun hits one of these solar cells, or PV’s, electron are loosened and then they move to a treated front surface that creates an imbalance between the two surfaces. As if there were a wire joining them, the surfaces act as a connector and electricity will flow from the positive and negative sides. Tracking devices allow these modules to follow sunlight for an entire day collecting more and more energy.

This direct form of energy, from solar cell to electricity, is immediately available for use. In our homes, it can tun on our lights and run our appliances. Businesses can even store electricity in batteries for use in illuminating billboards during hours of darkness. Roadside emergency cell phones can also be ran with an energy stored battery.

The electric automobile is now within the range of use. The use of PV cells located in these cars will allow for sunlight collection that is directly transferred in to electricity that will power the motors of these autos. Smog filled cities due to car and factory emissions could easily become a blight of the past. Solar power collection no longer has to be located miles from the earths surface. Advances will continue to be made as technology is only on the surface of what sun produced energy can do.

How Do Wind Turbines Work Windy conditions are ideal for placement of wind turbines. The more wind there is, the more electricity can be made. Windy conditions are ideal for placement of wind turbines.