Future Energy
Introduction
The increasing quest for renewable sources of energy has greatly influence perception and appreciation of the benefits that could be derived from solar energy. Although the use of solar power as a form of energy to generate electrical energy is not a new technology, majority are yet to be aware of the benefits of using such forms of energy to both health and environment. It uses date back to ancient times where people make use of the energy to achieve their daily task i.e. drying purposes. The issue with the energy from sun could be associated with the challenges of effectively harnessing the energy being produced by the sun. The importance of sun's energy could be appreciated in all forms of life. It can be seen in view of the way the energy helps living things to grow.
Human technology has achieved some level of development with the use of photovoltaic cell and photoelectric cells, which are electrical appliances that help, collect the energy from sunlight and then transform it to electrical energy. This is what has been used for several years to make use of the solar energy. Several researches are being conducted by various organizations to develop different tools or electrical devices that will help harness the great potentials within the energy from sunlight.
Wind and solar energy are the two major energy sources that could be linked to the sun fusion energy. These two sources of energy from the sun have a great potential to meet our need for clean energy. Those sources of energy can actually provide the needed renewable energy in the nearest future if properly harnessed.
How solar energy is being generated
Understanding the complexity of the solar and wind energy depends on the knowledge of the generation of the energy from the sun, and how the energy generated is being transferred to the space. This will also influence the understanding of the influence of the energy on the air, which results in the wind energy. Windmills depend on the energy derived from wind and this help in mechanized farming.
The whole idea of solar energy from sunlight is deeply rooted in the mode of generation of such form of energy. The energy from the sun is a form of fusion power, which is generated because of a nuclear process known as nuclear fusion. The nuclear fusion describes the sets of reactions that occur between two atomic nuclei whereby the two nuclei fused together to form a larger size nucleus. This process of coming together of the two nuclei results in the emission of energy, which is because of the nuclear force existing between the reacting nuclei.
The released energy is then converted to a rise in temperature. Fusion power is the basics for solar energy unlike nuclear reactors, which produce energy from fission processes. The nuclear fusion occurring in the sun involves the reaction of hydrogen atoms to form helium in the core of the sun (Coffey, 2010). The nuclear reaction to generate helium is also termed proton-proton chain. The nuclear reactions producing the energy only occur within the core of the sun while the energy generated are transferred out heating the remaining part of the sun before getting to the outer space. The energy from the core of the sun is transferred through three main layers of the sun to the space. Those layers from inside to outside are tagged; radiative zone, convective zone and photosphere (Coffey, 2010).
Wind energy
It is when the energy gets into the space that it acts on the air in the space. These cause an increase in the temperature of the air and heat other regions of the planet. The heating of the air and other regions are not even hence resulting in the movement of the heated air in different directions. This explains why some air rises while some falls (Infinitepower.org).
The energy from the sun is collected by some earth components while some are reflected back. Both the wind energy that is harnessed with appliances such as windmills and the solar energy collected by solar panels are great renewable source of energy. The amount of energy generated within the core of the sun has been estimated to be about 4 x 10 ^27 watts which equals about 600 million of tons of hydrogen needed to fuse together (NASA, 2011). This shows the enormous amount of energy that is being generated by the star.
Harnessing this potential of solar and wind energy is what our future energy sources depend on. This is because of the nature of the non-renewable costs of energy that dominate energy production worldwide and the environmental hazards being caused by the radioactive materials used for nuclear energy. Modernized ways of using the solar energy include; roof solar panels, solar thermal systems, solar furnaces, solar cells, and various other collector designs (IEA, 2011).
Mode of capturing
The solar energy technology is usually classified as either passive or active depending on the mode capture of the energy from the sun. The active technologies involve the use of photovoltaic panels or fans. This method is used to convert the captured energy to other useful outputs. The passive mode of capturing includes the use of other materials that possess favorable thermal features. Those features are able to allow the free flowing of air, which is then used to produce the required outputs.
Applications
The solar energy has several forms of applications. Those areas of applications include; architecture and urban planning, agriculture, Solar lightning, Water treatment, heating and cooling systems, solar power, and cooking. Most of the highlighted areas are yet to take the full potential of the solar energy. There was a previous attempt of building a space farm, which will be made to contain solar panels that can help collect the solar energy. However, the cost implication has been a major hindrance towards achieving the goal (O'Neill, 2008). The old idea is now being considered by different developed countries to meet their demand for renewable source of energy (O'Neill, 2008).
Conclusion
There is an increase in interest towards solar energy. Its benefits outweigh those, which involves the use of fossil fuels. There are new areas, which are making use of the solar power in powering of the machines. Such areas include the powering of cars, houses, computers e.t.c. tapping the enormous potentials of solar and wind energy depends on the full financial commitment of the various government. This will help create an enabling environment for researchers and developers to create mechanisms in which those goals of creating renewable forms of energy are achieved.
Bibliography
Coffey, 2010. How does the sun produce energy. [Online]. Available at ;< http://www.universetoday.com/75803/how-does-the-sun-produce-energy/>
IEA, 2011. Renewable for heating and cooling. [Online]. Available at;
Infinitepower.org. 2010. Electricity from the sun. Fact Sheet. [Online]. Available at:
NASA, 2011. Only during the last 70 years has the secret to solar power been uncovered. Solar energy. Available at:
O'neill, IAN. 2008. Harvesting solar power from space. [Online]. Available at;
SPI, 2011.HOW MUCH ENERGY DO SOLAR PANELS PRODUCE?. [Online]. Available at;
