Solar

Solar:

Solar is best used at home and possibly industry. Without electric cars, it cannot work for transportation needs. Solar cannot meet all demands for domestic . Reliability is an issue in winter and in cloudy areas. If we build new homes without considering solar, we are making a mistake that will last for decades to centuries. Solar in our future: optimistic estimate would be that solar can supply 30% of domestic energy needs within a decade and a lesser fraction of industrial energy needs… but it could be more

Solar Panel electricity systems, also known as solar photovoltaics (PV), capture the sun's energy using photovoltaic cells. These cells don't need direct sunlight to work – they can still generate some electricity on a cloudy day. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be used to run household appliances and lighting. Solar technology isn’t new. Its history spans from the 7th Century B.C. to today. We started out concentrating the sun’s heat with glass and mirrors to light fires. Today, we have everything from solar-powered buildings to solarpowered vehicles. Here you can learn more about the milestones in the historical development of solar technology, century by century, and year by year. You can also glimpse the future.

The benefits of Solar Electricity:

Cut your electricity bills sunlight is free, so once you've paid for the initial installation your electricity costs will be reduced. Get paid for the electricity you generate the government’s Feed-In Tariffs pay you for the electricity you generate, even if you use it. Sell electricity back to the grid if your system is producing more electricity than you need, or when you can't use it, you can sell the surplus back to the grid. Cut your carbon footprint

Historical development of solar technology:

7th Century B.C:

Magnifying glass used to concentrate sun’s rays to make fire and to burn ants.

3rd Century B.C:

Greeks and Romans use burning mirrors to light torches for religious purposes.

2nd Century B.C:

As early as 212 BC, the Greek scientist, Archimedes, used the reflective properties of bronze shields to focus sunlight and to set fire to wooden ships from the Roman Empire which were besieging Syracuse. (Although no proof of such a feat exists, the Greek navy recreated the experiment in 1973 and successfully set fire to a wooden boat at a distance of 50 meters.)