The Benefit of Solar Power Over Electricity

The energetical potential of solar energy is great,because it's connected with alienation of big
by nowadays calculations it's approximatelyterritories for transformation of them into
1,57*10^18 Watt peak a year. The science thatreservoirs. Hydroelectric power stations break the
studies the methods of collecting andecological aqua systems, more over they are
transformation of solar energy to another kindsquite often begin to silt and become ineffective in
of energy is solar energetic.some 50-100 years. In the dry areas evaporation
There are several priorities of transformation andfrom the surface of water reservoirs is dozen
usage of solar energy. The first one istimes higher than evaporation from the surface
transformation of solar energy into heat and usingof the land.
of it for heating buildings, air conditioning, heatingNuclear energetics has been seen recently is one
or distillation of water.of the most promising trends in the electricity
The basis of such generators of heat energy isproduction that united cheap energy produced
plane solar collector that allows transforming solar(one pound of radioactive fuel substitutes two
energy to the energy of heat with a temperaturemillion tons of coal) and a small influence on the
of 160-180 F. It looks like a metallic frame withenvironment. But the tragedy that happened on
special pipes or it's a plane box-like device that letthe power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine proved that
pass the air, water or special liquids. This collectornuclear energy has a high potential risk.
is put into heat isolation cover, with the exceptionThe exploitation of solar energy can be useful in
of it's working part that is subjected to themany ways. First by substituting the fuel that is
sunrays. A 9 ft. sqr. collector gives up to 20used on heat power stations it reduces the air
gallons of hot water (150-170 F) per day. Thisand environment pollution, it reduces the usage of
solar water heats have a lot of perspectives tooil and other fuel that can be used in more
be used in remote desert areas or in the areasimportant purposes, by substituting nuclear fuel it
with a big number of sunny days. The prime costreduces the radiation threat, and at the same
of the hot water produced by the solar heaters istime solar energy generators can make us more
much lower than one produced by electric boilersecure, by reducing the dependence upon
or gas boiler. It doesn't require any fuel anduninterrupted fuel supply.
doesn't pollute the environment. So theBut still there are many obstacles that prevent
advantages of using solar water heaters aremass spreading of solar energy usage. One of the
obvious.most obvious is low intensiveness of solar
The second priority of using solar energy isradiation even in the sunny weather. Another
transformation of it into electricity. If to cover aobstacle is high initial price of solar energy
silicon crystal with a thin, pure for light layer ofgenerators.
metal, than the photons stream, while passingThe primary value for making a plane collector
through a metal layer, will release free electronssolar heater is 1000$ per 1 Watt peak. First
from the crystal of silicon. Those electrons willlooking, it may seem that because of the high
start to concentrate in the metal layer. This willprice solar energy generators are not competitive
cause a potential difference between crystal andwith traditional electric power plants, where this
a metal layer. If to connect thousands of suchindex is low as 100$ per 1Watt peak. Even small
crystals in series or in parallel (to increase voltagediesel generators are not so costly. But if to
and current), we'll get a solar battery thatinclude the fuel price to the coast of each kilowatt
produces direct current.than this comparison won't be so striking. Even it's
Also there exists another trend of using solarthought that solar generators are cheaper in the
energy for electricity production, which is similartechnical exploitation and lifetime is longer than
to the heat power plant. It assumes using of glassthat of tradition sources of electric energy. The
pipes cover by the semiconductor layer fromcalculations show that the price of the electric
inside. Such pipe will let pass the sunrays but stillenergy produced by solar generators can be
collects 80% of them. Sunrays are collected intoreduced in future to .05-.01$ per kilowatt, and for
a narrow beam of light with a help of conversionsolar water heater approximately to .02$ per
lens. Then this heat is transmitted to the pipe thatkilowatt.
is inside of the glass pipe and it heats the workingTo be more specific in costs of solar electric
pipe up to 1000 F, which is more than enough tosystems lets refer to International Energy
melt metallic natrium, that melt near 197 F.Agency data: "The type of system defines the
Incandescent heat conductor is transmitting to thecomponents you need for a solar system and
underground reservoirs, where the heat collectedtherefore the costs. The overall system prices
for the solar energy makes salt to melt. The heatfor grid-connected systems vary between 7.8
energy form the salt is transmitted to waterand 24.0 USD/Watt peak. The price range for
pipes, where the water boils and then the energysolar systems not connected to the grid is 5.5 to
of water steam is used as a moving energy for25.2 USD/Watt peak." But still there even more
electric current generators.disadvantages of solar electric systems. First one
The transformation of solar energy into anotheris that they can be used locally, because the
types of energy doesn't bring any visible pollutiondirect current produced by solar systems is
to the environment, which makes it veryeffective for transmission on long distances (not
beneficial. Other ways of electricity production aremore than 70 miles). In addition if to refer to
tightly connected with the pollution ofMySolar; information on solar energy and solar
environment. 80-85 percent of energy used bysystems says:
man is got by burning fuel (oil, gas, different kinds"A solar electricity system causes little extra risk
of bio resources). Even so that thee portion offor lightning when normal precautions (earthing, or
heat power plants is decreasing now, still lots oflightning protection at places that a prone to
countries use it as a primary source for gettinglighting such as high towers etc) are taken.
energy (75% power plants in China and nearlyLightning can cause damage to equipment such as
40% of power plants in Russia use oil, coal andinverters and batteries" (available on web:
gas). Heat power plants produces 50% ofEven despite all the disadvantages of solar
carbonic gas, 35% sulphur and nitrogen oxidessystems, this kind of alternative source of electric
released into atmosphere and nearly the sameenergy is spreading all over the world. The leading
amount of dust. Recent researches also showplace in production of electricity by solar systems
that heat power plants twice more pollute theis taken by the USA (40% of world's production)
environment with radiation contamination than dowith total power 450 megawatts and with a total
nuclear power plants.square of solar heat collectors in 100 million sqr ft.
The influence of the hydroelectric power stationsAnd the development of this power industry will
on the environment is also a subject of concern,be rapid in next decades.