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Solar energy is a free renewable resource that has been around and used since ancient times. This energy source comes from the sun and only a tiny fraction of available solar energy is used. Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land masses absorb about 3,850,000 exajoules (EJ) a year. Harnessing this power of solar energy and using it will decrease the need for foreign oil, provide a reliable power source that has an infinite power supply, and is greenhouse gas friendly while creating and distributing it.

Heat engines or photovoltaics (solar cells for energy by converting sunlight into electricity) provide electrical generation for solar power technologies. The limits for applications of solar power are endless. A few solar applications include; solar architecture (heating and cooling), distilling water for drinking, thermal energy for cooking, and other various household or industrial needs. Solar technologies have two basic categories; passive and active solar. Depending on the way the sunlight is collected, converted, and distributed will determine which type of solar technology it will fall under.

Passive solar technologies are considered the demand side of solar power technology because it reduces the need for other alternate resources. This type of technology costs virtually nothing to operate, puts off no greenhouse gases, and requires little maintenance cost. Passive solar technologies uses sunlight for energy without using active mechanical systems such as; electrical controls, fans, and pumps.

Active solar technologies require the use of active mechanical systems (electrical controls, fans, and pumps) to convert sunlight into useable power outputs by using photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors. This solar technology is considered the supply side of solar power technology because it increases the supply of energy.

Energy storage methods such as; Grid energy storage, Phase change material, Thermal energy storage, Thermal mass, and V2G stores solar energy when the sun goes down. This allows a continuous supply of solar energy output twenty-four hours a day.


Jason Grace
on behalf of the
BascoTec Internet Limited
Technologie Park 13
33100 Paderborn
Germany

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