Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Types Of Energy: The Advantages And Disadvantages

By Ellen Cintron

Do you ever feel like you know just enough about the different types of energy to be dangerous? Let's see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from solar energy experts.

Solar energy has been used since prehistoric times, but in a most primitive manner. Before'70, some research and development was carried out in a few countries to exploit solar energy more efficiently, but most of this work remained mainly academic. Solar Energy Alliance has over twenty years of experience installing and selling renewable energy products. We are accredited installers under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme and as such can assure customers of a quality installation with the back-up of a complete customer after-care service. Solar energy technologies offer a clean, renewable and domestic energy source.

Solar energy is created at the core of the sun when hydrogen atoms are fused into helium by nuclear fusion (Figure 2). The core occupies an area from the sun's center to about a quarter of the star's radius. Solar energy use takes many forms nowadays. Solar panels are getting cheaper. Solar energy is as plentiful as daylight, as limitless as organic life itself, a fuel that comes free of charge and replenishes itself every time the earth rotates on its axis.

If you find yourself confused by what you've read about the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy to this point, don't despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

Almost all energy, after all, is ultimately stored solar power: Oil, gas, and coal were born of the ancient sunlight that fed prehistoric animals and plants, the wind is set howling by the sun's unequal heating of the atmosphere, and even a campfire draws its warmth from solar power trapped long ago through photosynthesis.

Photovoltaic cells are being increasingly used to tap into this huge resource and will play a key role in future sustainable energy systems. So far, solid-state junction devices, usually made of silicon, crystalline or amorphous, and profiting from the experience and material availability resulting from the semiconductor industry, have dominated photovoltaic solar energy converters. Photovoltaic system costs encompass both module and BOS costs. The module costs typically represents only 40-60% of total PV system costs.

Currently, there is a need for allocating increased resources in solar research. Compared to the old forms of depletable energy (coal, oil, nuclear), solar energy offers a clean renewable form of energy. Currently, these include long-term feed-in tariffs, government-issued investment subsidies, tax incentives and regenerative energy quotas. Put in a nutshell: CSP projects - parabolic trough plants in particular - have become bankable. Currently, prices of highly efficient solar cells can be above $1000, and some households may need more than one. This makes the initial installation of solar panels very costly.

That's how things stand right now on the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news to do with the different types of energy.

About the Author:

No comments: