Different Uses of Solar Power Systems

 When solar cells first became available, they where seen as the solution to the oil crisis and the energy crisis. Suddenly there was an abundance of free usable energy coming directly from the sun. Within ten years solar power systems were expected to heat and power homes and businesses. Some people even thought we would be driving solar-powered cars in no time. Unfortunately, real life didn't quite match up yet. Solar panels were expensive to manufacture, and they didn't produce enough power unless you had many panels exposed to a lot of sunlight. Nevertheless, with the improvements in solar power technology, a rebirth in solar power systems may be at hand.

Although solar panels also absorb solar energy when it's cloudy, they produce much more energy if they're exposed to direct sunlight. Solar power systems are therefore much more effective in very sunny areas. They also produce more power during longer days, so short Alaskan winter days aren't ideal for solar systems. The perfect environment is in the desert, with long days and few clouds.

Solar power systems don't need to power an entire community or even supply all of the power for a private residence. They are much more efficient at heating water than they are at producing electricity. Because regular hot water heaters may consume over a third of a house's energy, substituting a hot water heater that is powered by gas with a solar powered heater can reduce a home's energy bill substantially and make the owner eligible for a tax cut as well.

Solar power systems are also very useful for providing power in remote locations. They are used for cell phone towers and other reflective antenna arrays located at hard to reach places. Since these facilities don't need a lot of power and maintenance to run, solar panels can provide enough of power without the need to be maintained or refueled. Additional applications among many others would be a cell phone solar charger or a solar powered battery charger for example. Although we're still far from being a completely solar-powered society, we will probably see a lot more solar powered devices as solar technology becomes more sophisticated and efficient.