Sunday, April 10, 2011

Solar Energy Technology by CCRES

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Solar Energy Technology by CCRES




Many cars slow to a crawl as they leave and enter Morningstar Marketplace via Lincoln Highway West in Thomasville. The drivers snap their heads to the side to look in awe at what used to be a plain, grassy field.
The field is becoming a solar farm that will provide all the power needed and then some to operate the combination flea, antique and farmers' market. Rows of metal racks line the field, a few of them supporting gleaming solar panels. Construction equipment sits amid overturned earth, signs of a project ongoing.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.





As the most oil dependent state, Hawaii is adding wind farms and solar arrays to its skyline.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.





DTE Energy has installed a solar panel farm at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant. When the sun's out, enough energy can be stored to power 100 Michigan homes, but the panels aren't powering houses in the area. They're helping build more efficient cars more efficiently.More info at http://solarserdar.blogspot.com.

While the sun generates enough energy to meet the world's energy needs many times over, the challenge is to capture that power for our use at reasonable cost. Today's solar energy technology converts the sun's light to electricity and absorbs its heat for heating and cooling systems. Large solar plants absorb the sun's heat to power steam turbines that produce electricity.

Solar Electric (Photovoltaic)
Solar technology that directly converts sunlight into electricity is called solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. PV produces direct current electricity, which can be used on-site, stored or converted to alternating current for long-distance transmission.

Solar Heating and Cooling
Solar heating and cooling technologies capture the sun's heat to provide energy for water heating, pool heating, space heating and cooling, and industrial process pre-heating. The technology can be used for residential, commercial, and industrial use.

Concentrating Solar Power
Using reflective materials, like mirrored troughs, utility-scale systems concentrate the sun's heat to warm a synthetic liquid to temperatures over 500 degrees Farenheit. This fluid heats water that in turn powers steam turbines to produce electricty.

Passive Solar
Architects and builders use special siting, design and materials to absorb the sun's heat that later is released to warm during cooler evening and nights. Passive solar also refers to directing sunlight to brighten interior spaces and positioning shading devices to protect from excessive heat.

Solar Ovens
Solar ovens are a low-tech, low-cost option to heating and cooking food. Similar to a crockpot, solar ovens are essentially well insulated portable boxes that capture and hold the sun's heat.

Emerging Technology
Research and development by companies and research labs are continually discovering new techniques and materials that improve efficiencies and cut the cost of capturing solar energy.

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES ( CCRES )

1 comment:

  1. I think the technology of solar panels have come a long way in the last decade and certianly the awareness and benefits of using, making, installing them have definitely begun to spread across parts of Europe and the US. An interesting article, very insightful..

    Nigel Zouch
    solar panels oklahoma

    ReplyDelete