When scientists discovered that plants could detect radiation and change their behaviour based on it, they imagined a world filled with greenhouses and skyscraping trees, providing comfortable living for all. But today, our understanding of plant behaviour has expanded to include all living things, including ourselves. With a growing number of people looking for ways to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, many have turned to alternative sources of energy, chief among which is the sun. In recent years, people have put solar panels on their roofs and purchased solar-powered appliances for their homes. But while it’s great to have solar energy at home, it doesn’t always answer the question of where do I put it? That’s why many have turned to using the energy indirectly – by collecting it and storing it for future use.
Why Collect The Sun’s Energy?
The sun is an endless supply of energy, freely given to us by the fates. It is constantly shining down on the earth, bathing us in radiance and warmth. While there is no denying its allure, it is quite problematic to rely on a resource that we cannot store. The good news is that much like the rain, we can harvest the sun’s energy and use it when we need it. The question is, how?
An efficient way to collect and store solar energy is through photo-voltaic cells, the basic components of which are silicon and gallium arsenide. These are semiconductors, which means that they can conduct heat as well as electricity. When exposed to light, these materials become more efficient in converting light into electricity. As a result, solar cells have the potential to provide us with enough power to meet our needs – even if we don’t have the sun shining directly overhead.
How Do I Use This Indirectly?
Indirect solar energy is quite a common topic in alternative energy circles, as so much of the technology developed for storing energy is based on battery technology. While a battery has many advantages, it also has several major drawbacks: it degrades over time due to use; it needs to be recharged, with frequent charging causing severe problems such as corrosion and explosion; and it has a limited lifespan, usually between five and ten years.
To avoid these issues, many have turned to using supercapacitors instead. These are energy storage devices that use electric double-layer capacitance to store energy. One of the greatest advantages of a supercapacitor is its nearly infinite lifespan – a hundred thousand times longer than that of a battery. It also doesn’t degrade like a battery, and doesn’t need to be recharged as frequently. Even better, a supercapacitor allows for smooth, reliable power delivery even when the sun isn’t shining directly overhead.
Where Do Solar Panels Fit In?
Like any other part of science, the more we know, the more we understand, and the more we understand, the more we know. In this case, the more we know about solar power, the more we know about storage, and the more we know about storage, the more we know about using solar energy. Put together, this is a complete knowledge base regarding solar power and storage as it exists today. From the initial discovery of plants’ ability to respond to radiation to the present day, we’ve learned a great deal about how to effectively use and store solar energy. This knowledge makes it possible for us to put solar panels anywhere, even on remote islands, to harvest the power of the sun.
Since these are the most efficient and reliable way of storing energy, it would make sense to use them where possible – namely, on your roof. If you’ve got a large enough roof and can position the panels correctly, you can produce enough electricity to meet your needs. And for those dark days when the sun isn’t shining directly overhead, you can store the energy that is generated in your supercapacitors – even if it’s just for a brief moment – and use it when you need it, even if it’s just for lighting.
Taking advantage of the sun’s energy is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Not only is it a sustainable and renewable source of energy, but it also has the potential to be very cheap. The more we learn about it, the more we realize how much potential there is for it to be a cost-effective way to meet our energy needs. As a result, more and more people are turning to this sustainable source of energy, putting solar energy on their roofs and making their homes independent of the grid.