The 5 Types of Solar Energy

With Solar power potentially being a significant ingredient in the cake of renewable energy sources the world will need to replace fossil fuels it is important to understand the different types of Solar power. This article will give an over view of all the different types.

Solar Cells

Just about everyone has seen solar cells being used on pocket calculators with LCD displays. This is of course not the only use for Solar cells with many being placed on top of buildings. Most Solar panels are made form silicon and act as semi conductors converting sunlight directly into electricity.

S Fibers

This method is similar to Solar cell in that sunlight is converted directly to electricity. Unlike a Solar cell this method uses a solar tape made from titanium dioxide. It has been suggested that this tape could be used in building materials or even in the construction of cars.

Solar Chemical Power

Solar Chemical Power is still in the early stages of research but the theory behind it is that a chemical reaction can be used to turn sunlight into electricity.

The Solar Pond

The Solar pond uses three different layers of salt to prevent heat convection and store energy from the sun. A solar Pond would typically be used to provide heat rather than electricity.

The Solar Updraft Tower

The Idea of the Solar updraft tower is that air passes through a green house like glass building and becomes heated, this air is then channeled through a tower where it rises and drives turbines in much the same way as a conventional power station.

Most of the technologies mentioned above are still in their infancies but appear to be very promising in particular solar fibers, which have huge potential as they can be integrated into other materials. This could in theory lead to buildings that could power themselves through absorbing light using their brickwork or cars that charge themselves up with energy if left in the sunlight. Solar Power is a technology that really could change the world.