Solar energy is a very promising and endless source of renewable energy. It is clean, sustainable, indigenous and does not contribute to global warming.

Interests in solar energies is very much linked with oil price fluctuations, dating back to the 1973 oil embargo, the energy crisis of 1979 and the falling oil prices in the early 1980s. But now there is an added factor of urgency in need of new renewable energies to mitigate global warming.

Solar technologies can be classified as active and passive:

Active techniques use photovoltaic (PV) to capture solar energy into useful outputs, thus instrumental in increasing the supply of energy. It can complement passive design and improve system performance.

Passive techniques sought to reduce the need for energy consumption for indoor comfort, lighting and temperature controls. Techniques include the selection of thermal materials, design of spaces, and orientation of a building relative to the Sun.

Solar energy that is captured is converted into electric energy by the photovoltaic cells installed in the solar panels. On a big scale, the electricity is fed into the grid system as normal electricity The main obstacle in the harnessing of free solar energy lies in the high installation and material costs.

Solar cells are typically combined into modules that hold about 40 cells; a number of these modules are mounted in PV arrays that can measure up to several meters on a side. These flat-plate PV panels can be mounted at a fixed angle facing the sun, or they can be mounted on a tracking device that follows the sun for maximum capture of solar energy. Several connected PV arrays can provide enough power for a household. For large electric utility or industrial applications, hundreds of arrays can be interconnected to form a single, large PV system, or connected to a grid system.

A typical commercial solar cell now has an efficiency of 15%- compared to 4% for the first solar cells in the 1950s.


Solar panel graveyard powers town - Metro UK "The best tribute we can pay to our ancestors, whatever your religion may be, is to generate clean energy for new generations. That is our leitmotif,"		China is the biggest solar water heater producer and consumer in the world. with both her output and consumption accounting for more than 50% of the world total.		Off ground solar heater for warming pool in winter.

Photovoltaic production has been doubling every two years, increasing at an annual average of 48% since 2002, making it one of the world’s fastest-growing energy technology. The EPIA/Greenpeace Advanced Scenario projected that by the year 2030, solar energy-generated power will account for 10% of total global power supply, and 20% by 2050.

World solar photovoltaic market installations reached a record high of 2.8 GW peak in 2007 with Germany, followed by Japan and the US leading in the industry market in 2006 and 2007. In fact the German PV industry generates over 10,000 jobs in production, distribution and installation.

There are various financial incentives, such as preferential feed-in tariffs for large scale and commercial use of solar energy, and net metering to support solar-cell installations in many countries such as Australia, Germany, Japan, and the United States.

In a program called Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program to encourage active public involvement, the Canada government offers to buy solar energy from homeowners with solar panel installations. Homeowners sell the energy to the grid at 41¢/kWh, while drawing power from the grid at a cheaper rate of 20¢/kWh. By the end of 2006, nearly 88% of all solar PV installations in the EU were grid-tied.

(Pic: Grid-tied solar PV installations in the EU )

Pic: Aessolarenergy.com

As of January 2010, the China has committed $7.3 billion to create a more efficient Smart Grid. The investment, $200 million more than that being spend by the United States in 2010, makes China one of the global leaders in smart energy development. ( smartmeters.com )

In the developing countries like China, India and Cuba,
stand alone solar power system is set up to provide power for lighting and communication purposes. For example, in the off-grid areas of W. China, a pioneer project undertaken and funded by Rural Energy Development Programme (REDP), installed over 400,000 PV systems which bring cleaner, brighter light for study, work and recreation. The programme has helped make solar power affordable to China's rural poor and stimulated a wider market for PV.

The like of this donor-funded program promotes rapid growth of the PV industry in China, and improved the quality of production while keeping costs low. It greatly expands the market for solar home systems, and supports the development of a network of suppliers, wholesalers and retailers. REDP has supplied many people with sustainable energy in a way that meets their needs. This model is now being used by several other donor-funded programmes in China"

China is the top manufacturer of solar photovoltaics by 2008, with capacity of 1.7GW as compared to global 3.8GW in 2007 (Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association-CREIA).

Though China supplies half the world's solar panels, solar power as in grid-tied photovoltaic is still in its infancy due to affordability. But in July 2009, China announced its plans to subsidize 50% of investment costs and offer incentives on relevant solar power transmission and distribution connected to grid to boost a broader utilization of solar energy. This comes at a time when European countries including Spain and Germany, two of the largest solar markets, are pulling back on spending to slow industry growth.

Solar powered car completes round-the-world trip - UK.Reuters

POZNAN, Poland (Reuters) Dec 4, 2008 - A Swiss teacher completed the first round-the-world trip in a solar-powered car on Thursday and said he hoped the 52,000-km (32,000-mile) odyssey would inspire carmakers to make greener models....read more

References and related news:

Solar Power Plants to Spring Up in China
Solar Power Scheme to Light Up Remotest China Wins International Green Energy Aw... 2008-6-24
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American Solar Energy Society
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The US Solar Photovoltaic Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2013 Feb 15, 2009
Winds of Change Push for Cheaper Solar: Barron's - Feb 10, 2009
Germany Solar PV Market Growth Amidst Financial Crisis ...PR-Inside.com Feb 13, 2009
Feed-In Tariff Propels Solar Thermal Power in Spain ... PR-Inside.com
Integration Anticipated in China's Solar PV Sector

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