Here again is a viable part of our energy solution. It is clean, and it is green and as a fuel source of energy it is free. The sun shines everywhere. More so in some places then other yes, yes their are cloudy days and then there is night. However, if you apply this technology in hand with wind, tidal, thermal and hydro in addition to lowering our energy needs it works and it works well. With the implementation of large solar arrays and large solar collectors along with individual home owners with the means operating their own small systems we can totally do away with the perceived need for coal and nuclear power plants and if we do away with that we do away with strip mining and mountain top removal mining, two of the most devastating and destructive forms of energy on our environment.

Solar energy is energy from the sun in the form of radiated heat and light. It drives the climate and weather and supports life here on Earth. Solar energy technologies make controlled use of this energy resource. Solar power is a synonym of solar energy or refers specifically to the conversion of sunlight into electricity by photovoltaics, concentrating solar thermal devices or various experimental technologies.

The solar panels you see are photovoltaics, they convert sunlight to electricity and then it can be used or stored in batteries. Solar collectors uses mirrors to direct and concentrate sunlight to a fixed point to heat a liquid such as water to turn it into steam to turn a generator. Or the intense light heats an oil other substance that heats faster and hotter then water which is then used to heat water into steam. Very much the same as a nuclear power plant without the nukes which make it considerable less expensive, far less dangerous, much simpler and oh so green. Oh, and no digging for uranium (strip mining). 

Photovoltaics

Photovoltaic Solar Panels

Photovoltaic Solar Panel Roof

Solar Thermal

The solar furnace at Odiello in the French Pyranees can reach temperatures up to 3,800 degrees Celsius. That's 6872 degrees Fahrenheit (that's HOT!)

A parabolic solar dish concentrating the sun's rays on the heating element of a Stirling Engine. The entire unit acts as a solar tracker.

The New Solar Plant being built in the Mojave, California This plant being build by Pacific Gas and Electric will provide 500 Megawatts of power with a second plant on the table to boost that to 900 Megawatts. That's enough to power 375,000 homes. There are two more on deck.

There are solar replacements for just about anything electric that has access to the sun. Street lights, bill boards, parking lots, bus stops, signage. They are making solar powered tents where the photovoltaics are incorporated right into the tent material. There is talk of solar powered clothing to power things like I Pods, laptops and other small electrical devices. There are several companies right now manufacturing photovoltaic glass, yes, that's glass that generates electricity. Used properly on a large building it is capable of powering the entire building depending on its purpose. For example, an office building could be powered entirely by photovoltaic glass, simply amazing. This technology is getting better and less expensive every day so knowing this why would we even consider investing huge amounts of money in technology that is rapidly becoming obsolete and that is extraordinarily damaging to the environment.

Mr. Green