The+Electrons


 *  SOLAR ENERGY



Energy Sources
Have you ever wondered what energy sources are? Well energy sources are a type of energy that is used to power different things. Here are some examples of energy sources.

1. Wind energy: Wind energy in which the wind is used to spin the blades on a turbine and then converts mechanical energy into electrical power.

2. Solar energy: The energy that reaches the Earth from the sun is enormous. This energy is called solar energy. Solar energy is used to generate electricity in power plants, called solar thermal energy.

3. Fossil fuels: Different sources provide the movement, or the mechanical energy needed to run generators. Some of the items used to power generators include coal,natural gas and oil. These items are burned to create heat or steam.

Advantages

 * renewable energy
 * clean energy [[image:http://www.clixoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/electricity-from-suns-heat.gif width="331" height="295" align="right" link="knowledge2013/url"]]
 * does not need power lines
 * No pollution
 * Most solar panels have a good life span up to 30 to 40 years
 * ==Disadvantages==
 * costs a lot of money
 * needs batteries if sun does not shine
 * does not work at night

Different types of solar panels
Here’s a quick guide to the most common types of solar panels.

1. Monocrystalline silicon solar panels – The Most Efficient
These are also known as “mono silicon” or “single silicon” panels and are the best in terms of efficiency. Because they’re more efficient than other types of panels, you don’t need as many panels to generate the same amount of electricity. That makes them especially useful in certain cases, like when part of your roof is shaded and you have a smaller surface area to work with.

2. Polycrystalline silicon panels – Less Efficient but Less Expensive
This type of panel doesn’t contain as much silicon as monocrystalline panels (that isn’t at all apparent from the name, which means ‘many’ vs mono, which means one). They’re also called multi-silicon, multicrystalline, or ribbon panels. Since they don’t have as much silicon, they’re a little less efficient, though other aspects of their design can help improve efficiency. They’re usually a little less expensive than monocrystalline panels.

3. Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) – The Most Expensive
These are designed to be part of a building, rather than something that’s added on. [|Solar shingles] are one example of BIPVs; they’re made to look like regular roofing tiles (sometimes called ‘solar roofing tiles’), which some people prefer. Unfortunately, they’re very expensive, and much less efficient than other types of solar panels. They also don’t last as long. Because other types of solar panels are better options right now, BIPVs aren’t as widely available as the other types of solar panels.

4. Thin film panels – Prepare to cover everything.
This type of panel uses thin, lightweight layers of a photovoltaic material (like cadmium telluride or amorphous silicon, for example). They’re cheaper than other types of solar panels and are better able to work in hot weather. The catch? They’re not efficient, so you’d need many, many more of them to make the same amount of electricity. They’re used in huge projects, like a 10MW plant in the desert near Las Vegas, but they’re not really the best option for your household roof.

5. Solar hot water
Solar hot water is a different way to make use of sunshine– they actually don’t produce electricity, but can be used to heat water for your home or swimming pool. = = = =

Fun facts >  **Refrences** = =
 * =====The earth receives about 1,366 watts of direct solar radiation per square meter. =====
 * 43% of electricity comes from coal.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Solar energy could generate 2.5 percent of the world's electricity by 2025.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Solar energy's budget on global scale should be much bigger because solar energy is ecologically acceptable.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,Times,serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Solar energy usually refers to photovoltaic and concentrating solar thermal technologies that can convert Sun's energy into electricit y.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.033em; line-height: 1.5;">Solar energy can be converted directly or indirectly into other forms of energy.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Solar energy drives climate and weather and supports all life on Earth.
 * 1) http://youtu.be/NDZzAIcCQLQ
 * 2) http://www.umicore.com/en/cleanTechnologies/solarCells/solarcells_chart.gif
 * 3) http://www.clixoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/electricity-from-suns-heat.gif
 * 4) http://www.wikispaces.com/site/embedthumbnail/custom/22817198?h=70&w=70
 * 5) []
 * 6) [|http://interestingenergyfacts.blogspot.com]

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