Solar Energy

As of now, solar energy has not yet reached the power potential we feel it can in the future. Using solar panels can be extremely expensive. Solar energy also raises the question of what to do on cloudy days, but using solar energy one has the ability to store energy for later use. Despite these issues, if we were to have a "solar revolution", on the brightest of sunny days, we could produce as much as 1,000 watts of energy per square meter of the earths surface.

A photovoltaic cell or PV cell, is one cell of a solar panel that as the name implies, converts light (photo) into electricity (voltaic). PV cells are most commonly made out of silicon but can be made of any semiconductors. A semiconductor is any material that can generate energy through light. PV cells work when light strikes the cell, a small portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor. The energy from the light to the semiconductor hits a chain of electrons and pushes one out, causing a constant flow of electrons.  PV cells also have an energy field that forces the pushed electrons a certain direction. This flow of electrons is called an Electric Current and can be used to power appliances such as calculators, cell phones, etc.

Although solar energy can be extremely expensive, I think it is worth the cost to learn more about this amazing source of energy. If we were able to generate as much power as the sun can, we could save so much money on gas bills but as of now, buying gas is much less expensive and much more reliable. If we continue to learn about what solar energy can do, however, we may be able to determine a more dependable way in which to use solar energy. As of now, it is only really available for small appliances, some houses who are willing to spend the money, and in the desert where the sun seems always to be shining.

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/energy-environment/solar-energy/index.html