Solar electric energy is electricity generated using power derived from the sun’s radiation. The sun’s heat and light have been harnessed in a variety of ways since ancient times. Solar energy has only recently been able to help power electrically dependent equipment, vehicles, and even entire homes thanks to technologies like the photovoltaic or solar cell. Solar energy is generally preferred over non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal and oil because it is a renewable resource. Furthermore, most solar technologies for collecting and converting solar electric energy have no moving parts and produce no noise or pollutants, making them a viable alternative to fossil fuels.
Solar technology has a variety of applications, including sustainable architecture, agriculture, and water treatment. These technologies are classified as active or passive solar depending on how they capture, convert, and distribute solar energy. Active solar includes photovoltaic and solar thermal units, which directly collect, convert, and distribute the sun’s energy as electricity. Home designs that incorporate the presence of abundant sunlight to provide both natural light and heat within a structure are examples of passive solar methods.
As a fossil fuel alternative, countries all over the world have begun to adopt solar electric energy. While solar power plants such as photovoltaic arrays and solar troughs have high upfront costs, the long-term benefits of solar energy include less reliance on nonrenewable resources and thus fewer pollutants and byproducts. Solar electric energy is a variable source of energy, which means that it is possible to predict when the sun will generate energy in specific areas. This ability has aided solar engineers in developing the best technologies and locations for capturing the most solar energy.
Aside from using solar energy to power, heat, and cool a home, there are a variety of other uses for solar energy. Since the 1980s, countries such as Australia and the United States have held competitions to build solar-powered cars capable of reaching speeds of nearly 60 mph (96.56 kph). Similar competitions have been held for solar-powered boats and other vehicles.