With various different technologies and gadgets which could elevate solar power in the modern ear, many people are wondering “how is solar energy used?” Whether it is powering renewable transportation or changing a wireless speaker, the examples of using solar energy is just so endless, which leaves many house owners wondering how far they can go when they have decided to apply solar energy for their energy supply.
What are the uses of Solar Energy?
Solar energy uses relies on captured sunlight to produce photovoltaic power or concentrated solar power for solar heating. This process of converting energy enables solar to be used to power auto motives, pools, light, gadgets, and heaters.
Without a doubt, solar powered products which are available on the market these days are more complex than they used to be. Here is our list for examples of solar energy, ranging from solar transportation to rooftop solar.
Solar Powered Transportation
This is without a doubt a real breakthrough to make use of sunlight effectively. Subway, railroads, planes, buses, cars and also roads can all be powered by solar, and what is even more breathtaking is that solar transit is getting popular as it offers lots of benefits in renewable energy sector. These days, the solar powered aircraft solar impulse Two has made its way around the globe, soaring throughout the Pacificand making huge splashes in iconic photographs. On the other hand, solar buses are helping China to decrease its carbon footprint while at the same time maintains efficient mass transit in populated cities. Also, solar cars are starting to play important role in racing competitions around the globe, particularly in Australia where the SolarSpirit design has obtained massive popularity. With these advancement and more, there is no doubt that solar power is the transforming transportation throughout the world.
Solar Tech
Powering consumer electronics has been the common solar power use in modern day’s world-solar-powered chargers can change anything from cell phone to tablet or e-reader. There are some solar-powered flashlight which can be charged by getting exposed to sunlight. For those curious regarding the top products related to solar cells, check out the following uses of solar devices.
- Cell phones
- Wearables
- Music speakers
- Solar air conditioning
- Tablets
- Thermostats
- Solar dryers
- Solar visor radios
- Freezers/ mini-fridges
As the world is moving away from fossil fuels and looks for renewable sources for everyday electronics, there is no doubt that solar energy will go on to be adapted by the masses for just any products which can be exposed to sunlight. The main goal is to use solar products to reinvent the way we think of power usage, and reverse the expectation for how the devices have to be charged. In addition, as the conversion efficiency of solar power continues on the rise, this particular trend will expand into new products and new markets.
For instance, wearable solar can soon make Fitbits and Apple Watches much more appealing to their consumers, different from their standard counterparts, solar powered smart watches do not need to be plugged in to charge every single night. The real question is, will such large technology companies be able to integrate wearable solar power into their solar powered products prior to an emerging brand?
Solar Lighting
One of the easiest ways to enhance home efficiency is to add some outdoor solar lighting to your living. Different to traditional exterior lights, solar lighting needs no complicated setup as the lights are wireless and can harness sunlight during the day to circumvent the need for grid supplied electricity during the night. Although solar lights are not yet as popular as solar panels, they are rapidly joining the likes of LED light bulbs and also smart-home thermostats as cheap products which can reduce electric bills and enhance the efficiency of your house.
In addition, the aesthetic of modern solar lighting can dramatically improve the outdoor decoration of property. In this regard, elaborate lighting arrays can also improve the exterior model of property, which is often as cheap as 20$ each light, and also can be made available at major house retailers such as Home Depot. The availability and cheap cost of these lighting products are one particular reason why it is so common to find out solar powered street lights being constructed.
Solar Heating: Deploying PV for Generating Thermal Energy
A lot of house owners are unaware of the fact that solar water heaters as well as solar space heaters are an effective method to heat one’s house without making huge investment of installing solar panels. Solar space heaters harness sunlight and then convert it into thermal energy with the use of air or liquid as the medium, while passive as the method for thermal transfer. These solar heating systems can either be active or passive-while the passive ones require natural circulation, the active system need pumps to circulate water and produce heat. House owners that install a thermal solar array on their house roof can expect five to ten percent returns with a system which costs a fraction of a fully solar powered installation. The major advantage of solar thermal technology is the ability to heat your pool at even more cost-effective rate than the conventional alternatives such as gas and oil pumps. In accordance with the United States Department of Energy, solar pool heating was the most cost-efficient use of solar energy in different climates. Are you wondering how solar heated pools work? Well basically the technology uses solar collector which harnesses sunlight and then converts it into heat. The water is then drawn through the collector as the means of heating the water. This particular technology can be used also to cool the water at night. Solar heating systems usually range between $3,000 and $ 4,000 and can generate a payback period shorter than one and a half year. So and so, with the advantages that solar energy has offered, it is estimated that more and more house owners embrace the technology into their living.