Solar+Power-K.Raithel

The issue our generation is facing today is the fact that we have few supplies for energy such as water and fossil fuels which we need. The community we live in today is full of people who use water and fuel and don't think about how we are going to replace it. [|green energy] The solution we must realize is that we must find other sources of energy that will not hurt the environment as we have been doing these many years. With //solar energy// we can do this.
 * The Issues at Hand**
 * The Solution**


 * How Does This Work?**
 * 1) The solar cells used in housing and calculators are called __photovoltaic cells__ meaning light electricity.
 * 2) Photovoltaic cells(PV) are made of __semiconductors__ most commonly used is silicon. When light hits the cells a portion of it will be absorbed by the semiconductor therefore transferring the energy of the light to the semiconductor.
 * 3) This energy knocks electrons loose letting them flow freely resulting in a current which can be used externally to power things such as calculators or even your house.[[image:domestic_solar_power_system.jpg width="217" height="183"]][[image:pv_cells_450px.jpg width="203" height="140"]]

Many feel that the solar power can solve many of the energy problems facing us today. On the other side of that there is the issue of not having any backup. To back this up would require expensive batteries or back up power plants which is not ideal. There have been suggestions to solving this solution although not everyone is willing to buy into this. The problems the critics have with the solar power idea is that it will fluctuate with every cloud and every change of the sun therefore making this an inconvenient source of power.
 * So Why use Solar Power?**
 * **Improve health:** Fumes from kerosene lamps in poorly ventilated houses are a serious health problem in much of the world where electric light is unavailable.
 * **Reduce Fire:** Kerosene lamps are a serious fire hazard in the developing world, killing and maiming tens of thousands of people each year.
 * **Conserves Energy:** Solar electricity for the Third World is clearly the most effective energy conservation program because it conserves costly conventional power for urban areas, town market centers, and industrial and commercial uses, leaving decentralized PV-generated power to provide the lighting and basic electrical needs of the majority of the developing world's rural populations.
 * The Critics View**

The main issue as I said above is that we have no back up source of energy if the solar power should fail and any back up source we could find would be very expensive. Also the fact that the solar power depends on the sun which will fluctuate and be covered by clouds.
 * Why Don't we Use this More?**

Using solar panels would help our world because this eliminates the unnesseccary use of our fossil fuels and the excessive use of water. Both of these things we are running low on therefore not using them will work to our benefit.
 * How does this Help?**

To use solar power on a larger would be extremely difficult as of right now. This is because right now many things having to do with solar electricity is very expensive and although this would benefit in the long run most people don't have the money to use solar panels in their houses and to back it up. For this to become possible there needs to be a good way of back up electricity for people to use so that during storms or times when the suns rays are not accessible people will still have electricity.
 * On a Larger Scale...**

For this to be a way to save our natural resources we must learn to make it more accessible to everyone. I think that once you do this we would be very able to cut down on the fuels used and to potentially save the world we live in today.
 * So How can we Change this?**