Monday, March 17, 2008

Solar Energy

We now have crude oil pegged at $ 110 per barrel (on 14.03.08 at the time of writing this) and it is expected to go up further to $120 and if at all it comes down it may be upto $ 105.

Fossil fuels like coal is always costly to mine and more polluting as we all know. Talking of pollution oil is not far behind – the exhaust fumes of all the vehicles in the world relieving the deadly carbon monoxide into our atmosphere make all sorts of health problems.

Isn’t there any alternative solution – there is of course Solar Energy. However fiery our sun may be – the earth’s atmosphere esp. the Ozone layer protects us from the deadly radiation from the Sun and also converts the light into life sustaining one. Yes that is what I think – The sun’s light a dangerous wave of high voltage energy – but our atmosphere filters the harmful effects and lets is the pure life giving ray - I can say that earth makes light of the sun light. This is the most readily available source of energy and non polluting energy – we do not have worry about the Greenhouse effect.

Solar energy can be used in domestic lighting, street lighting ( Dubai has it own solar lamps), water pumping, railway signals, power stations – you name anything. The technology of Solar Photovoltaic Cells makes it possible to convert the solar energy into DC electricity directly.

However the technology itself is very costly at the moment but we have to catch up with this someday FULLY. Governments all over the world should find ways to make this technology cheaper so that at least the future generation lives in a greener environment.

Some of the solar gadgets already available (though at some hefty prices) are:

Solar cooker, Flat plate solar cookers, Concentrating collectors, Solar hot water systems (Domestic and Industrial), Solar pond, Solar hot air systems, Solar Dryers, Solar timber kilns, solar stills, Solar photovoltaic systems, Solar pond, Concentrating collectors, Power Tower, Air conditioning, Solar collectors, coupled to absorption, Refrigeration systems etc.

Let us hope the Solar Energy replaces Oil and Fossil altogether very soon

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