The Spanish telecommunications engineers are leading the development of solar energy in the world and its collegiate organs have made it apparent by granting the title of “Telecommunications Engineer of the Year” to Antonio Luque, who has 13 patents in the energy, half of them in operation.

The president of the Association of Telecommunications Engineers, Enrique Gutierrez Bueno, awarding the distinction, emphasized the role of this telecommunications engineer and professor of physical electronics, in the development of solar energy technology in the world, the invention of the bifacial solar cell that led to the foundation of the company Isofoton. This company is now the second largest producer of solar cells in Europe and eighth in the world, which exports 80 percent.

Luque is the founder of the Solar Energy Institute of the Polytechnic University of Madrid, which promotes development projects in this sector.

Antonio Luque said that solar energy and telecommunications are linked from the initial investigation and affirmed that no one can believe that “this energy is just an ecologist’s thing but it is the future “and will have a key role as a source of electricity by the middle of the century. Luque said that photovoltaic energy is growing at annual rates of 33.4 percent and that the biggest problem we have at present is the shortage of purified silicon for solar cells.

He explained that half of the silicon is already used on these cells and the Institute for Solar Energy is promoting in Getafe the creation of a technology company to purify the silicon, targeting the sale of plants to purify the material around the world to break the existing oligopoly and get prices down.

Professor Luque defended the importance of Spain in the world of solar energy because it is the fourth manufacturer in the world and regretted the county pessimistic attitude towards the research being done.

He recalled that in 2002 his team presented a project for the European Union to detect which will be the photovoltaic technologies of the future which was adopted and is being developed in 19 European centers. He also emphasized the importance of the project to industrialize the new solar cells in Castilla La Mancha under the support of the government which will be of great importance in the future. Luque said that despite the prominence that the telecommunications engineers have in this sector, some have had trouble endorsing solar energy projects for which he defended the need to assert its role as the solar energy is an issue of telecommunications.

Mobile powered by solar energy

China developed the first mobile phone that works with solar energy

According to an article published in news.xinhuanet.com, a Chinese company claims to have developed a mobile phone that is charged with solar energy and provides 40 minutes of talk time after exposure to the sun for an hour. Hi-Tech Wealth, a well-known provider of telecommunications products in China, said that his mobile phone is the first in the world to recharge its battery with solar energy. According to company sources, the phone has a kind of solar panel located at the top of the casing that can be loaded with light from other sources besides the sun.

Many companies worldwide are working on developing similar mobile phones but their products are still in an experimental phase. Zhang Zhengyu, chairman of Hi-Tech Wealth, said the company began to investigate the use of light as an energy source in 2000 and has invested hundreds of millions of yen in the project.

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The Sun, source of the origin of life and other forms of energy that man has used since the dawn of history, can meet all our needs, if we learn how to make a rational use of the light it continuously sheds on the planet. The sun energy has shone for as long as time itself began, and it is estimated that it still has not arrived to half of its existence.
This year, the Sun will shed on the Earth four thousand times more energy than we consume.
Spain, for its privileged location and climate, is particularly favored from the rest of the other European countries, as for every square meter of land per year gets 1,500 kilowatt-hour of solar energy, a figure similar to that of many regions in Central and South America. This solar energy can be harnessed directly, or be converted into other useful forms, such as electricity.

It would not be to attempt to exploit, by all possible means, this free energy source, clean and inexhaustible, which may finally liberate us from dependence on oil or other unsafe, polluting or simply exhaustible alternatives. It must be noted, however, that there are some problems we must face and overcome. Apart from the difficulties that an advanced solar power policy would carry by itself, it has to be taken into account that this power is subject to continuous fluctuations and changes more or less abrupt. For example, solar radiation is lower in winter, just when we most need it.
It is vitally important to pursue the development of the this emerging technology of acquisition, stockpiling and distribution of solar energy, to achieve the conditions that make it definitely competitive on a global scale.

What can be achieved with solar energy?
Basically, by collecting an appropriate solar radiation, we can get heat and electricity.
The heat is collected by sensors or thermal collectors, and the electricity through photovoltaic modules. Both processes have nothing to do with each other, neither in terms of their technology or their application.
Lets speak first of using heat. The heat collected in the collector can be used to meet many needs. For example, you can get hot water for domestic or industrial use, or to heat our homes, hotels, schools, factories, etc.. We can even acclimatize the swimming pools and allow their use all year long.
Also, although it may seem strange, one of the most promising applications of solar power is the cooling during hot periods. Indeed, to obtain cold there is need to have a “warm source, which can be done by installing solar panels on a roof top. In the Arab countries, air conditioners that use solar energy already operate at full capacity effectively.
Agricultural applications are very broad. Solar powered greenhouses can obtain greater and earlier harvests, agricultural dryers consume a lot less energy when combined with a solar energy system and, to cite another example, solar power can run purification plants and water desalination without consuming any fuel.

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Solar cooking

Solar cookers are devices that allow food to cook using the sun as an energy source. They are divided into two families:
• By Concentration: They are based on concentration of solar radiation on a point, typically through a parabolic reflector. At that point the pot is placed to cook the food. They generate high temperatures and allow frying food or the boiling of water. They are particularly dangerous to the user if he’s not careful.
• Oven or box: The solar box oven or a thermally insulated box is designed to capture solar energy and keep warm inside. The materials they’re generally made of are of low heat conductors which reduce the risk of burns to users and avoid the possibility of a kitchen fire and of the place where it is used. Besides the food is not burned keeping its taste and nutritional value.

There is the possibility of using lightweight materials that are both durable and collapsible. So solar powered ovens may be designed in portable sizes and morphologies to allow their storage, arming, disarming and transfer to be carried out in a comfortable, simple and practical way.

Some of the known European coking models are: Solar cooker box type (Esteves model), Solar cooker box type (Sunstove model), and Solar cooker parabolic concentrator type.

Types of solar powered cookers

With an understanding of the basic principles of solar energy and access to simple materials such as aluminum foil, cardboard and glass, you can build an effective solar cooking device. The main features of these devices is the possibility of replacing gas or electricity by renewable energy, it also implies a great money savings because they do not need any supply of fuel or other source of energy. All this is accompanied by additional benefits: greater security when cooking and the nutritional quality of cooked foods is better kept. By not handling fire originates not smoke or carbon dioxide and thus get a better result in terms of the environment at the same time, the solar energy cooker allows us to conduct the cooking without wasting their nutritional content.

Use of a solar cooker

Weather plays a very important role here when using solar cookers, we can be absent for a long period of time without fear that the food is overcooked. We can divide the solar energy kitchen according to its systems: there are those based on the principle of accumulation and those employing the principle of concentration: the first is a thermally insulated enclosure on all sides, except for its face towards the sun, it is covered by a transparent to solar radiation material (plastic or glass). This material allows us to receive and store heat energy in its interior thanks to the greenhouse effect; when using this system food to be cooked must be placed inside a container which can reach temperatures of 90 º C to 120 º C. The second set of solar cooking is parabolic in nature, it is responsible for intercepting solar energy and carries it to its focal area; a high thermal use is reached on the pot where the solar energy is concentrated, temperature can start from the 200 º C and therefore we can perform operations such as stew, boil, cook by steaming, grilling and frying.

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One of the most useful and affordable applications of solar power is water heating. Using solar energy to heat water is also one of the oldest applications of solar power; even before the advent of photovoltaic cells, flat plates were used that would grow warm under the sun and transfer that heat to a tank of water. Beginning in the 1950s more modern designs were put to use to maximize the energy used for heating, and solar water heaters have grown in popularity ever since. In fact, both Spain and Israel mandate the usage of solar water heating for new buildings. Why would a government do this? Because solar water heating, like solar power in general, is cost-effective, simple to use and maintain, and far better for the environment than conventional fossil fuel energy solutions.

Solar water heating is easiest and most affordable to accomplish in warmer climates. The obvious reason for this is because these climates typically experience the most sunlight, but there are other factors as well. For one thing, solar equipment that could be damaged by cold temperatures must be protected in colder climates. Secondly, it is often much easier to have the water tank located close to the solar panel or whatever device is converting solar energy into heat for the water, and colder climates sometimes make it impractical to keep a water tank outside. Still, these limitations will only increase the initial cost of the solar water heating equipment; the long-term advantages mentioned above of being cost-effective, simple to maintain and eco-friendly remain. Solar water heating is in fact a common sense idea no matter where on the globe you are located.

If you are considering implementing solar water heating at home you should be aware that many jurisdictions have incentive programs in place to encourage the use of solar water heating devices. This can help bring down the cost of using solar power to heat your water. In Australia for example, there are both federal and state rebates available to purchasers of solar hot water systems, as well as other programs to help subsidize the conversion to solar water heating from traditional water heaters that are reliant upon fossil fuels and bad for the environment.

Solar power has been identified by many advocacy groups and publications as being one of the most important alternative energy sources for the future. Part of the reason for its strength is that individuals can choose to use solar energy on their own without relying upon government initiative. In the case of solar water heating the initiative is there, even without the many government programs that are available. Experts estimate that most home hot water systems will pay for themselves within the first 15 years at most, though depending on government incentives and the part of the world in which you are located this could drop to as low as 2 years.

In short, solar water heating is a great idea for anyone looking to save money on their energy costs while doing their part for the environment. Solar water heating systems are extremely affordable. Finally, be sure to inquire about incentive programs from the governments in your area to see how you can benefit from switching to solar water heating.

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In recent times the world has seen extremely volatile oil markets. This instability leads to fluctuating energy costs for homeowners and businesses, but where these price jumps are most visible is at the gas pumps. Purchasing fuel for vehicles is something that most people on earth are used to and accept as a cost of living. But with the current global climate change crisis, economic turmoil and the uncertain availability of oil in the future there is talk of using alternative methods to power our transportation. We’ve all heard of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and electric cars. But what about solar power? Could solar energy be used to operate a vehicle?

Presently solar powered vehicles are not commercially available, but there are many groups pursuing this holy grail of transportation technology. Typically, prototype solar vehicles are built by universities in order to teach engineering skills to students and to encourage the development of novel technologies. There are major challenge races that groups such as these enter, including the North American Solar Challenge and the World Solar Challenge, in which teams race their solar vehicles across Australia.

Solar vehicles function by using an array of photovoltaic cells (PVCs). PVCs work by converting the light energy from the sun into usable electric current. Designers of solar vehicles attempt to maximize the surface area of the PVC arrays to make use of the most solar energy possible while making the vehicle as aerodynamic as possible. The energy from the PVCs is used in conjunction with a battery, much like a gasoline engine is used with a battery in conventional automobiles. Although most prototype solar cars are built for only one passenger and would not be practical for the average consumer, they are actually quite powerful and most can easily reach highway speed limits.

Obviously solar power is not a viable option with which to replace gasoline-powered cars at present. In the future we may use solar power for all of our transportation provided solar technology achieves significant advances. But that does not mean that solar power can be of no benefit to us today. Solar power would definitely be a good option to use in conjunction with gasoline. Many vehicle accessories such as interior and exterior lights could be run in the future from solar power. Hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius could be charged while running if outfitted with solar panels. In fact, a group of Canadian companies recently modified a Toyota Prius to operate with solar panels. They reported that through the addition of solar energy they could achieve an additional 15 km of distance without initializing the gasoline engine. Toyota has announced that they will be releasing a version of the Prius with solar panels in the future, and several other companies are hard at work with their own variants of hybrid-electric-solar and even pure solar powered cars.

So, don’t be shocked if fifteen years from now everyone you know is driving around in solar powered cars, and no one is worried about the price of gas!

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Many energy consumers who are considering deriving some or all of their home energy needs from solar power are not even aware of the many applications of solar energy. Obviously solar power can be used to provide what you think of as your ordinary, everyday power; the electricity that powers appliances, electronics – anything you would plug into your wall outlet. But solar power can also be applied to alleviate the costs of other utilities. This article will mention only a few of the many other applications of solar and alternative energy around the house.

Many people like having outdoor lighting around their house. Having your dwelling in a well-lit area enhances your feeling of security, deters burglars and makes it easier to find your way around if you need to go out at night. But leaving lights on all night every night can be a major drain on your wallet. Fortunately, through the use of solar power, running costs can be eliminated from outdoor lighting. Standalone solar lights are available now from many manufacturers at very reasonable prices. These lights do not ever need to be plugged in; they absorb sunlight during the day and use this stored energy to keep your residence well lit at night.

Home swimming pools can be great fun for children and adults alike, but many people are put off by the costs of maintaining, cleaning and heating a home swimming pool. Using solar power can eliminate much of this cost. Swimming pool heaters and pumps can be operated 100% off the grid, using renewable, environmentally friendly solar energy, making the idea of a home swimming pool much more attractive and affordable for many families.

Electric and gas heating have long been the customary ways for people to heat their homes. However, with the advent of more affordable solar power many people are finding that they can heat their homes using combinations of solar and non-renewable energies, and in some cases using only solar power. For many people home heating is a necessity of life; unfortunately it often comes at a price that many can barely afford. Renewable solar energy could help change this reality for many people by introducing a more sustainable, eco-friendly and affordable way to heat homes.

In the same vein, solar power can also be used to heat water. This is another task that has traditionally been done through gas or electric power but can now be done using solar energy. Imagine being able to take a hot shower without constantly imagining your hard-earned money going down the drain with the water. With solar energy you can ease many of your worries, knowing that your water is being heated by the sun, a practically unlimited source of energy.

In summary, the applications of solar power are virtually limitless, and are growing all the time. As a conscious consumer, it is your responsibility to understand your options, and the fact that solar energy is one of the best available to you. The energy companies have been dreading the day that solar power becomes mainstream, but the secret out, and that day has arrived. Common people like you and I can begin saving enormous sums of money simply by using the free energy that falls on us everyday from the sun.

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During tough economic times such as these, many people look for ways to save that little bit extra and many turn to alternative forms of energy for their home.

Solar energy is a renewable power source, given to everyone at no cost by the sun. All that is needed to harness this energy are photovoltaic cells (PVCs). These come in sheets, the typical solar panels you are probably familiar with, and they convert the energy in the sun’s rays into energy you can use at home.

Many people throughout the world have used systems of solar panels to completely eliminate their utility bills, and this is becoming a more and more affordable option for homeowners. Even those who are unable to get ‘off the grid’ completely are realizing substantial savings by simply supplementing their ordinary, non-renewable sources of energy with alternative sources such as solar panels.

One great thing about converting your home to solar energy is that you mustn’t necessarily make the switch all in one go. You can gradually begin supplementing the energy you obtain from the grid with solar energy drawn from solar panels as your budget allows. If you find that you can make a larger investment later on, you can increase the percentage of your power that comes from the sun.

The main thing to be stressed when discussing solar energy is that there is absolutely no cost per unit of energy as there is for traditional power drawn from the grid. The only costs are the initial investment for equipment and set-up, and any maintenance that may be required, though experts say that on average solar power equipment requires less service and costs less to maintain than traditional power. Many people feel taken advantage of by the electricity companies who charge users per unit of energy, but with solar power you can continue to live the life you are accustomed to without constantly worrying about how high your utility bills will be from month to month.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, solar energy and other forms of renewable and alternative energy are good for the environment. While scientists today are unsure just what the effects of climate change will be, you can do your part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by converting some or all of your home energy use to alternative sources such as solar. Using solar energy creates exactly zero greenhouse gas emissions and is the wave of the future when it comes to environmentally friendly ways to generate power.

Solar power represents a win-win situation. The sun pours free energy upon us during daylight hours, and today the resources are available and affordable to almost everyone to convert their energy usage to renewable forms such as solar. In turn, solar energy and other renewable forms will help create a sustainable future for generations to come by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It has never been more advantageous for individuals to switch some or all of their home power use to solar energy.

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Home Solar Power

Solar power has received much media attention in recent years as a possible alternative to burning fossil fuels for energy. Solar power can be simply defined as the manipulation of heat and light energy from the sun for directed use. Many publications including magazines like Scientific American and Popular Mechanics have posited that solar power could be the answer to, or at least part of the answer to, the global energy crisis. Ordinary people all around the world have even taken the first step toward making this a reality by outfitting different aspects of their homes with solar power. However most people lack the background knowledge about solar energy to make informed decisions as to how it can be applied in their home. The fact is that there are many ways that solar power can be used around the house, and the ways in which one individual uses it may depend on factors that are different from those considered by other individuals. One must first consider whether one’s primary goal is to save money, to reduce their carbon footprint, or a combination of the two. There are three main ways in which solar power can be used in the home, and these different considerations bear in different ways upon them.

The first way in which solar power can be used in the home is to heat water. Conventional water heaters use electricity or gas and the consumer ends up paying for every last drop of water he or she heats. Solar water heaters are now available that heat a home’s water using nothing but solar energy. This means that the consumer is no longer charged on a per-unit basis for heating water. Solar water heaters are great options for those looking to save money and help the environment. Most solar water heating systems will pay for themselves within only a few years while reducing gas and electricity consumption.

Solar power is a no-brainer for people with heated swimming pools. While some may argue that you don’t really need a heated swimming pool during the summer, environmental considerations become moot if you use solar swimming pool heating. These systems are extremely cost effective and will pay for themselves within the first one or two years. If you have a heated swimming pool and are looking to save some money, solar swimming pool heating is an obvious choice.

Finally there is the option of converting all of your home’s electricity needs to solar. While this would be a dream come true for many people (no electrical or heating bills!) the cost can be prohibitive to some. Presently prices can range anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 to retrofit a house to run entirely on solar. While this will result in long-term savings, many people are not financially able to undertake these up-front costs. However, if you are on the verge of building a new home, or have a large sum of money available for renovations, converting your house to solar power should certainly be a consideration.

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Affordable Methods to Manufacture Solar Panels

Finally there is a method to provide an economical use to energize your business with power. Using solar panels is inexpensive and environmentally friendly. The use of solar power can decrease the amount of the monthly utility bill and can be used as a backup power source when required. You can have power even when the electric company line has difficulty.

Solar panels can be easily installed and used with wind or water power.

Making a solar panel yourself is a very interesting science project to work on at home with the children. You can make just one to see how it works or you can make many to install on the roof or poles to generate the energy needed.

Solar panel kits are available to be purchased. They are available in many types. The kits include installation supplies like mounts, wires, inverters and the panels. Hiring a professional to install the panels provides different types of rebates and power user incentives.

Photovoltaic cells are used in the solar panel. These cells convert sunlight into stored energy than is used at a later time. If you are planning to make your own solar panel, you will need an inverter for residential treatment. The inverter is specifically used to convert DC energy that solar panels generate into and the 110 AC energy for daily use.

Thin film solar panels are lighter than the regular panels. This eliminates rack mounting, which in turn simplifies the installation process

Supplies required to make your own solar panels

• Sheet Copper Flashing and shears to cut this material
• A wide mouth jar or plastic bottle
• Electric drill with brush or an attachment for sandpaper
• 11 AC power inverter
• Micro-ammeter
• Tap water
• Salt
• Alligator clips

Solar panel investment is a good investment to save on energy costs in the long run. Use solar panels to provide power even when the electric company cannot provide it due to electric lines and other issues out of your control.

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Is Solar Energy Useful In Today’s World

Photovoltaic cells increase efficiency and decreasing cost. They are still used in solar panels and can transfer energy to a certain point in a better way. The size decreased and efficiency increased. This in turn has caused production to increase and the cost to decrease.

Solar power generation is very good for the environment because it has no emissions being released into the environment and is freely available from the sun.

Homeowners are installing solar panels on roofs to generate energy and cut down on electricity costs. Solar energy panels are very easy to use for heating also instead of oil heat that can be very expensive. Hot water heaters can also use the energy provided by solar panels. The photovoltaic cells enter the water to heat it up. The water is then transferred through the plumbing.

People can also use solar energy from the sun to heat their home with photovoltaic cells.

A PV system can be use as an attachment to the grid of electricity. If a home uses less that the energy than produced the energy is channeled into the energy grid that can use the energy for electricity.

The PV systems allow for economic energy production for your home. This system allows you to free up the grid from pressure. This system is becoming very popular to serve local towns.

The practical uses are becoming well known. Solar power generation is more understood now than ever before. Even larger businesses are now employing this method of energy generation.

The United States, Japan, Germany and Switzerland are encouraging and supporting the solar energy generation phase. Tax breaks are give to those who can be self-sufficient in generating their own source of electricity and energy.

Private sectors will also join in this frenzy soon to convert solar power into usable electrical sources. Technology is continuously changing.

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