SolarEnergy.doc

Solar Energy
Solar energy is viewed as the clean and renewable source of energy for the future. Solar energy can be derived directly as in the following examples:
-Sunlight hits a photovoltaic cell (also called a photoelectric cell) creating electricity.
-Sunlight hits the dark absorber surface of a solar thermal collector and the surface warms. The heat energy is carried away by a fluid circuit.
-Sunlight strikes a solar sail on a space craft and is converted directly into a force on the sail which causes motion of the craft.
-Sunlight strikes a light mill and causes the vanes to rotate, although little practical application has yet been found for this effect.
-Sunlight is focused on an externally mounted fibre optic cable which conducts sunlight into building interiors to supplement lighting.