greater initiative to local people who could assess their needs and resources and plan a strategy that could be useful to them. . . Solar Energy Solar energy is the energy obtained from the sun .
The sun gives out vast amount of light and heat. It is only a little less than half ( %) of solar energy which falls on the atmosphere reaches the earth’s surface. If we could use just a small part of this energy it would fulfill all the country’s need for power. Solar energy has advantages and also certain limitations.
Solar Energy Devices The energy from the sun can be harnessed to provide power. The various devices used for harnessing sun’s energy are called solar energy devices. Solar Cells Solar cells (Photovoltaic devices) is made up of silicon that converts sunlight directly into electricity . Solar cell produces electricity without polluting the environment.
Since it uses no fuel other than sunlight, no harmful gases, no burning and no wastes are produced. These can be installed in remote and inacessible areas (forests and hilly regions) where setting up of power plant is expensive. Uses of Solar cells (i) It can be used for street lighting, traffic signals, water pumping, battery charging system etc. (ii) It is used in artificial satellites and space probes (iii) It provides radio and TV transmission to remote areas (iv) It is used in calculators, electronic toys and watches.
Solar Panel Arrangement of many solar cells side by side connected to each other is called solar panel. The capacity to provide electric cuurent is much increased in the solar panel. But the process of manufacture is very expensive. Figure .
Solar Panel Solar Cooker It consist of an insulated metal box or wooden box which is painted from inside so as to absorb maximum solar radiations. A thick glass sheet forms the cover over the Solar Cooker box. The reflector is the plane mirror which is attached to the box. The food is cooked by energy radiated by the sun.
Solar thermal power plant In