Solar Power

In our fight against global warming we have many sources of renewable energy available Some of these renewable sources include the wind power, wave power, hydroelectric power, and biomass. But none of them have as much potential as solar power. To give an example of the potential of solar power, in just one day, the United States is struck with enough energy from the sun to provide for our energy necessities for the next year and a half. Although solar power has so much potential, according to the U.S Energy Information Administration, renewable energy only accounts for seven percent of total energy supply for the United States. Of that 7% solar power only accounts for a measly one percent, while biomass and hydroelectric power are our biggest renewable energy sources accounting for a huge fifty-three percent and thirty-four percent of total renewable energy output. Two big problems keeping solar power from being a truly revolutionary renewable energy source are our current inability to store this power when the sun is not shining and it's current high cost. For solar power to be a viable renewable source of power in the coming energy revolution, high costs must be addressed and a better storage solution found.
To understand the troubles facing the storage of electricity from solar power we must first understand what solar power is. Solar power is generated with photovoltaic cells which convert the sun's radiation directly into electricity through chemical reactions with different materials such as cadmium, or the more common silicone. Photovoltaic cells are not only used for generating electricity for energy utilities, they are also used in everyday items such as calculators, watches, and various others. Solar power plants use very large arrays of photovoltaic cells to generate electricity the electricity needed by cities. These photovoltaic power plants must be built large areas of land in sunny areas of the world, such as southern areas of the United States,...