PV Gap

Terrence Said:

By using solar energy, how long can we delay having an energy crisis occur?

We Answered:

If you want to put off having an energy shortage in the world using solar energy is the wrong approach. It would be much better to have more efficient transportation, buildings and industries.That would mean driving Toyota Corollas and hybrids instead of SUV's. It would mean better insulation in buildings.Solar energy (today) is not a very great way to get energy. It does not work well in much of the world like here in Canada in the winter. It requires allot of capital and takes up allot of land. Current solar Technology only captures a small percentage of the sun's energy. I am not saying to forget solar energy. I am saying there are better choices available,

Rachel Said:

how can we use solar energy?

We Answered:

Solar energy can be used just as you would energy from any other source.
A light-bulb can not distinguish between electricity made from burning coal or from solar panels.

But keep in mind that Solar energy is only generated for a small portion of the day. To use solar energy 24/7 would need to have some way of storing or augmenting the energy .

Carol Said:

How Can Places with a little sunlight use solar energy?

We Answered:

Buildings with good insulation can retain heat and other passive solar systems.

Photovoltaic cells will still work with little sunlight (for example, Seattle in December, gets only about 0.7 kilowatt-hours per day). But... all you need to do is put up enough collectors, and you can use it. You won't be able to use a reflection system to run a molten sodium generator, because you just can't get enough light focused on the critical point.

There is no good way to use solar energy in areas with little sunlight, which is why we sustainable energy engineers plant to use a variety of systems, not just digging our heels in and saying, "Hey! It's solar power or nothing!" Obviously, different areas of the country (and the world) have both different power demands and different available sustainable supplies.

Take the Seattle case, for instance. That would be a really huge waste of money to put in solar cells. However, a wave-farm offshore would generate many megawatts of electricity that could easily power the city.

Wind, solar (both absorption and reflection), geothermal, and wave are the best options. They're cheap, they're easy, and they've been proven to work in a wide variety of areas. The best system for any area would be to have two types of energy generation in place. Say, solar and wave, off of my house on the beach of northern San Diego County.

If one becomes low for a while, the other system picks up the load.

Billie Said:

How can we use solar energy?

We Answered:

We can harness either the heat aspect or the light aspect of solar energy. It is more efficient to harness the heat aspect. Photosynthesis harnesses the light aspect.

We use the sun's heat for:

Heating our homes as fossil fuels are derived from solar energy.
The sun can be used directly to heat homes, supply electrical energy, and heat hot water. We can use it to cook with, for industrial processes, and for transportation.

I think your question needs to be a little more specific. See my answer to your associated question.

Clyde Said:

Solar energy? Can people use ..?

We Answered:

No, "people" can not use solar energy all the time. "People" obviously is inclusive of those who happen to live in the extreme southern or northern hemisphere where during the winter months the sun will not rise for months. There are no batteries that will store enough electricity for these months of darkness. So no, solar power can not be used by all "people" at all times.