Why such question didn’t arose in anyone mind till date? Why is the energy, which is lying around and getting wasted, instead of harnessing it efficiently? How a large amount of the energy given by the sun is overlooked and finally wasted?
There is not a single reason but in fact there are many that the sun energy is getting wasted but one of the reasons for the wastage is the sunlight which one gets is so lightly degenerate from corner to corner of the earth that one can hardly mange to bind it.
So in order to really harness the solar energy, one must have the potential to change, concentrate and collect the sun’s energy. Although it seems very simple and easy, the fact is that it is not so. Until now, we have only been able to discover three partially successful way of harnessing solar energy. The three methods are as below
The Reflection Method – Mirrors / Parabola
The first method of collecting sun energy is the reflection method. This technique makes use of mirrors, which helps on the concentration of the sun’s rays, which can thus be used for our need. The mirror, which can be used here, is parabolic one. It is basically an antenna which is disc shaped, which helps in capturing the sun’s rays and concentrate at a focal point.
The radiation method
The radiation method is one of the principles behind the water heaters, which are solar. This solar water heater has pipes which are black in color and sandwiched in mid of two layers of glass. The water is present inside these heaters, which gets heated up due to the heat rays from the sun.
Solar panels
One of the latest inventions, which help in collecting sun energy, is the ’solar cell’. Solar cell, basically, consists of treated silicon crystals. These crystals, when attacked by the sunrays, force the electrons to come out of their orbits. Henceforth, an emptiness is created, which very soon needs to be taken up by electrons coming not from the same orbit or silicon crystals. This ultimately leads to an unevenness of electrons. Thus, current flow takes place, which can at once be used or it can be even be utilized for the rechargeable battery.