Solar+Energy

=Solar Energy:=

__Posted by__: Halle 2-5-08

 * Solar energy is energy directly from the Sun.
 * It is harnessed through solar cells (photovolatic) or by heating a transfer fluid to produce steam to run a generator.
 * Solar cells have been incorporated into cars, houses, boats, and balloons.
 * Solar energy has been used since the Greeks, Chinese, and Native Americans, who oriented their houses toward the sun.
 * The potential amount of solar energy greatly exceeds the energy consumption by 88,985 Terawatts. (88,999,999,999,999,985 Watts) (88.999999999999985 Petawatts)
 * __Terawatt__~ SI unit- 10^12 Watts- 1 trillion watts
 * One watt is equal to one joule of energy per second.
 * However, currently solar energy only provides for .04% of the global energy consumption.
 * Most solar photovolatic systems only release hot air as a residue.