The most obvious source of clean energy is in the sky above all of us. And while the power of the sun is obvious, harnessing that power for use as electricity is not so easy. There’s a lot of solar energy research and development taking place these days. So it is possible that we could see greatly increased use of solar technology in the not too distant future.

The Technology

Solar energy harnesses the rays of the sun to provide heat, light, hot water and electricity to homes and businesses. Typical systems use solar cells to capture the suns rays and turn them into electricity. Basic versions of solar cells can be found in calculators, garden lighting and even new laptop computers. Solar technology can be used to provide power for very small systems, homes, businesses and all the way up to electric utility level generation.

The Possibilities

Solar is one of the great untapped clean energy sources. Solar systems can be built small enough and light enough to fit almost any home in areas where sunlight is plentiful. One need only look to the applications for solar in U.S. space programs to see that solar energy still has a long way to go when used for more conventional applications.

The Challenges

Traditional solar cells made from silicon are quite expensive. As such, the cost of large scale installation and system maintenance is difficult to recover in a reasonable period of time. Larger scale solar energy applications are only practical in areas that receive large amounts of direct sunlight.

The Outlook

The solar energy industry requires a great deal more investment in order to create systems that are reliable and affordable on a large scale. Money is moving into the space though. And while I don’t think that we will see solar power as a significant source of energy in the near future, you can bet that recent events (like near $100 oil), the adoption of state renewable portfolio standards and tighter emissions requirements will help to make solar a better investment for corporations and venture capitalists.

Research Links

Wikipedia
Solar America Initiative
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
NASA Solar Research
Million Solar Roofs