By Paul Carton And Jim Woods
Published 03/26/2008
2008 is the Year of Solar Energy, According to New ChangeWave Survey“Keep your face to the sunshine...” -- Helen KellerNo matter where you look, alternative energy is the topic du jour. Driven by the economics of record-high crude oil, the spotlight is shifting to non-traditional renewable energy sources, particularly solar power.But while solar stocks were some of the biggest gainers for much of last year, recently the solar power industry has taken big hits – with several key leaders such as First Solar (FLSR) SunPower (SPWR) and Evergreen Solar (ESLR) down as much as 50% off their 52 week highs.To find out what's going on with solar energy and the other renewable energy sources, we recently surveyed 182 respondents working directly in the alternative energy industry.Solar LeadsSolar energy continues to show the most momentum of all alternative energy segments, according to industry respondents. Not only has it shown strong gains since our previous survey in February 2007, but it also leads in each of the following areas:• Most Rapid Economic Growth – Past 12 Months: When asked which alternative energy sector has experienced the fastest growth over the past year, solar energy (49%) topped the list – up a whopping 14-pts since our previous survey in February. In comparison, Biomass – including biofuels and bio-products – came in at 41%.• Most Rapid Economic Growth – Next 12-24 Months: Going forward, respondents see solar energy (58%; up 20-pts) as experiencing the most rapid growth in the industry for the next one-to-two years.•Most Momentum – Next 5 Years: Over the long term, solar
energy also retains its strength, as 31% of respondents (up 5-pts) say it will be the top sector for the next half decade.In sum, solar energy leads all of the other major alternative energy categories in terms of rapid economic growth.Solar energy is also seen as experiencing the biggest technology breakthroughs (27%; up 2-pts). But perhaps most importantly, solar cells are expected to be affordable enough to achieve a competitive return on investment within seven years (by 2015).(Detailed charts, along with additional ChangeWave Solar Industry survey findings, can be downloaded at http://www.changewave.com/energy).“Demand for solar cells is unquestionably robust, the price of oil is trending higher, and solar tax credits will likely be extended,” according to ChangeWave Analyst Josh Levine. The forces are all lining up exceptionally well for the solar industry. It’s the right time for investors to be exposed to the sun and invest in solar stocks.”According to solar industry experts, the sector’s growth is being propelled forward by global photovoltaics manufacturers like First Solar (FSLR), SunPower Corp. (SPWR) and SunTech Power Holdings (STP) - companies that have developed superior business models and excelled in project management.Levine adds that the next big challenge for the solar industry is the scaling of production facilities for mass production at the gigawatt level. "The next generation of leaders will be those companies that are best equipped to leverage the latest innovations in materials research through manufacturing know-how," he said.Clearly, solar energy has the momentum in our latest ChangeWave survey. We’ll continue tracking solar energy and other non-traditional energy sources in the alternative energy industry for new opportunities in 2008.
Paul Carton And Jim Woods
The ChangeWave expert research network is composed of 15,000 highly qualified professionals. Members are surveyed weekly on a range of topics, and ChangeWave converts the findings into proprietary reports. For more ChangeWave Solar findings, go to: http://www.changewave.com/energy
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Overview of Solar As An Energy Platform
29th July 2006
Author: Rick Chapo
With renewable energy all the rage these days and fossil fuel costs soaring, solar energy is in the news. Here are some thoughts about solar as a viable energy platform. Overview of Solar As An Energy PlatformEnergy is an important topic that is on many peoples minds these days. With the rising costs of fuel and electric power, many households and individuals are considering alternative power sources. Solar is one of the more cost effective and biologically sound alternatives available.One of the most interesting aspects of solar energy is how little of the energy production on the planet comes from the harnessing of the energy of the sun. In fact, only 0.1 percent of the power used today comes from converting sunlight into electrical current. It would be possible, however, to obtain enough power to run all of the worlds energy needs using solar energy. If more people were willing and able to install solar collectors on their homes and even their cars when technology gets to that point, solar energy could more than cover the Earth's power needs for transportation and housing.Another of the interesting aspects about solar energy is how much solar energy is worth, or to put it another way, how much money you can save using solar energy. If you have a roof that is 1000 sq ft large, and you install solar panels on this roof, you could conceivably save as much as $6,460 dollars a year over the cost of oil heating. Unfortunately, the cost of installing the hardware needed to obtain the amount of power to save this money would be between $20,000 to $50,000; cost prohibitive to most home owners. These costs, however, are offset by tax incentives, rebates and net metering concepts in most states. While the upfront cost can be prohibitive, the savings over the life of the product are many times the initial burden. One of the major hopes for reducing the cost of solar is found in Asia. Specifically, China is facing up to the fact it has massive pollution problems and is investigating renewable energy solutions. Working with American architects and developers, China is building entire communities that are made and powered by recyclable resources. Homes are made out of straw bales and powered with solar and geothermal heating. Given the sheer size of China and its population, the vicious pollution problem has spurred development in the renewable fields. With such a massive focus, it is hoped that the Chinese will develop more efficient, but less costly versions of solar energy for use around the world.When considering solar as a platform, the most important aspect to keep in mind is that we have barely tapped it as a resource. If we can make systems that are more efficient and cheaper, the future of solar will be bright. Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies.
This article is free for republishingSource: http://www.articlealley.com/article_77739_22.html
Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on solar power and renewable energy.
http://www.solarcompanies.com
Author: Rick Chapo
With renewable energy all the rage these days and fossil fuel costs soaring, solar energy is in the news. Here are some thoughts about solar as a viable energy platform. Overview of Solar As An Energy PlatformEnergy is an important topic that is on many peoples minds these days. With the rising costs of fuel and electric power, many households and individuals are considering alternative power sources. Solar is one of the more cost effective and biologically sound alternatives available.One of the most interesting aspects of solar energy is how little of the energy production on the planet comes from the harnessing of the energy of the sun. In fact, only 0.1 percent of the power used today comes from converting sunlight into electrical current. It would be possible, however, to obtain enough power to run all of the worlds energy needs using solar energy. If more people were willing and able to install solar collectors on their homes and even their cars when technology gets to that point, solar energy could more than cover the Earth's power needs for transportation and housing.Another of the interesting aspects about solar energy is how much solar energy is worth, or to put it another way, how much money you can save using solar energy. If you have a roof that is 1000 sq ft large, and you install solar panels on this roof, you could conceivably save as much as $6,460 dollars a year over the cost of oil heating. Unfortunately, the cost of installing the hardware needed to obtain the amount of power to save this money would be between $20,000 to $50,000; cost prohibitive to most home owners. These costs, however, are offset by tax incentives, rebates and net metering concepts in most states. While the upfront cost can be prohibitive, the savings over the life of the product are many times the initial burden. One of the major hopes for reducing the cost of solar is found in Asia. Specifically, China is facing up to the fact it has massive pollution problems and is investigating renewable energy solutions. Working with American architects and developers, China is building entire communities that are made and powered by recyclable resources. Homes are made out of straw bales and powered with solar and geothermal heating. Given the sheer size of China and its population, the vicious pollution problem has spurred development in the renewable fields. With such a massive focus, it is hoped that the Chinese will develop more efficient, but less costly versions of solar energy for use around the world.When considering solar as a platform, the most important aspect to keep in mind is that we have barely tapped it as a resource. If we can make systems that are more efficient and cheaper, the future of solar will be bright. Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies.
This article is free for republishingSource: http://www.articlealley.com/article_77739_22.html
Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on solar power and renewable energy.
http://www.solarcompanies.com
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
History of solar energy
History To Solar Power EnergyBy Nathan Hirsch
I have no doubt that we will be successful in harnessing the sun's energy... If sunbeams were weapons of war, we would have had solar energy centuries ago." These are words of Sir George Porter (December 1920 - August 2002), Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, which today is a reality. The energy which is derived from the sun and responsible for practically all life on earth is today harnessed for generating heat, light, power and electricity for meeting global needs for alternate energy resources. Yet the concept and use of solar energy is not new. Early Greeks, Native Americans and Chinese have used it to their benefit by orienting their home and hearth toward the sun for centuries. The term solar power has today become synonymous with solar energy which is obtained by converting sunlight to electricity.
While the application span of solar energy now encompasses the domestic (including cooking and heating), commercial, industrial, farming, aviation and surface transport sectors, there are several technologies which are in place to generate this type of natural energy. In fact, solar energy has now found its place in every day use items like cars and calculators.
Back in historical times, solar energy may not have been known by any name, but its use has always been the backbone of agriculture ever since man learned to till the land and grow food or crops. We have seen the importance of this energy in medieval Europe where farmers deployed elaborate agricultural strategies to get the maximum out of sunlight for the wellbeing of their yield. Even today, sunlight optimization is the primary agenda for anyone who is involved in farming or gardening, starting from planning their planting schedule, strategizing row orientation, altering plant heights between rows, etc.
Man has always built his home to take the most out of available sunlight. Critical use of solar energy is evident in today's urban building designs where not only the building orientation but window placements and proportions and building materials are chosen to harness the most of this invaluable energy form. The importance of solar energy was realized by first century Roman architect Vitruvius who commented that home designs must be made according to the diversity of the climate of that particular region. Solar energy when deployed to supplement day lighting techniques, homes can save enormous amount of resources by making maximum use of sunlight during all the time that it lasts. The importance of solar lighting or natural light was appreciated way back in 6th century Rome and later corroborated by the British in 1832. In fact, it was only in the 20th century that artificial methods became the primary source of interior lighting. The energy and oil crises during 1973 and 1979, made people re-focus on natural lighting, but soon the interest died due to cheap available sources of energy.
One of the areas where solar energy is most widely used today is in the field of solar thermal applications, where the applied technology uses heat from the sun to heat water and space; for ventilation; for processed heat required for industrial applications, cooking, for water distillation plants, etc.
I have no doubt that we will be successful in harnessing the sun's energy... If sunbeams were weapons of war, we would have had solar energy centuries ago." These are words of Sir George Porter (December 1920 - August 2002), Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, which today is a reality. The energy which is derived from the sun and responsible for practically all life on earth is today harnessed for generating heat, light, power and electricity for meeting global needs for alternate energy resources. Yet the concept and use of solar energy is not new. Early Greeks, Native Americans and Chinese have used it to their benefit by orienting their home and hearth toward the sun for centuries. The term solar power has today become synonymous with solar energy which is obtained by converting sunlight to electricity.
While the application span of solar energy now encompasses the domestic (including cooking and heating), commercial, industrial, farming, aviation and surface transport sectors, there are several technologies which are in place to generate this type of natural energy. In fact, solar energy has now found its place in every day use items like cars and calculators.
Back in historical times, solar energy may not have been known by any name, but its use has always been the backbone of agriculture ever since man learned to till the land and grow food or crops. We have seen the importance of this energy in medieval Europe where farmers deployed elaborate agricultural strategies to get the maximum out of sunlight for the wellbeing of their yield. Even today, sunlight optimization is the primary agenda for anyone who is involved in farming or gardening, starting from planning their planting schedule, strategizing row orientation, altering plant heights between rows, etc.
Man has always built his home to take the most out of available sunlight. Critical use of solar energy is evident in today's urban building designs where not only the building orientation but window placements and proportions and building materials are chosen to harness the most of this invaluable energy form. The importance of solar energy was realized by first century Roman architect Vitruvius who commented that home designs must be made according to the diversity of the climate of that particular region. Solar energy when deployed to supplement day lighting techniques, homes can save enormous amount of resources by making maximum use of sunlight during all the time that it lasts. The importance of solar lighting or natural light was appreciated way back in 6th century Rome and later corroborated by the British in 1832. In fact, it was only in the 20th century that artificial methods became the primary source of interior lighting. The energy and oil crises during 1973 and 1979, made people re-focus on natural lighting, but soon the interest died due to cheap available sources of energy.
One of the areas where solar energy is most widely used today is in the field of solar thermal applications, where the applied technology uses heat from the sun to heat water and space; for ventilation; for processed heat required for industrial applications, cooking, for water distillation plants, etc.
Monday, March 24, 2008
What Is Solar Power And How Is It Being Used To Produce EnergyBy Darin Sewell
Darin SewellLevel: PlatinumDarin Sewell is a seasoned Wisconsin mortgage broker that specializes in all areas of home finance. ...
Turn on any television or log onto any news website on the internet and you are bound to hear about global warming and alternative energy sources. Alternative energy is currently developing at a rapid pace and one of the biggest and most popular forms is solar power.So what is solar power?
Solar power is a method of taking the power of the sun and transforming it into energy. Mother nature has been using solar power for millions of years to heat and power the earth reliably and effectively. This natural solar energy can be transformed into cleanly produced electricity or heat for use by anyone anywhere. So how is solar power being utilized around the globe?
Common Solar Power Methods
Photovoltaic Solar Energy: This method involves the use of special solar panels that absorb the sunlight and though a series of events produce electricity for your home, car or office building. It is by far the most popular form of solar power in use today and will continue to be developed and implemented around the globe.
Indirect Solar Heating: Many new homes and office buildings are being designed with indirect solar heating in mind. With this method the rays from the sun are magnified through special windows that transfer and hold in the heat. This method basically mimics the way the earth is heated and it is a very efficient and popular method to reduce the cost of energy bills.
Solar Powered Turbines: A newer method of solar power generation is the solar turbine. With this method a liquid is heated with solar energy and the steam will spin a turbine that produces electricity. Although relatively new this method does show promise in certain areas of the world.
With rising energy prices and the threat of environmental damage from fossil fuels alternative energy is the wave of the future. As science and private industry invest more time and money into research the possibility of mainstream solar power is a real possibility.
Darin SewellLevel: PlatinumDarin Sewell is a seasoned Wisconsin mortgage broker that specializes in all areas of home finance. ...
Turn on any television or log onto any news website on the internet and you are bound to hear about global warming and alternative energy sources. Alternative energy is currently developing at a rapid pace and one of the biggest and most popular forms is solar power.So what is solar power?
Solar power is a method of taking the power of the sun and transforming it into energy. Mother nature has been using solar power for millions of years to heat and power the earth reliably and effectively. This natural solar energy can be transformed into cleanly produced electricity or heat for use by anyone anywhere. So how is solar power being utilized around the globe?
Common Solar Power Methods
Photovoltaic Solar Energy: This method involves the use of special solar panels that absorb the sunlight and though a series of events produce electricity for your home, car or office building. It is by far the most popular form of solar power in use today and will continue to be developed and implemented around the globe.
Indirect Solar Heating: Many new homes and office buildings are being designed with indirect solar heating in mind. With this method the rays from the sun are magnified through special windows that transfer and hold in the heat. This method basically mimics the way the earth is heated and it is a very efficient and popular method to reduce the cost of energy bills.
Solar Powered Turbines: A newer method of solar power generation is the solar turbine. With this method a liquid is heated with solar energy and the steam will spin a turbine that produces electricity. Although relatively new this method does show promise in certain areas of the world.
With rising energy prices and the threat of environmental damage from fossil fuels alternative energy is the wave of the future. As science and private industry invest more time and money into research the possibility of mainstream solar power is a real possibility.
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