Solar Power in the Twenty-First Century

More and more homes and businesses opt for clean, renewable solar power to supply their energy needs. In fact, almost 500 gigawatts of power in the world is generated through solar systems. So, let’s talk about what we can do with solar power in the twenty-first century.

Solar Panels in Space

Solar panels have been used for spacecraft since the 1960s. Also, the ISS features about 27,000 square meters of solar arrays and produces enough electricity to power forty homes.

Solar Panels in the Sky

Although we can’t expect commercial planes to become solar-powered soon, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any planes that harvest solar energy.

In fact, the first plane to use only solar power flew around the world in 2016. The Solar Impulse 2 reached its destination without a drop of fuel thanks to a combination of lithium batteries and ultra-light solar panels.

Boeing has also built a solar aircraft. The thing that makes it amazing is that it can fly non-stop since it generates power from the Sun as it goes.

Solar Panels in the Sea

In 2012, the largest solar-powered boat in the world, the MS Turanor PlanetSolar, completed a round trip voyage from Monaco for the first time. This huge ship also collects around 8 tons of pollution from the ocean during its trips around the globe.

Solar Power on the Railroads

Byron Bay Railroad company from New South Wales, Australia, has given us the first train that uses only solar energy to travel. In 2017, this great company installed solar panels on the roof of an old diesel train. Furthermore, they made it possible for the train to use plug-in solar stations on its route to recharge.

Today, this train can take a hundred passengers on a trip that is only a couple of miles long. Still, it gives us hope that soon we will have more solar transits available.

Solar Vehicles on the Roads

Electric cars and other vehicles powered by solar charging stations are becoming increasingly popular these days. But experts are working on developing more ways you can drive with the help of the Sun. Solar cars, unlike electric ones, have solar panels integrated and generate energy by themselves, without the need for recharging stations.

For instance, a Dutch company named Lightyear One has developed a solar-powered car that can drive anywhere without depending on the grid. This incredible vehicle consumes three times less energy than other electric cars and has the lowest charging frequency.

Greener Cities

Cities around the world have embraced solar solutions in many areas. For example, you can find more and more street lamps that harvest the Sun’s energy during the day to provide enough light at night in streets and parks.

Furthermore, in some cities, you can notice special solar-powered trash- and recycling bins that compress the garbage. That way, workers don’t have to empty them as often.

One of the amazing ways to harvest solar energy is through solar tiles in pavements. A town in the Netherlands has put such tiles along 70 meters of a bike path, and the results exceeded their expectations. A few other cities in China, France, and the US have also replaced road sections with solar tiles.

Solar Help

The thing that makes solar energy so unique is that you can use it anywhere in the world. So, doctors can use solar refrigerators to store vaccines in remote areas. Remote populations and refugee camps use solar technology to use computers and the internet. Also, for some villages, like Dharnai in Bihar, India, solar energy is the only way to power homes, schools, and businesses.

Conclusion

In the last few decades, we’ve gone a long way with harvesting the abundance of solar energy we have available each day. Still, there’s plenty of room to do even more. That’s why we can expect this fast-paced industry to grow in the future. So, contact Atlantic Key Energy and join this global shift towards clean, renewable energy today.