The sun is a source of energy that is forever reusable. Until the day the sun no longer exists, we will have the heat that is produced by the sun to use as a form of energy. Solar radiation is the sun's rays as they approach the earth and are used as various form of energy, like heat and electricity. Today, many people use the sun's energy that radiates onto the earth for many things. For instance, it can be used to heat water, which is useful not only in homes and buildings but as well in the heating of swimming pools. It is also used as heat in buildings like a greenhouse, or even homes. There are also 2 different ways that electricity can be formed by the sun's rays.




First there are PV (Photovoltaic) devices, which are using in changing the sunlight that is formed directly into electricity. Above is a picture that illistrates how the solar energy is transformed. They are used in random locations that are usually not near the electric grid. PV devices are also used in the powering of watches, and calculators. Then the other form of creating in solar electricity, is the use of Solar Power Plants. These generate electricity when the heat that is transmitted from the sun to solar thermal collectors, and then this heat is used to heat fluid, that creates steam and in turn powers a generator. There are only 15 known units that operate this way, and 10 of them are in California. The other 5 are located in Arizona. There may be other smaller plants that are located in other states but this is just data that has been collected by solar plants producing more than 1 megawatt of electricity.

There are however like most forms of alternative energy a downside and some disadvantages. For instance, the sunlight that radiates and hits the earth is never constant. The sunlight not only depends on the location of the plant, but the time of the day, year, and what the weather is like. We all know how unpredictable weather can be. Another disadvantage is that the sun does not distribute a lot of energy to one place at one time. There needs to be a large amount of area that is collecting this solar energy in order for it to be a useful form of energy.

Another problem that lies withing the solar energy that is transmitted to the earth is where all the heat and energy really goes. For instance, much of it is absorbed into the clouds and radiated back to the atmosphere. Below is also an illistration of where the sun's energy all goes?!