Home > Learning Center >Solar Power
Solar Power
The main way of harnessing solar power is by using photovoltaic cells that convert photons sent millions of miles from the sun into electricity that is instantly usable. As materials improve and become less expensive solar panels become more readily available. The more that are installed the less anyone has to rely on destructive forms of power such as coal and oil fueled power plants and engines.
Another form of harnessing solar power converts the suns energy into hydrogen gas by using tiny particles of titanium dioxide commonly called Titania. This material is used in white paint, toothpastes and many other household items and it may revolutionize solar power. Hydrogen gas can be stored and shipped very easily, unlike electricity which requires complex and expensive batteries that lose their charge over time.
Hydrogen produced from solar power is clean burning and very efficient. Producing it is the difficult part. The more titanium dioxide that can be fit onto the panel the more gas can be produced and nano-technology is providing the engineering prowess to get as much Titania onto the surface as possible. Solar panels in the future might not be producing electricity at all, hydrogen gas has a fighting chance to take the lead as the most efficient way to harness the suns energy.