nexaustable of all known energy sources such as coal and natural gases. Other forms of energy have shown significant drawbacks to our enviorment but solar energy is safe and has great potential. There is an abundance of solar energy in our enviroment that we are now beginning to use as our technology advances. There are many practical solar energy systems used today, the most commonly used are solar heated homes, and small electric systems. These two systems when applied to solar energy have proven to last over a decade.
Also these electrical systems show the best way to harness solar energy by: solar thermal systems, and solar electrical systems. Solar thermal systems convert the energy of the sun into heat, and then use the heat whenever desired. The electric systems convert the energy of the sun directly into electrical energy, and can be used just like our electrical energy we use. Some less popular models fo solar energy systems are the domestic water heating systems, remote water pumps, and electric power for radio repeaters. Most of our spacecrafts use solar power for things like communication. One example would be the Mir Cooperative Solar Array Program.
Solar energy is in the process of being tested, and in hopes may be used in the near future. The avalibility of solar energy on the Earths surface varies in many different ways. Most of the energy we use requires both constant and readily available energy. One of the greatest challenges that the designer of solar energy would have is to be able to forecast the availability of solar energy and to capture and store it so it can be used when nessecary. The rotation of the Earth on its axis, changing of the seasons, and the orbiting of the Earth around the sun are all predictable factors that have to be considered when dealing with solar energy.
However there are many unpredictable factors that also would have great impact on solar energy.Another great challenge the designer of solar energy may have it to create a devise that could be able to capture the solar energy in the radiation form, and to convert the radiation into a useful form of energy .
