How it works
There are several different systems which take advantage of the power generated from the Sun. The Photovoltaic Effect is when photo cells convert sunlight directly into electricity - this has been used for sometime to power certain calculators, for example. In this country, Photovoltaic cells (PV's) are being used as roof tiles. They cover the roof of a house and take advantage of the light coming from the Sun. This is trapped by the cell an turned into electricity.

Another way to take advantage of the energy from the Sun, is to design buildings so they can collect the heat. They do this by designing the building sensibly and facing it in a way where it can use the Sun to the maximum benefit. Large glass windows help with this, especially during the winter when the Sun is very low. In the summer, balconies and trees protect the building from getting too much heat.

A reasonably simple method of using the benefits of the Sun is to heat our water pipes. Painting the thin pipes black and putting them in a 'greenhouse' type insulator can heat our water supply and therefore reduce the cost of using electricity to heat it.

The past
The use of solar power became very popular in the 1970's, when the idea of cutting domestic fuels bills by 50% by setting up solar collectors on house roofs, seemed like a great idea. Once people realised setting up costs would take several years to pay back, the boom quietened down again. In the 1980's, oil prices went up and this led to solar energy coming back into favour. Local councils started fitting council houses with facilities to use solar power. Milton Keynes for one set up more than 300 solar housing projects.

The advantages
As well as the fact that energy from the Sun is readily available, there are many other benefits. By locating photovoltaic cells on top of houses, no extra land space is needed and they can also be situated in urban areas, where there is plenty of available space. In addition they are very easy to install, and although there are some high costs involved, they replace the need for other materials, such as tiles, to be used.

The costs
As with most renewable energy systems, there are initial costs which make setting up these projects, initially quite expensive. However, the savings on electricity bills in the long-term should make up for this and year on year, the costs are falling which will make it more widespread.

Examples abroad
The UK is behind many other countries in Europe and the rest of the World when it comes to using solar power technologies. In Japan and the USA, billions has been spent on developing PV over a number of years, and more recently, Germany has started to push lots of money into the development of it for projects there. In the Netherlands, different organisations - such as the government, local authorities, architects and power companies - work together to develop solar energy.

The future
Within 10 years photo voltaic cells are likely to be competitive with conventional power sources. Projects being set up in the UK are being used as examples to illustrate the potential of solar power and its hoped these schemes will encourage businesses and members of the public to get involved with setting up similar developments.

We also need to see more large-scale projects established which are centrally funded with an energy-efficiency programme devised alongside it. We also need to establish more cooperation between different industries and governments, like in the Netherlands, which should in the long-run mean cheaper and more efficient systems being established.

Related Links:

- Wind Power
- Water Power
- Energy and Environment Research Unit
- Centre for Alternative Technology
- Renewable Energy