Why do people not understand that the sun does not have to be bright for Solar Power to work?
Image by UNDP in Europe and Central Asia
To solve the problem of sustainable energy access for war returnees, the UNDP renewable energy challenge asked citizens around the world to design an affordable, easy-to-maintain energy solution.
The objective is to give access to energy for over 3,000 families who were without electricity for more than a decade upon returning home after the war.
Almost eight months and 37 solutions later, we are in the final stage of the challenge: field testing.
Read the full update on our blog.
Question by Peter: Why do people not understand that the sun does not have to be bright for Solar Power to work?
The panel draws energy even during cloudy and overcast days. That energy is stored in a battery source to power homes etc. Germany has doing this for years, Japan also uses this technology. And neither Japan or Germany are known for their sunny days.
Add your own answer in the comments!
9 Responses to Why do people not understand that the sun does not have to be bright for Solar Power to work?
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At what cost????
wrfine
November 6, 2013 at 10:39 am
Now we know. Cool. Thanks…
Fallen
November 6, 2013 at 10:44 am
No one is stopping you from putting solar-panels on your roof. Now to educate you: electrical batteries, are not kettles for “storing energy”, they are mechanisms for generating electrical potential–typically from chemical interactions. You still need constant input to retain their output beyond their inherent potential. The solar cell is a mechanism for generating output and the sun is a potential source… but storing electrical energy energy is not like putting gasoline into a “tank” as it seems you have come to believe. The sun must be shining to generate any potential voltage from it via the photoelectric effect.
Conservation of Energy insists that output can never exceed input and entropy ensures that 100% efficiency under the best of circumstances is impossible.
Thundarr the Barbarian
November 6, 2013 at 11:08 am
so the sun can power the whole world through solar technology but it can’t contribute to climate change……yeah that makes sense…….
look at my jugs
November 6, 2013 at 11:29 am
Most people do understand that but they also understand that only millionaires can afford the start up costs.
Carlos M
November 6, 2013 at 12:22 pm
And neither country relies heavily on solar power for their power. Solar power requires large amounts of lsurface area to produce large amounts of power. Solar power is A solution, but to THE solution to our power needs.
sgatlantisrose
November 6, 2013 at 12:54 pm
Solar power is still a relatively new technology so there is a lack of general education on the topic. It is no different then when people thought gas or electricity in their homes would cause explosions. In time as the source becomes more practical and popular people will be more educated on the subject.
jr
November 6, 2013 at 1:07 pm
Like another user said, at what cost…not to mention companies need the room to house all of those batteries, as do homes that would use nothing but solar power.
AmberP
November 6, 2013 at 1:30 pm
Because they put solar lights up for street lights here on a few streets and they were so bad in the dark winter months they had to tear them out. They sucked! They don’t melt the snow off so they don’t light anything up with all that ice and snow on them.
whatever
November 6, 2013 at 2:11 pm