• By Amanda Pelligra
• Published 02/10/2012
• Writing

Sun and its power has been a source of clean energy since the olden times. This can be understood by the fact that in olden time’s people used the solar energy to keep themselves warm by starting fires with it. The homes were designed in such a way that they were kept warm with the help of passive solar energy. The design of the walls and the roofs of their buildings were made in such a way that collected solar heat during the day and released the same during the night to keep the house warm. During winter people use the heat of the sun during the day as source of energy to keep themselves warm. In recent times, French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered photovoltaics in 1839 by showing photovoltaic activity. Edmond had discovered that electrical current in certain materials could be increased when exposed to light. The real initial long-term practical application of PV cells was in satellite systems. The solar power system was so successful that PV’s have been a part of world-wide satellite space programs ever since. The sun provides endless non polluting energy to the satellite power systems and demand for solar cells has risen as a result of the telecommunications revolution and need for satellites.

It all started during 1970 energy crisis and oil embargos which actually made many countries think on their requirement on controlled non-renewable energy sources. This fuelled exploration of alternative energy sources leading to Solar Energy. This included further research into reducing cost factor and affordability

for day to day life for solar power. Today the world is gripped with the ever increasing problem of pollution, green house effect, changing climatic conditions, global warming and so on. The cost varies by a few thousand either way depending on various brand of panels and inverters each supplier uses, and their overheads. For those who feel that the current prices are beyond their expectations, then solar power may not be for you right now. The way to reduce the cost of system is to add it in your mortgage. Also if you take rising electricity costs into account you can be assured of one thing that in a long term, you will be refunded with all your initial cost. There is a solar payback calculator for you to make your own mind up. Australian government has introduced subsidy for homeowners, businesses and community groups by the name of “Solar Credits” to bring down the cost involved in installing solar panels. It was passed into law on 20th August 2009, but the policies keep changing the details of the rebate (usually reducing it with very small notice period!). Usually, typical cost of an installed 1.5kW solar system can be around $6,500 which can prove costly, but you get government Rebate of $3,000 making your actual cost to you for 1.5KW of solar power to Approx $3,500. This way you can actually bring down the cost of this alternative source of clean energy.

It is very important for every individual to contribute to the maximum and help in cleaning the environment for the betterment of our future. Being a part of the world responsible for clean environment makes me feel proud. I am sure you will also like to be one of them.