Although not economically feasible at present, solar energy can also power cars. When this is developed, we can make the world a healthier place to live and make many more scientific … Solar Power: Free Power for the Future Our world’s energy sources are slowly declining as our supply of fossil fuels grows scarce. Since fossil fuels are non-renewable, we will have no other source of energy to depend on unless we find another solution. Oil and gas are running short, and although coal is readily available, it is harmful to the …

and swimming pools. Solar energy can be converted into heat and electricity through photovoltaic (PV) devices, and can power your microwave so that you can have your burrito for lunch! Even Honda, a car company, has been involved in the making of photovoltaic devices. Although not economically feasible at present, solar energy can also power cars. When this is developed, we can make the world a healthier place to live and make many more scientific breakthroughs. Unlike gas, solar energy has little to no negative effects on the environment, such as releasing CO2, so having solar powered cars would be a major achievement. Solar energy is useful in so many ways and safe for the environment, and is also less expensive than current systems in the long run. Solar energy itself is free because it comes from the Sun, but converting it to electricity and other forms of energy costs money. However, according to the SEIA, photovoltaic devices (used to convert solar energy to electricity) have decreased in price since they were first made, due to “improved research and development, and most of all by steady increases in sales volume.” This essentially means that the more photovoltaic devices sold, the cheaper it becomes to produce. A photovoltaic device costs about $7/Wp (watt power), and although this may be more expensive than your current system, it has lower overall life cycle costs. A photovoltaic device is cheap when compared to its performance, and the price is diminishing every day. We could get to a point where it will become necessary to utilize the full potential of solar power, so we should start as soon as possible. Energy is and will become even more of a major factor in the future of engineering, because it’s what we live by. Energy is needed in this world so desperately that engineers need to start thinking about renewable sources of energy.

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