Once these fuels are depleted, they will take millions of years to replace. This concern has sparked efforts to find energy sources that are easily renewable or virtually inexhaustible. Many of these renewable energy sources are also less toxic to the environment. The basic types of renewable energy under study use the sun, wind, water, or plant and animal materials to produce energy. Solar Energy is one of the renewable energy sources that has the most potential.
Sunlight can travel through air, clear glass, and plastic.
When the sun strikes a surface, light energy is either reflected or absorbed. It is the absorbed light energy that gets changed into heat and can be used for power. Passive solar energy systems make use of solar energy without using special equipment. For example, a house may be built to direct the sun onto a thick masonry wall that then stores the heat for later distribution. Active solar systems require the use of mechanical collectors to absorb the heat of the sun.