LSS 1103 Solar Energy: Recent Developments and Events (Research Paper Sample)

Solar Energy: Recent Developments and Events
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Solar Energy: Recent Developments and Events
Renewable energy refers to energy that is obtained from resources that are capable of getting replenished. Some of them include the wind, sunlight, rain, geothermal heat, tides, and waves. Most of the energy that is obtained from renewable sources are used in rural energy services, generation of electricity, transportation, and air and water heating and cooling. Notably, advancements in science and technology have resulted in various developments in the study and use of renewable energy. Three of such current events that have taken place within the last 12 months are discussed.
Graphene layer could be used to enable users to get power generated from solar cells when it rains. This research was conducted by researchers at Qunwei Tang (ScienceDaily.com, 2016). They used electrodes made of graphene so that they could obtain power from raindrops. The development utilizes the principle that rain drops contain positive ions such as sodium. When the ions in rain drops fall on the negatively charged graphene surface, a pseudocapacitor is formed. That results in the production of a voltage and current.
Scientific researchers have also invented a novel system that is used in recovering energy lost in industrial operations. That was done by researchers from Universiti Teknologi MARA in Malaysia in collaboration with others from Australia’s RMIT University (ScienceDaily.com, 2016). The development enables heat that is lost by electrical heaters to be recovered through controlled solar pipes. It has resulted in significant reductions in consumption of solar energy.
Another significant development is the use of sunlight to produce energy and chemicals. Researchers claim that the process is an equivalent of reverse photosynthesis. They established that the process involves a breakdown of the energy that is contained in the solar rays (ScienceDaily.com, 2016). Chlorophyll is then used to collect the sunlight. Enzymes are then used to break biomass. That has enabled it to be used in cases as chemicals and biofuels.
Developments in solar energy have increased the efficiency of its production and use. It has also provided an alternative, affordable sources of energy. As such, more research should be carried out to enhance the existing resources.