The futuristic looking silver panels dot the UK’s landscape, scattered on the roofs of housetops and colonizing complete fields. These solar panels are an intriguing piece of technology that is fast becoming one of the most popular and most viable forms of alternative energy.

The Basics About Solar Power

Solar power is a technology form that harnesses the light energy of the sun. This clean, environmentally friendly, and renewable fuel source was originally used on the wings of space shuttles. Now, new advancements have allowed solar energy to come down to earth. There are three ways to derive energy from the sun. The first two methods, passive and active solar power, both absorb the Sun’s heat waves and store their energy for later use. The third method uses photovoltaic cells to convert the sun’s light waves to electricity. This third method is both the most effective and most flexible, two traits, which have allowed solar energy to push ahead as a viable fuel source in recent years.

The Future of Solar Power in the UK

Given the varying climate that we experience here in the UK, it seems natural to wonder whether there’s enough sunlight to make solar power possible. Isn’t this energy source only useful in sunnier climates? Actually, most solar energy experts agree that the UK does receive a sufficient amount of sunlight in total. The challenge, however, is that the sun’s energy is not consistently distributed over the entire country, throughout the whole year. Because of this moment-to-moment variation in the sun’s intensity, the growth of solar energy in the UK was initially stunted.

Those who attempted to rely on this technology were left with periods of weak power and occasional blackouts when the skies were overcast. Fortunately, recent advancements now allow light energy to be captured and effectively stored for periods then the sun does not shine. The efficacy of solar energy has also been improved by advancements in panel technology, which allow them to absorb light energy more efficiently, making them more effective even when only small amounts are available. Even with advancements to cope with the UK climate, solar energy expansion is still facing difficulties. For example, solar energy equipment can be difficult to find and expensive to purchase.

A Bright Future

We are still only witnessing the very beginning of solar energy. As technology continues to advance, the cost of solar energy will decrease, making it more available to the average citizen.