solar power  Energy Systems

solar power  usually refers to the process of converting sunshine or solar energy to electricity. Once the energy has been converted it is much more useful and can easily be connected to an electricity supply grid for transfer to where it is needed. This electricity is then sold for heating homes, running factories and powering the latest generation of electric cars. The future is very much about solar power  and investment and solid returns can be expected

Ultimately all our energy comes from our Sun. Solar energy is not going to run out any time soon, hence renewable energy. It is available in varying strengths in all parts of the globe. True hot arid deserts with little cloud cover are the ideal place to put solar power but whilst transmission is possible the local production of solar power is often the best way. Hence homes and factories are having solar power generator unit added to roof tops at an every increasing rate. However, this does need a great deal of capital expenditure and investment but this can be offset against government subsidies and returns of feed-in tariffs for extra electricity sent onto the grid.

For the generation of solar powered electricity there are two main ways to achieve it:

• Photovoltaic Solar Cell (PV)
• Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

There are of course many other ways to use the suns energy directly without conversion to electricity

For the green investor this technology gives many opportunities for green investments:

• There are the manufacturers of solar panels
• Companies that install solar panels
• Large civil engineering companies that build CSP installations
• Smart grid component manufacturers
• Transmission equipment companies
• Maintenance specialists
• Research and development in new technologies
• and many more...

All this with a global market, rising oil prices on the back of dwindling supplies, increased demand for energy and limited short term alternatives. Solar power in this form are just in their infancy. Massive expansion will occur as solar panel prices reduce and the technology to make them more efficient is realized. Investments in solar power generation companies will be a main part of a balanced investment portfolio.

An example of the practical side of solar power; I have just received an energy report on an older style house I am looking at. The energy report gives the house a poor energy rating, mainly because of old construction techniques. The main, in fact only worthwhile option to increase the energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint recommended to me is to install solar power electricity generation. There were other ways that would produce minor benefits but this was the major way forward. No wonder the home improvement companies are investing big time in promoting solar power energy systems.