The Most Common Solar Energy Uses

Harvesting solar energy is a great way to use renewable energy sources. Once transformed into a usable electric current or thermal heat it can be used in a variety of machines and processes. Knowing the most common solar energy uses is important when thinking about switching over to it.

Residential Uses

Solar energy uses in your home can be as small scale or large scaled as you are willing to go. Your solar energy power source can be a solar generator to power just specific items such as your major appliances or your workshop lights.

You can have an inter-tied solar grid that keeps you tied to the electric company as a backup source of power. Doing this would allow you to use solar power as much as possible and when your supply is diminished, switch to the commercial power company. This method allows you to power your entire home using solar power.

Thermal solar energy panels can be installed to use specifically as your heating source for your home. You can also use it to heat your hot water tank.

There are many devices available on the market that use solar power as their main source, from calculators to flashlights to outdoor lighting sets.

These devices come with the solar energy collector pre-installed; all you do is allow the sunlight to beam on them to power them up.

You can also have a solar energy generator for use on your portable equipment and as a back-up power source for emergencies.

Many lawn and garden tools are electric powered for convenience, having a solar powered generator to run them with is another way to use solar energy.

Commercial/Industrial Uses

Power plants or even electrical outlets are not always available in remote locations where they are needed. If you have driven down a stretch of interstate and seen flashing roads signs you are seeing a solar energy powered device. Other commercial solar energy uses include:

• Transportation signals – such as are seen on lighthouses and pylons
• Rural road signs – warning signs/traffic alerts
• Speed cameras/toll booth cameras
• Powering TV and radio telemetry
• Radio Telephones

Remote Locations 

Solar power can be in locations that have no access to a power grid. Using solar energy for these locations can be less expensive than bringing the power grid in. Vacation properties and new developments in remote areas are a good example of this use.

Solar powered systems can be used to bring water into areas that otherwise have no access. It can also be used to power water purification systems to make potable water in areas that have no other means of getting drinking water.

Solar energy can be used in a variety of ways, many of which are not yet fully deployed.

In the near future, central power stations will be used to create power from the sun. The realization of an entire state or country going solar is not out of our reach. Until then, taking advantage of the various solar energy uses makes it possible to power our homes and devices as much as possible.

We recommend you checkout this awesome guide for building renewable energy solutions, including a complete solar power system for less than $200:  Earth4Energy Renewable Energy Solution.