Talk:Solar energy/Sandbox

Original
(September 2008)

Solar energy refers to the utilization of the radiant energy from the Sun. Solar power is used interchangeably with solar energy, but refers more specifically to the conversion of sunlight into electricity by photovoltaics, concentrating solar thermal devices, or by an experimental technology such as a solar chimney or solar pond.

Solar energy and shading are important considerations in building design. Thermal mass is used to conserve the heat that sunshine delivers to all buildings. Daylighting techniques optimize the use of light in buildings. Solar water heaters heat swimming pools and provide domestic hot water. In agriculture, greenhouses expand growing seasons and pumps powered by solar cells (known as photovoltaics) provide water for grazing animals. Evaporation ponds are used to harvest salt and clean waste streams of contaminants.

Solar distillation and disinfection techniques produce potable water for millions of people worldwide. Simple applications include clotheslines and solar cookers which concentrate sunlight for cooking, drying and pasteurization. More sophisticated technologies concentrate sunlight for high-temperature material testing, metal smelting and industrial chemical production. A range of experimental solar vehicles provide ground, air and sea transportation.

Proposal
(22:04, 7 October 2008)

Solar energy is heat and light from the sun. This energy resource powers the climate and weather and sustains life on Earth. Solar radiation along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass account for over 99.97% of the available flow of renewable energy on Earth.

Solar energy technologies can provide daylighting and thermal comfort in passive buildings; potable water via distillation and disinfection; water and space heating; space cooling by absorption or vapor-compression refrigeration; high temperature process heat for industrial purposes; and electrical generation by thermal or photovoltaic means.

Interim
(formerly identified as "current version")

Solar energy uses the light and radiant heat from the Sun which powers Earth's climate and weather and sustains life. Since ancient times it has been harnessed for human use through a range of technologies. Solar radiation along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth.

The term solar power is used interchangeably with solar energy, but refers more specifically to the conversion of sunlight into electricity by photovoltaics, concentrating solar thermal devices, or by an experimental technology such as a solar chimney or solar pond.

Solar energy technologies can provide daylighting and thermal comfort in passive buildings, potable water via distillation and disinfection, hot water and space heating, space cooling by absorption or vapor-compression refrigeration, thermal  energy for cooking, high temperature process heat for industrial purposes, and transportation.

Revised Proposal
Solar energy uses the light and radiant heat from the Sun, that powers Earth's climate and weather and sustains life. Since ancient times it has been harnessed for human use with a variety of technologies. Solar radiation along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth.

Solar power is used synonymously with solar energy, but refers more specifically to the conversion of sunlight into electricity by photovoltaics, concentrating solar thermal devices, or by an experimental technology such as a solar chimney or solar pond.

Solar energy technologies can provide daylighting and thermal comfort in passive buildings, potable water via distillation and disinfection, hot water and space heating, space cooling by absorption or vapor-compression refrigeration, thermal  energy for cooking, high temperature process heat for industrial purposes, and transportation. < add missing items, make into sentences where possible >

< add a third or third and fourth paragraph >

Consensus version
17:44, 14 October 2008 (UTC)

Solar energy is the light and radiant heat from the Sun that influences Earth's climate and weather and sustains life. Solar power is the rate of solar energy at a point in time; it is sometimes used as a synonym for solar energy or more specifically to refer to electricity generated from solar radiation. Since ancient times solar energy has been harnessed for human use through a range of technologies. Solar radiation along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass account for most of the available flow of renewable energy on Earth.

Solar energy technologies can provide electrical generation by heat engine or photovoltaic means, daylighting and space heating in passive solar and active solar buildings, potable water via distillation and disinfection, hot water, space cooling by absorption or vapor-compression refrigeration, thermal  energy for cooking, and high temperature process heat for industrial purposes.

Further changes (proposal)
Solar energy uses the light and radiant heat from the Sun, which is the energy source for Earth's climate and weather and sustains life. Solar power, often used interchangeably with solar energy, refers to electricity generated from solar radiation. Since ancient times solar energy has been harnessed for human use through a range of technologies. Solar radiation along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth.

Solar energy technologies can provide electrical generation by heat engine or photovoltaic means, daylighting and space heating in passive solar and active solar buildings, potable water via distillation and disinfection, hot water, space cooling by absorption or vapor-compression refrigeration, thermal  energy for cooking, and high temperature process heat for industrial purposes.

Proposal 5.1
Same as proposal 5 while ... (and also not supported in the XHTML 1.0 DTD, which WP pages ought to adhere to); ALSO: a) Citations are complete in this version. b) The caption ref placeholder is '&amp;#160;'
 * sticking with the color scheme defined by "wikitable"; if used it ought to be used consistently
 * not using attributes deprecated since 1999/HTML 4.01
 * not muddle css (presentation) and html (content)

A Proposal To Review The Approach
I do not see why we are getting bogged down endlessly in trivial semantics and in specific and incomplete end product or end use listings. Every page is a bid to inform and educate as also an attempt for mind-share.

Solar energy IS radiant light and heat. Then there are the following basics: 1. Use the heat OR light to generate electricity. A detailed listing of what electricity can be used for belongs elsewhere. 2. Use the heat to directly heat ANYTHING (i.e. without conversion to electricity). The Sahara desert is the biggest recipient and store! What heat can accomplish belongs elsewhere. 3. Use light to illuminate structures of all sorts internally and externally. Use heat to stimulate ventilation in buildings. Discussions and descriptions of smart building design for these purposes belongs elsewhere.

Based on this there needs to be a partial listing of important applications and corresponding technologies in some order of utility and viability. This list and the order can be debated.

There can be a separate section for emerging technologies.

Once this list is agreed a brief section on each will complete the picture. This needs to contain 1. a description. 2. state of the art report. 3. current viability assessment. The last is important to ensure that readers do not view the whole thing as just hot air.

Finally, there really isn't much point in using up valuable mind-share on concepts which made sense at one time, have been attempted at pilot or commercial scale and abandoned. A M Spock 03:05, 25 January 2009 (UTC)