The need for an alternative source of energy was never as important for mankind as it is today. Fossil fuels, which are being used since thousands of years, are about to get exhausted. More importantly, they are contributing to various hazards on the planet, prominent ones being global warming and pollution. In such a scenario, searching for an alternative source of energy, which is a clean, efficient and renewable energy, has become the utmost priority for mankind. One such source of energy is solar energy. Before we move on to how solar energy works, we need to know what is solar energy and whether it's the right alternative source of power.

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Coal, petrol, diesel, kerosene, natural gas - all of them are nothing but finite sources of energy. The rate at which they are being used by people all over the world, they are surely on the verge of drying up sooner than later. So, is there a solution to this problem? Well, yes there is. Didn't we all learn way back in school about wind, water and sunlight being sources of renewable energy? And how wind energy, hydro energy and solar energy would in time prove to be the only solution to man's energy woes? Yes we did. In spite of both wind and hydro energy regularly being used all over the world in quite a few application areas, it is in fact solar energy that is being targeted as having the highest potential among all three. Therefore, on that note, let us have a look at a few solar energy pros and cons.

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Using solar energy produces no air or water pollution and no greenhouse gases, but does have some indirect impacts on the environment. For example, there are some toxic materials and chemicals, and various solvents and alcohols that are used in the manufacturing process of photovoltaic cells (PV), which convert sunlight into electricity. Small amounts of these waste materials are produced.

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Solar energy has been used by humans and every other living being since its inception. Solar energy is the heat and light from the Sun. The Earth receives 174 petawatts (PW) of solar radiation at the upper atmosphere and of that 70% is absorbed by clouds, oceans and land masses. Energy from the Sun is harnessed in two ways; Heat and Light energy.

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Solar energy is the energy obtained from the sun that is harnessed and converted to thermal energy or electricity. In its simplest terms, solar energy, as the name suggests, can be defined as the energy received from the sun. If you wish to know how solar energy works in brief, then note that the energy or the power from the Sun is collected with the help of solar panels and used to produce electricity. It is also proved that solar energy is better as compared to the energy created from other sources. So exactly what are some advantages of solar energy? Let us take a look at solar energy pros and cons in detail.

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The solar oven which is also called as the solar cooker, is an instrument, that works with the help of sunlight. The biggest benefit of solar oven is that it does not consume any kind of fuel nor does it consume electricity and therefore is a cost-effective appliance. Solar oven proves competitive with regards to the ability to cook almost everything that a conventional oven can. Solar oven or the solar cooker is found in many different types which include the parabolic cookers, the solar kettles, the box cookers and the hybrid cookers. Now, on knowing the importance and the benefits of the solar oven, you must be eager to know how to make a solar oven. So let us have a look at the procedure.

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Solar energy is a combination of heat and potential energy, that comes to the surface of the earth in the form of sun rays. When the sun rays or rather the radiation of the sun reaches the surface of the earth, in transforms itself into heat and light energy. The heat and light energy, can be utilized by different techniques, to produce usable forms of energy. Many scientists have elaborated and emphasized the advantages of solar energy as a source of energy and a raw material for usable energy production.

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