Solar power is utterly simple, and is definitely the wave of the future. A component called a photovoltaic cell collects energy from the sun and is converted into electricity. There are no moving parts, liquids or chemicals involved in the process. The cells are connected together on a solar panel, and they are hooked up in series and allowing the cells to work in unison. The energy that is generated is direct current which is then stored in a battery. A device called an inverter converts the DC to AC for household use. Since only a small amount of current is generated by each cell, there are as a rule a lot of panels required to run your entire house on solar energy.

Large-scale solar conversion projects cost about $10-$12 per watt to install. This remarkable technology can definitely be used in and around the home for landscape lighting and all your outdoor lighting fixtures. As an example, if you wanted to operate your lighting fixtures and a few small appliances around the home the solar installation would cost approximately $1000.

With escalating energy costs, this type of energy is totally renewable and is pollution-free, so there is a remarkable future ahead! It is an amazing source of power and is available all over the planet, free of charge. As technology advances, the cost of photovoltaic cells will come down, and this source of energy will become more and more economical to install and use. There are a small number of major oil companies that have committed large amounts of research capital into solar research. It is quite obvious that these companies see an end in sight when it pertains to relying on oil. The future of energy worldwide will depend upon these forward-thinking people and the innovative technology they use to improve and develop this renewable and free energy source.