Why Solar Energy?

Here are some interesting thoughts of Michel Daniek, author of the booklet "Solar Power in 12Volt systems". This booklet aims to provide you with a basic knowledge of solar power systems along with many tips and ideas. It will show you how to build small and medium sized solar power systems made from easily obtainable materials. You can order the booklet in Englisch, German or Spanish here

orders:info@solarmai.net

SOLAR POWER

We all know about the problems of CO² and radioactivity. Solar electricity is an important step away from the fossil fuel crisis and the catastrophe of nuclear energy - it's the energy of the future !
The number one energy source will always be the sun ! However although all the techniques and materials are available, solar energy is not widely used. The technology of using energy direct from the sun is being suppressed by big business and political interests. These groups spread false arguments (see chapter "solar-modules") and use solar models, inventions, projects and studies for the sole purpose of proving them enviable. They claim that solar energy is too expensive - but we should weigh this cost against the true cost of nuclear contamination and CO² output from fossil fuels. At the end of the day, the energy industry's only concern is simply to make as much money as possible.
With this as their aim the electricity industries produce more electricity than is actually needed, giving consumers the illusion that there is no limit to the amount of fuel they can consume. There is no consciousness of a problem and no one thinks about how much electricity they are using.

On top of this is the problem of "electro smog" - the electromagnetic field around electricity pylons and wires. High voltage electricity pylons produce an electromagnetic field with a frequency of 50 Hertz (see chapter "Electro smog") which pollutes large areas of land. People are becoming more aware of this problem and minimising it is now one aspect of environmental house building.

However studies on damage to living organisms caused by "electro smog" are either refused funding or the results are not published.
The electricity industries do not produce appliances requiring less energy, or remind people to use energy more efficiently. Instead they put products on the market such as TV's with "standby" buttons and appliances that use power even when they're switched off. These appliances are continually creating electromagnetic fields ("electro smog") even when they are not being used. We must all stand up against these commercial and political manipulations. We can use alternative, decentralised energies to show that it is possible to live free from the grip of large energy concerns. We can live an example !

Alternative energy includes quick growing fuels such as rape, hemp and reeds; heaters using insulated storage tanks; solar cars; wind and water energy. Last but not least is photovoltaic energy for producing solar electricity. This must become affordable for everyone and part of our everyday lives. It is important that more money circulates in this area - the more consumers spend money on solar modules, the more producers will be encouraged to market them, drastically reducing the cost. But within this process there must also be a change in patterns of energy consumption because our wastefulness today cannot be the basis of a solar future.
For many people, solar energy is already a part of their lives. From different motivations people are creating new power systems and houses with autonomous energy supplies. There are solar associations spreading information and setting up groups to create solar systems. Whereas a solar water heating system will payback the initial financial outlay within only a few years, a solar electricity system connected to the National Grid is only financially viable if it's on a large scale. Therefore most solar power systems are now in alternative communities where they help to fulfil the desire for an autonomous and ecological life.
Solar power systems can allow us to maintain our standard of living without electro smog of the National Grid. Solar power systems with battery storage are being put together by people looking for new ways of living and a way out of this apparent dead end as we become less and less able to ignore the worldwide ecological crisis. More and more people want to act instead of just sitting back and watching the earth being destroyed. More and more people would like to have a future !
We are working on small solutions to our ecological and social problems and creating new ways of living and working. But the way is full of compromises and will therefore be criticized by more radical environmentalists and also by politicians who do not see solar energy as a viable large scale solution. But we shouldn't be surprised that the problems and structures of generations aren't overcome within a few days. These problems are within us all and not simply somewhere "out there" in society. So long as we only try to change individual parts without looking at the whole and all its human causes, our searching will be in vain.

Small, independent solar systems serve as examples to teach us awareness of energy consumption. In terms of the world's ecological problems these systems are just a drop in the ocean and often bring with then their own ecological problems - for instance energy storage in batteries. But they are first and important steps and vital areas for learning.
This booklet aims to provide you with a basic knowledge of solar power systems along with many tips and ideas. I will show you how to build small and medium sized solar power systems made from easily obtainable materials. There is a basic electricity lesson about Volt, Ampere and Watt, and instructions for using digital Multimeter. I would like to show you some simple uses for solar electricity - you will be amazed by the possibilities of solar power !

"Please can I use your electricity for my hammer ?"