jim@lktenterprise.com | 432.557.2361
about solar
The heat and light provided by our sun has been harnessed for practical applications by civilazations as early as the Greeks and Native Americans. While the concept of utilizing this infinite source of energy for human purpose is not new, the methods, products, and wide range availibility are constantly growing and evolving, making solar powered electricity and energy increasingly accesible and beneficial to you and your company.
Solar energy can, first, be converted into heat, or thermal energy, to heat water or spaces in our homes, offices, greenhouses and swimming pools. Solar energy is otherwise converted into electricity through either Photovoltaic devices or solar power plants. In the case of PV devices, sunlight is converted into electricity via the use of "solar cells", namely solar mirrors or glass panes that take in the sunlight and transfer it through optical fibers to its destination. This is the case in many common devices, such as watches, calculators, and lighted road signs. In the case of solar power plants, the sunlight is collected and used to heat a fluid, which in turn produces steam which is then used for power.
A photovolactic cell, otherwise known as a solar cell, generates electricity by absorbing energy from a source of electromagnetic radiation. In this case, our sun, which emits it as electrons which are then referred to as photoelectrons. This is called the photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect and our knowledge of it has led to a vast array of our understanding of energy and light particles, and paved the way for the phenomenon of solar energy. Photovoltaic devices have been used as early as 1958, when they were used as a power source for the Vanguard I satellite, and since then PV has been used as the common source of power for satellites, allowing the success of early satellites like Telstar and Syncom. Today their use is continued in the mechanism of solar panels, generating electricity for a vast amount of residences and buisness facilities around the world.
Solar energy is also rapidly replacing traditional electricly powered water heating systems. Currently, China holds the title of the world leader in the deployment of solar hot water systems. They currently hold 80% of the market. Solar water heating has thus far been most widely used in the united states in the process of heating personal underground swimming pools in residential areas. When compared to traditional methods of water heating, solar methods are highly superior and much more cost efficient. Roughly 14% of all energy consumed in the United States is for the heating of water. This factor, along with sharp increases and unreliable access to conventional fuels has turned the majority population's focus to solar energy.
