We already rely on solar power

For thousands of years, people have worshiped the sun. It is often depicted in ancient art and even deified in many cultures. What a natural human idea, as the sun holds back the coldness of night and provides us both light and warmth.

In our present, technologically advanced society, we are beginning to look at the sun in a different way. With the continued development of solar power, our local star will likely be a large piece of the solution to our energy needs.

We have discovered our ability to harvest the power of the sun.

How thrilling an accomplishment.

But wait. If this is all you know about the energy of the sun, you are missing out on the true grandeur of  how the world works.

Your brain is spending calories of energy at this very moment to read the word “sun.” Therefore, it would be a shame if you did not know that this very energy has in fact come from the sun.

Every tiny movement your body makes requires the energy stored in biochemical fuels just like a car requires gasoline. We cannot create this energy ourselves, as we must get it from the food we eat. All of the calories you take in each day are nothing more than units of energy your food is providing you.

Ultimately, this energy comes from plants. Even if you are eating a steak, the energy stored in the meat was gathered from the plants on which the cow munched all day long.

Then, following the energy trail, the plants get it from the sun. They do this as they manufacture carbohydrates out of the carbon dioxide in the air only by soaking up the energy beaming down in sunlight.

This light energy is stored in the chemical bonds of the carbohydrate. The carbs are then “burnt” as if in a controlled fire inside your cells, using the oxygen you breathe much like a candle flame needs air to burn. This “chemical furnace” inside your body is releasing stored sun.

Each of us is a solar-powered being.

In truth, it is difficult to find a source of energy that doesn’t come from the sun.

For example, take my previous comparison of food to gasoline. Both oil and coal are chemical compounds made of ancient decayed plants, which, of course, got their energy from the sun. These fuels are just long-term energy storage.

Even renewable energy sources such as hydroelectricity and wind power are reliant on the sun. With hydroelectricity, we are simply collecting water’s gravitational energy that was created when it rose to the sky through evaporation by the sun.

Similarly, wind blows due to pressure differences caused by the sun’s heating of our atmosphere.

I actually find it more impressive that we have found a source of energy not dependent on the sun: nuclear power. But then again, that energy comes from other stars extinguished billions of years ago.

But, I must stop here and leave it up to you to discover how the stars, our sun included, manage to create such an abundance of energy.


E-mail: tylatkin@indiana.edu