There are all sorts of inventions and ideas involving the usage
of solar power, including replacement of gasoline, electricity, and
coal. There are also uses of it in everyday life, like in solar powered
calculators. Some ideas for the usage of solar power
include solar powered shavers, ovens, or even airplanes!
However, usage of solar power is not limited to electronic machines. In fact, the common greenhouse uses solar power. By trapping the sunlight inside and raising the temperature, plants can grow inside greenhouses all year long.
China has used so much fossil fuels that it is now considered the world's top fuel burner. In hopes of trying to help save energy, China has made many plans using all sorts of renewable sources, and is quckly becoming the world leader of global solar power usage. In fact, Beijing is beginning to plan for a 'solar street,' a street using solar energy as the main source of power. Other plans include using solar power for the top uses of energy: lighting, heating, and refrigeration. China has already put solar panels on 20 - 30 heavy-duty factories. Already China is responsible for at least 55% of the world's usage of solar heating.
In the central districts of Rizhao City (City of Sunshine), 99% of households use solar powered water heaters, and 6, 000 households have solar cooking facilities. 60, 000 greenhouses are alleviating farmers of weather temperatures.
The 2008 Olympics that will be taking place in China this year is encouraging more work on solar power, as well as other events, including the just passed 2007 World Conference on Solar Energy. A solar system has been donated by the Italian government that can be used by 10,000 athletes in the Olympic village this year, and 1,100 solar panels are already installed.
There are many companies that dislike solar power because of its high cost. However, there are some solar supporting companies worldwide that are doing really well, some foreign ones even making it into the American stock market. These include: