Solar power is an extremely clean and renewable form of energy.  It can be used both in automobiles and in generating power for consumption in other ways.

Many people credit Sun Day, May 3, 1978, as the beginning of the movement into the Solar Age.  On that day, 20 million people worldwide learned about ways to utilize solar energy to generate power.  Immediately, governments responded by writing laws favorable to the development of solar energy.

The Solar Energy Process.  Image Credit: Solar Energy International.

However, hope that solar energy would be used highly in the future decreased in the 1980s as US President Reagan decreased support for solar energy projects.

The generation of solar energy is relatively simple.  A box with a heat-trapping dark bottom and glass on top holds the sun's heat.  The devices can be easily deployed anywhere.

One major advantage of solar energy is that it is available to everyone and can be harnessed by individuals everywhere.  Anyone can set up a solar collector to obtain solar energy, making power distribution across large areas unnecessary.

Though solar energy might save money in the long run, initial costs are a major obstacle.  However, many people have found solar use to be profitable overall.

Many solar developments have been made throughout the world.  Solar water heaters are used in 90% of houses in Cyprus, 65% in Israel, and are also common in Japan and Australia.