Out of the shadows: Solar power is becoming more of a mainstream renewable energy source. Laura Cork shines the spotlight on its application in the commercial and industrial world

摘要

Green energy is high on the UK agenda. Announcements are spawned on a seemingly daily basis about the government's commitment to renewable energy -and the Prime Minister has said that he will try to use Britain's forthcoming pole positions as head of the G8 and presidency of the European Union to push the environmental arguments still further. One source of renewable energy is solar power, which is generated in three main ways: passive power, where design ensures a building's form and fabric captures the sun's energy, so reducing the need for artificial light and heating; active solar water heating, which converts solar radiation into heat which can then be used or stored; and photovoltaics (PV), which converts sunlight into electricity.