由专筑网范偲慧，杨帆编译

Why We Need To Take Solar Energy More Seriously
太阳能的进击：解决能源问题迫在眉睫


今天我们深入探讨一下太阳能这个有趣的话题，谈谈我们为何要更加重视太阳能的应用。
Today we dive into the interesting topic of solar energy and discuss why we need to take solar energy more seriously.

太阳是地球的109倍，地球万物都依靠它生存，而如今我们生活的时代基本告别了对太阳的盲目崇拜，已经可以通过科技手段来充分利用丰富的太阳能了。太阳能的开发和应用可以让我们告别对不可再生的化石燃料的依赖。如果我们忽视太阳能或者其他替代能源的开发利用，按照现在全球的能源消耗速度，不到100年我们将面临能源匮乏的局面，那时我们的社会文明将停滞不前。
We live in an age where we can tap into the abundant energy of the sun, which is 109 times the size of the earth. Using the energy of the sun can free us up from the reliance on fossil fuels, which is a limited source of fuel. If we do not start taking advantage of solar energy and other alternative sources of power, civilization will literally come to a standstill in less than a hundred years at our current rate of global energy consumption.

太阳能的利用原理是通过收集太阳光，并将其转化为光伏(PV)，或者被转换为聚光太阳能发电以供暖。这种转换方式可以让太阳能为地球上所有机械文明提供能源。
虽然太阳能被普遍认为可以代替电能，但是它能做的不仅仅是为照明工具或者电子产品提供能源，还可以为很多其他种类的产品以及不同领域的技术提供能源，例如可以推动电力水泵、为水加热，提供运输服务，以及为无线对讲机充电等等。

Solar energy works by capturing sunlight and converting this energy into photovoltaic power (PV). It can also be converted into concentrated solar power (CSP) for solar heating. This energy conversion allows the energy of the sun to be used as a source of power for all our mechanized civilization here on earth.
Solar power can be used to power a broad range of gadgets and to fuel different technologies. While it is popularly thought of as a replacement for electric energy, it can do much more than just power light bulbs and electronics. For example, it can be used to power water pumps, water heating, provide transportation, and charge up wireless speakers. The list is inexhaustible.

这里有几个例子可以说明太阳能为我们的世界带来的巨大改变：
Here are just a few examples to illustrate what solar energy can do for our world:

3个不为大家所熟知的太阳能用途
3 Less Well-Known Uses of Solar Energy
Here are 3 sources of solar-power you may not know about yet:

1. 太阳能水泵：太阳能水泵由光伏电池板推动运行，对农民帮助巨大。传统的水泵运行时通过柴油或者电推动，而太阳能水泵是通过光伏电池板捕捉和收集阳光的辐射热能为水泵供能。太阳能电池板通常单独出售，有很多选择，比如离网型太阳能电池板、并网型太阳能电池板、备用电源设备、房车或船用太阳能电池板等。
1.Solar Water Pumps are especially useful for farmers. This pump runs on electricity generated by photovoltaic panels. These panels capture and collect the radiated thermal energy from sunlight. Traditionally, water pumps run on diesel or grid electricity. They are often sold as kits, so you can buy Off-grid Solar Kits, Grid-tie Solar Kits, Backup Power Kits, RV & Marine Solar Kits.

2.太阳能运输：太阳能还能为我们的交通运输提供能源，减少我们的碳排放，或许有一天，你能坐上太阳能驱动的火车。虽然现在看这有点不靠谱或者有点牵强附会，但这并非难以实现。阳光动力号作为世界上首架太阳能动力飞机，已经完成了它的环球之旅，这在一时间引起了极大的轰动。
在中国人口密集的大城市，像北京，现在已经有了太阳能公交。如今这个领域的技术已经相当成熟了，完全可以为汽车、飞机、公共汽车、地铁以及火车等交通工具提供太阳能动力，甚至连道路都可以由太阳能供能。在澳大利亚的堪培拉，太阳能汽车已经出现在了赛车场上。所以太阳能运输的实现只是时间问题，技术上已经相当成熟，主要缺的是对发展太阳能的主流意识的进步。

2.Solar Powered Transportation can be used to power our transportation and reduce our carbon footprint. One day, you will be riding a solar-powered train. If you think that’s a little far-fetched, Solar Impulse, a solar-power aircraft created a public sensation after it flew around the world.
In China, densely-populated cities like Beijing have solar buses. The technology is available right now to power cars, planes, buses, subways, and trains with solar power. In fact, even roads can be charged with solar power! In Australia,Spirit of Canberra, a solar-powered car was used in racing competitions. When it comes to solar-powered transportation, it’s not a question of if it’s a question of when. The technology is available, what’s missing is mainstream awareness about advancements in solar energy use.

2. 3.太阳能电子产品：太阳能电子产品开始变得越来越流行，比如Anker的PowerCore，一款太阳能充电器，你可以用它给任何你喜欢的设备充电，像智能手机、平板电脑或者电子阅读器等。太阳能手电、收音机、音响等将会逐渐取代传统的用电或电池产品。今后你还可能将你的粮食储存在太阳能冰箱或迷你冰箱中，用太阳能恒温器或者太阳能空调调节室内温度。如果你正在使用可穿戴设备，比如Fitbit或者Apple的手表，而这些设备采用的是太阳能供电的话，你完全不用担心电池没电，也不需要每天晚上给它们充电。
3.Solar Powered Electronics are becoming popular. For example, the Anker’s PowerCore, a solar-powered charger, can be used to power any of your favorite devices, like your smartphone, your tablet, and your e-reader. Solar powered flashlights, radios, and music speakers will gradually replace those powered by electricity or batteries. In the future, you may routinely store your food in solar-powered freezers or mini-fridges and change room temperature with solar-powered thermostats or solar-powered air-conditioning.
If you’re currently using a wearable device, like Fitbit or Apple Watches, you may not need to charge it with electricity when the battery runs down. Solar-powered versions won’t need to be recharged at night anymore.

3个大家已知的太阳能用途
3 Better Known Uses of Solar Energy

接下来举三个你可能已经知道的太阳能用途，这在主流媒体上已经被广泛报道过了：
Here are 3 sources of solar-power that you may know a little about already as these have been more broadly covered by mainstream media:

1.太阳能照明：太阳能照明顾名思义就是利用太阳能照亮街道或者房子的方式。如果你想要提高能效，减少电费开支，太阳能照明就是不二之选。不同于传统电网，需要到处通上电线这种既不安全又显杂乱的方式，太阳能照明可以让你从一团糟的电线中解放出来，无线灯可以在白天收集太阳能，晚上提供照明。
太阳能照明不应该和太阳能电池板相混淆，因为它还可用于室外照明。零售商像家得宝销售的路灯只需20美元，事实上太阳能路灯已经变得越来越常见，因为这意味着可以节约一项巨大的开支。
1.Solar Lighting is a form of solar energy can be used to light up a street or a house. If you want to improve home efficiency and cut down standard electric bills, add solar lighting to your property. Unlike using the traditional electric grid, you won’t need to run wires everywhere, because wireless lights harness the power of the sun during the day to allow you to light up your property at night.
Solar lighting should not be confused with solar panels because it is used for outdoor lighting. Home retailers like Home Depot sell lighting arrays for as little as $20 a light. In fact, it’s becoming commonplace to see solar-powered street lights because of the huge cost savings.

2.太阳能屋顶：太阳能屋顶现在已经被广泛应用了。使用太阳能的家庭每年可以节省数千美元的开支，同时这也是一个减少碳排放的环保行为。
2.Solar Rooftops are now fairly well-known. Homeowners who use solar energy in this way literally shave off thousands of dollars from their utility bill every year, and, of course, they can also take pride in cutting their carbon footprint, too.

3.太阳能加热系统：太阳能加热系统甚至都不需要购买太阳能电池板。很多人已经意识到太阳能屋顶的好处了，但是对太阳能空间加热器和太阳能热水器还不甚了解。太阳能加热系统是利用空气或者液体等媒介将太阳光的辐射转化为热能，太阳能热水器的工作原理就是这样，只不过它的导热媒介是水。
3.Solar Heating does not require an initial investment of buying solar panels. While homeowners are usually aware of the benefits of solar rooftops, many are not aware of solar space heaters and solar water heaters. A solar heater will convert the energy of sunlight into thermal energy by using a medium like air or liquid. A solar water heater also converts solar energy into thermal energy, except it uses water as a means of thermal transference.

为什么我们需要尽快完成能源转变
Why We Need to Make a Shift Soon

我们现在之所以仍在使用化石燃料的其中一个说法是因为安装太阳能系统的成本太高。这其实是一个相当不合逻辑的理由，因为如果我们不尽快转换能源使用模式，将会付出更大的代价。如果我们继续使用煤炭、石油、天然气等化石燃料， 那么等到2055年，最晚2088年，我们将没有能源可用，到那个时候就没有任何可回转的余地了。
The principle argument used to defend the current practice of continuing to use fossil fuels is that it’s too expensive to set-up solar systems. This is a fairly illogical defense of the status quo because it will be much more expensive if we don’t make the shift to alternative energy choices. If we don’t quit using coal, oil, and natural gas soon, then as early as 2055 or as late as 2088, we won’t have any power. We will have passed a point of no-return.

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