美国有线新闻 CNN 可发电的太阳窗来了

What is the world's most widely used source of renewable energy? Solar power, wind energy, hydropower or bio-fuels.

世界上最广泛使用的可再生能源是什么？太阳能、风能、水力发电还是生物燃料？

Hydropower, hydroelectricity is used more than any other renewable.

水力发电是使用最多的可再生能源。

Hydropower is also one of the oldest forms of renewable energy. Wheels spun¹ by the current of flowing water provided power for centuries before electricity caught on. Solar panels as we know them are a much more recent invention. Their development really started advancing in the 1950s. They come with some downsides. Though they're considered a form of clean energy, building the panels themselves and then disposing of old or damaged ones can cause significant harm to the environment.

水力发电也是最古老的可再生能源之一。在电力接通前，由水流转动轮子提供了数个世纪的电力。我们所知道的太阳能电池板是最近的发明。其发展真正开始于上世纪50年代。但它们也存在一些缺点。尽管太阳能板被认为是一种清洁能源，但自行建造面板再处理旧的或受损面板，可能会对环境造成严重危害。

And the solar windows you're about to see are relatively² small. Manufacturers will have to find a way to build larger ones. Owners of skyscrapers³ will have to decide whether they want to install them. And there are questions about their cost versus⁴ modern windows that don't generate electricity. But the company that makes solar windows says the benefits are clear as glass.

大家即将看到的太阳窗相对较小。制造商需要找到方法来制造更大的窗户。摩天大楼的业主将不得不决定是否安装这些窗户。另外，与不发电的现代窗户相比，这些窗户的成本也存在疑问。但生产太阳窗的公司表示，其好处显而易见。

1 spun   

v.纺，杜撰，急转身

参考例句：

• His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
• Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。

2 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

3 skyscrapers   

n.摩天大楼

参考例句：

• A lot of skyscrapers in Manhattan are rising up to the skies. 曼哈顿有许多摩天大楼耸入云霄。
• On all sides, skyscrapers rose like jagged teeth. 四周耸起的摩天大楼参差不齐。

4 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。