Why Solar Energy is important?
Why Solar Energy is important?
Solar energy’s potential to tackle a variety of global challenges is the main source of renewable energy. There are many reasons that allow that solar energy source being a prominent factor in the energy industry. Because it’s versatile and offers many benefits for people and the environment, this energy source is gaining popularity.
What exactly is solar energy?
Sunlight is the source that gives rise the solar power. The sun power our planet. It is the source of energy to sustain our environment and grow our population, no matter whether or not you realize it. Its solar energy will be enough to supply all our needs. It is estimated that the US Department of Energy estimates that 173,000 terawatts sunlight energy are absorbed by the planet every second, which is over 10,000 times more than the total worldwide energy consumption. The sun can be used to produce electricity that is free green, renewable and safe. Solar energy can be used to provide heat, light, and other electricity-dependent needs in homes and buildings.
Environmental Protection is vitally important
Based on the U.S. Department of Energy the amount of sunshine Earth receives in one hour is greater than the energy consumed by all of the planet’s inhabitants for a year. Bloomberg reports that solar power was the most rapidly growing energy sector in 2015, with the growth of 33. The promotion of solar energy is motivated by its environmental benefits.
Solar energy is safe and clean.
The safest alternative to fossil fuels like gas and coal is solar. Solar can be used to produce electricity, which can cause air, water and soil pollution. The World Wide Fund For Nature (also called the WWF) warns that electricity generated from fossil fuels may result in air pollution, acid rain, damage to forest areas, and affect agricultural production which can result in a cost of billions USD worldwide. In the United States, fracking United States uses thousands of liters of water to extract water. It can also trigger earthquakes and pollution of water bodies in the vicinity. The environmental catastrophes that nuclear power has caused have resulted in contamination of the land and water. These harmful and hazardous effects of using fossil fuels will be eliminated by the use of solar energy.
Habitat destruction prevented
For the mining of essential raw materials, such as nuclear or fossil fuels, precious forests are destroyed. To feed themselves trees continuously remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere , and store it in their forests. This major carbon sink is destroyed when forests are cut in the process of mining raw materials for traditional energy. This also is a major contributor to the climate changes. According to WWF the majority of ten animals living on land live in forests. A loss of forest habitats could result in a decline in their numbers. It is vital to switch to solar energy to maintain these habitats for animals that live there and to maintain clean air.
Climate Change Combated
Based on the Environmental Protection Agency, 2017 greenhouse gas emissions were 13% less than the levels of 2005. Actually greenhouse gas emissions actually decreased by.5% between 2016 and 2017. Global warming and changing weather patterns are all caused by emissions. The effects of heat waves and the increase in the number of insects that transmit diseases can lead to serious health problems, especially for older people and children.
The alteration of weather patterns has resulted in the increase of floods as well as hurricanes due to climate changes. An increase the levels of carbon dioxide are acidifying oceans, and killing marine life like corals. Climate change is responsible for the extinction of species from the Sub-Arctic boreal forests as well as the tropical Amazon forests. The melting of the polar ice cap leads to a reduction in habitats for wildlife, along with an rise in sea level. People are displaced by the disappearance of the coasts. Globally, irregular rainfall or more frequent droughts could impact the agricultural sector and the lives of the most disadvantaged segments of society.
Since solar power doesn’t release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, solar power is able to reduce climate changes. Based on Greenpeace myth number 5 (report on myths about energy), solar panels can offset carbon footprints in as little as four years.
Social and Social Benefits
Based on the Solar Energy Industries Association, the U.S. had an installed capacity of 69.1 gigawatts (GW), enough to supply power to more than 13 million homes in the second quarter 2019.
Small and decentralized sources of electricity
The greatest appeal of solar energy is its capacity to be produced on a small scale by consumers who are the end users, as opposed to large-scale conventional energy sources controlled centrally by large corporations.
Photo-voltaic cells mounted to the tops of individual structures can generate electricity and heat by utilizing solar energy. Based on the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), this is a decentralized source of electricity that can be used by businesses and homes. Based on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there are also passive solar designs of buildings that heat or cool the space as well as energy-efficient solar heating of the water.
These systems are becoming increasingly popular for power generation at the community levels. In the report of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s study 13 states had the capacity of 100 megawatts capacity in the year 2015. Residential units had 2 gigawatts. Between 2010 and 2015, 100 MW of community solar facilities were built. These are vital to allow communities to function at a lower cost.
EIA also says that large-scale “Solar thermal/electric plant plants generate electrical energy by condensing sunlight into heating an oil-based fluid and producing steam to power a generator.”
Because solar power is decentralized, it can be used in remote areas disconnected from the grid. This is vital for farms with irrigation, greenhouses and crop and hay dryers. In the words of the Union of Concerned Scientists, this ensures that agriculture is safe.
Energy source that is reliable and affordable.
The cost of solar systems have been reduced through technological developments along with government subsidies and policies. According to Energy.gov, the price of solar panels has dropped by 60%, and the price of solar power systems by 50. The solar energy market is competitive with conventional energy sources.
According to Greenpeace their report, running costs are less and your initial expenditure is recouped leading to savings on energy costs. According to Greenpeace’s mythology report (myth 1), solar energy uses sunlight and is free. But fossil fuels have to be mined and transported over long distances. Based on the Greenpeace report within the United States, the costs for dealing with environmental concerns due to the use of “dirty power resources” can be twice or more than the price of electricity generated from conventional sources such as coal. The additional cost are able to be offset or eliminated through solar energy.
Generation of Jobs
Guardian reports that the United States was the fifth-largest solar panel manufacturer in the world in the year 2016. It also has created thousands of new jobs. According to Energy.gov the solar workforce has increased by 123% over five years. In 2015 there were 209,000 solar workers. Most solar installations were performed by small businesses. Following were designers, salespeople and service professionals. This industry grew at a faster rate than the average American job market, which helped keep the economy going.
Solar Energy Industry Jobs
64% of U.S. electricity was generated by fossil fuels including petroleum, coal natural gas, natural gas and other gas. About 19% of the electricity generated was produced using nuclear energy, and 17% from renewable sources. The figures are the same as the year 2015. According to an Solar Foundation report, the solar industry employed 242,000 employees in 2018.
The Solar Workforce is Growing
Solar panels for your home provide many advantages, including the possibility of lowering your electric bill from your utility company, decreasing your environmental impact and increasing your home’s value. There are a few disadvantages with solar panels, as with every product. Not every roof is suitable for solar and it may be difficult to locate an installer for solar.
PROS OF SOLAR ENERGY
U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) 2017. U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) The number of workers working in the traditional Energy and Energy Efficiency sector are around 6.4 millions Americans. The number of jobs that were created in 2016 was 5% higher than the year before, and was 300,000. In 2016 14% of all new jobs created in the U.S. were created by this industry. These industries employ 55% the energy workers, while around 374,000 employees work on a full or part-time basis in solar. About 260,000 workers work full-time in the solar sector. The number of solar employees has increased by 25% since the year 2016.
and Innovation Funding and Innovation Funding
Since 1977, since 1977, the U.S. Department of Energy has been the main financing agency. The year 2006 saw solar energy received funding of over 150 million dollars. Studies into solar power was awarded $310 million in 2013, with $65 million added in 2016. The idea was to increase the performance of solar cells, design new solar power collectors, and storage capacities, and reduce the cost of electricity generation to make it more affordable for everyone through the [xfield_companycompany.
According to MIT the research team is working to develop new photovoltaic devices. This includes cutting down on how much silicon is used and testing various designs and forms of solar panels. Other options include bio-based substances and solar panels that are not panel-less, etc.
A different option would be to improve the capacity of batteries to store energy so that they can save excess solar energy for later use. This will increase efficiency and ensure continuous supply. The combination of lithium-ion batteries and software, and new “polymer supercapacitors that are hybrid” will help reduce costs.
Five Reasons to Support Solar Energy
Many homeowners and businesses are turning to solar power due to many reasons. There are many advantages for solar power, and not just for people, but also for the entire planet. These are only some of the reasons to be supportive of solar energy.
1. It’s beneficial for the environment.
Solar energy is more sustainable than conventional electricity. It does not rely on fossil fuels and doesn’t pollute the environment or water. This makes solar energy a better choice for many. Solar energy makes use of the natural resources of the earth, whereas conventional electricity destroys or depletes these resources.
2. This is an efficient and cost-effective energy source
The sun is the only renewable energy source. While fossil fuels eventually run out of energy but sunlight will not. It is therefore extremely reliable. It’s also cheaper than fossil fuels that are costly to mine and to use. For the best results only require an installation of solar panels once.
3. It can save you money over the long run.
Although the cost for installing solar systems and panels has slowed in recent years, some people still find it daunting to make the investment into solar power. It is important to keep in mind that installing solar panels is a once-off event. But, the cost of electricity is a continuous, costly, and frequent expense, particularly with the rising cost of electricity. You will be able to reduce your expenses by investing in solar energy.
4. Solar Power creates jobs and stimulates economic growth
Did you have the knowledge it is true that the US solar industry creates more jobs per person than any other industry? According to the Solar Foundation’s latest National Solar Jobs Census report solar energy is responsible for 17 times more jobs than the US general economy. There were 250,000 people employed within the solar energy sector at the time of the 2019 census.
5. It promotes energy independence
Energy independence is the ability to not rely on the grid for energy. This makes you more vulnerable to price increases , and could result in power outages in Long Island and New York City. It could be a problem in the event that there isn’t a option to power your home. If you have backup batteries and solar PV panels, you can avoid being tethered to unstable power grids when you need it most.