What is Solar Energy?

There are numerous benefits of clean energy , and it’s not just about the fact that it is “green”. The industry is expanding and creating jobs. It also makes electricity grids more robust and improves access to energy for those in the developing world. And it helps lower energy prices. All these factors have contributed to the recent revival of renewable energy, with solar and wind setting records for electricity generation.

In the past 150 years, mankind has relied heavily on oil, coal, and other fossil fuels for powering everything including light bulb to cars and factories to cars to vehicles. The greenhouse gasses generated by fossil fuels burning have hit record highs.

The temperature average of the earth’s surface is increasing because greenhouse gases trap heat that could otherwise go out into space. Global warming is a sign to the onset of climate shift. Scientists now use the term to explain the complicated changes that affect the climate and weather systems on our planet. Climate change includes rising temperatures, extreme weather events shifts in wildlife habitats and population growth, rising seas and a myriad of other effects.

Like any other energy source are not without their own set of trade-offs. One of them are the terms used to define renewable electricity. Renewable energy, as it is defined, is exactly what you think it is. It’s always available or according to it is described by the U.S. Energy Information Administration says, “virtually unlimited.” However, “renewable,” does not necessarily mean sustainable . There are opponents to large power dams, or corn-based ethanol. It doesn’t include other sources with low- or no-emissions that also have advocates like nuclear power and energy efficiency.

3 Examples of Renewable Energy sources

Hydropower: People have utilized the energy of rivers for many centuries in order to tap into their energy and build dams to regulate the flow of water. The biggest source of national renewable energy labs is hydropower. It is a major producer of hydropower, with China, Brazil and Canada as the leading producers. Although hydropower could theoretically be an alternative source of clean energy that is replenished by rain or snow but there are many drawbacks.

Large dams can cause disruption to river ecosystems and communities. This can result in displacement of residents as well as wildlife. Silt accumulation can cause hydropower generation to become less efficient and cause damage to equipment. Dry conditions can cause problems. According to a study in 2018 carbon dioxide emission levels in the Western U.S. were 100 megatons more than normal over a 15 year period. This resulted from utilities switching to coal and gas to replace lost hydropower because of drought. Hydropower even at its full capacity has its emissions problems since the organic material that decays in reservoirs emits methane.

Dams are not only the best way to harness the power of water, but so are tide and wave energy. Even though marine energy projects produce less than 1% of all renewables, they still can produce 500 megawatts. This is a trend that has been boosted through programs such as that of the Saltire Prize in Scotland.

Wind: Energy from wind turbines has been utilized as a source of energy for more than 7700 years. Wind turbines that produce electricity are now popping up throughout the world including China and the U.S. It is believed that the United States and Europe are the leading producers of wind energy. Between 2001 between 2001 and 2017, the world’s accumulated wind power grew by 22-fold. It was 23,900 mw and it could produce 539,000 megawatts.

While some may be displeased about the way wind turbines appear at the horizon, or the noise, wind energy is now too valuable to ignore, with its declining prices. Although most wind power is generated from onshore turbines most of it is generated by offshore wind farms. The most well-known are those in U.K. and Germany. In 2016 one of the first U.S. offshore wind farm opened located in Rhode Island. Others offshore wind farms are getting more attention. Wind turbines pose a risk to birds and bats. They kill thousands of bats and birds each year, although they are not as numerous as collisions with glass or other threats such as habitat loss and invading species. Engineers are seeking ways to make these safe for flying wildlife.

Solar cells: Solar panels are changing the energy market around the globe from the rooftops of homes to large-scale farms. The photovoltaic panel’s installed energy capacity has increased by 4,300 percent during the decade between 2007 and 2017.

In addition to solar panels that convert direct sunlight into electricity Concentrating sunlight power (CSP) plants also use mirrors to concentrate solar power plants, and to extract thermal energy. CSP is a popular method of generating thermal energy. U.S., Japan and China are leaders in the field of solar transformation. But solar has a lot of work to do. In 2017 it was estimated that the U.S. generated around two percent of all electricity. In the world, solar thermal power is being used for cooling and heating in the sun and hot water.

Solar energy can be used to power your home

The installation of a photovoltaic solar residential system is the most efficient way to reduce the cost of solar energy. The [xfield_companycompany’s Solar Marketplace is a great location to begin your look for the right solution at the right cost. Sign up to receive free quotes from pre-vetted, qualified solar installers close to your location. It’s simple for you to review quotes as well as to understand crucial metrics such as energy requirements and cost per watt.