What is Solar Energy?

There are many advantages to clean energy beyond simply being “green”. This sector is growing and is creating new jobs. It also makes the electricity grid more resilient and expands access to energy for those in emerging countries. Additionally, it reduces the cost of energy. These factors have all contributed to the recent revival of renewable energy sources, with wind and solar setting new records in electricity generation.

In the past 150 years, mankind has relied heavily upon coal, oil, and other fossil fuels to power everything, from light bulbs to cars and factories, from cars to vehicles. The greenhouse gases released by fossil fuels from burning them have reached record records.

The temperature average of the Earth’s surface is rising because greenhouse gases trap heat that could otherwise go out into space. Global warming is a sign that climate changes are taking place. Scientists use the term”global warming” to explain the complicated changes that affect the weather and climate systems on our planet. Climate change includes increasing temperatures extreme weather conditions, shifting wildlife habitats and population growth, rising seas and other impacts.

Renewables, like any other source of energy are not without their own set of trade-offs. One of these is the definition of renewable electricity. Renewable energy, as it is defined is precisely what you would expect. It’s always available or as it is described by the U.S. Energy Information Administration says, “virtually unlimited.” However, “renewable,” does not necessarily mean sustainable as are the main opponents to Hydropower Dams and corn-based Ethanol. This doesn’t mean other sources that have low- or no-emissions that also have advocates such as energy efficiency and nuclear power.

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 largest resource in the world for national renewable energy laboratories is hydropower. It is a major source of hydropower and has China, Brazil and Canada being the biggest producers. While hydropower is theoretically an alternative source of clean energy that is replenished by snow or rain, there are several downsides.

Large dams can disrupt river ecosystems and communities. This could lead to the displacement of residents and wildlife. Silt build-up can cause hydropower generation to be less efficient , and also damage equipment. Dry conditions can cause issues. According to a 2018 study, carbon dioxide emission levels in the Western U.S. were 100 megatons higher than normal over a 15-year period. This was due to utilities switching on gas and coal in order to replace the lost hydropower due to drought. Hydropower even at its full capacity, has emissions issues because the organic matter that is decomposing in reservoirs releases 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 1percent of all renewable energy but they still are able to generate 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 used to generate energy for over seven thousand years. Wind turbines that produce electricity are now thriving across the globe and include China and the U.S. It is believed that the United States and Europe are the largest producers of wind power. Between 2001 to 2017, the world’s accumulated wind power increased by 22 times. It was 23,900 MW however, it was able to generate 539,000 megawatts.

Although some might be unhappy about how wind turbines look in the sky or their noise, wind energy is now too valuable to ignore, due to its decreasing costs. Although most wind power is generated from onshore turbines most of it is generated by offshore wind farms. The most prominent being in the U.K. and Germany. In 2016, the first U.S. offshore wind farms was opened located in Rhode Island. The other offshore developments are also getting more attention. Wind turbines pose a threat to bats and birds. They kill thousands of bats and birds every year, though less than collisions with glass or other dangers such as habitat loss and invading species. Engineers are searching for ways to make them secure for wildlife flying through them.

Solar cells: Solar panels are changing the energy market around the globe and are being used on rooftops in houses to farms on a large scale. The world’s installed photovoltaic panel capacity has increased by 4,300 percent over the decade between 2007 and 2017.

Apart from solar panels that convert direct sunlight into electricity, concentrating sunlight power (CSP) plants also use mirrors to focus solar power plants and extract thermal energy. CSP is a popular method of generating thermal energy. U.S., Japan and China are the top three countries in the field of solar transformation. However, solar needs a lot to be done. In 2017, it was estimated that the U.S. generated around two percent of the electricity. Around the world, solar thermal energy is used for solar heating and cooling, as well as hot water.

Solar energy can be used to power your home

A solar photovoltaic home system is the most efficient option to save money on solar energy. The [xfield_company] Solar Marketplace is a great starting point to look for the right system at the right price. Sign up to receive free estimates from pre-screened, certified solar installers in your area. It’s simple to compare quotes and comprehend the most important metrics, such as energy requirements and cost per watt.