What is Solar Energy?

There are numerous benefits of green energy that go beyond simply being “green”. The industry is expanding and is creating new jobs. It also makes the electricity grid more robust and improves access to energy for those in developing countries. Additionally, it reduces energy costs. These factors have all been a factor in the recent rise of renewable energy sources, which has seen wind and solar set new records in electricity generation.

Over the last 150 years, humankind has relied heavily on oil, coal and various fossil fuels for powering everything from light bulbs to automobiles and factories to cars to vehicles. The greenhouse gases released by fossil fuels from burning have hit record highs.

The average temperature of the Earth’s surface is rising because greenhouse gases trap heat that could otherwise go out into space. Global warming is one sign of climate change. Scientists are now using the term”global warming” to explain the complicated changes that affect the weather and climate systems of our planet. Climate change is characterized by rising temperatures, extreme weather events changing habitats for wildlife and increasing sea levels and other impacts.

Renewables, like any other source of energy 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 would expect. It’s either always accessible or, as it is described by the U.S. Energy Information Administration states, “virtually unlimited.” Although, “renewable,” does not necessarily mean sustainable . There are those who oppose large power dams, or corn-based ethanol. It does not include other resources with emissions that are low or zero, and 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 to harness their power and build dams to control the flow of water. The world’s largest source of national renewable energy laboratories is hydropower. It is a major producer of hydropower which includes China, Brazil and Canada as the leading producers. Although hydropower could theoretically be a source of clean energy that is replenished through snow or rain but there are many drawbacks.

Large dams may create disruptions to river ecosystems and communities. This can result in the displacement of residents and wildlife. Silt build-up can cause hydropower generation to be less efficient and damage equipment. Drought can also lead to problems. According to a study in 2018 carbon dioxide emissions in the Western U.S. were 100 megatons higher than normal over a 15 year period. This resulted from utilities switching to coal and gas to replenish the hydropower lost because of drought. Hydropower even at its highest capacity is not without its emission issues as the decaying organic material in reservoirs emits methane.

Not only are dams the best method of harnessing water’s power, but so is wave and tide energy. Although marine energy projects generate less than 1percent of all renewable energy however, they are able to generate 500 megawatts. This area has been encouraged by programs like that of the Saltire Prize in Scotland.

Wind Energy from wind turbines has been utilized to generate energy for more than 7700 years. Wind turbines that generate electricity are now thriving all over the world including China and the U.S. It is believed that the United States and Europe are the leading producers of wind power. Between 2001 and 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 dissatisfied at how wind turbines look on the horizon or their sounds, wind power is now too valuable to ignore, due to its decreasing cost. Although most wind power is generated by onshore turbines, the majority of it is generated by offshore wind farms. Most prominently, they are located those in U.K. and Germany. In 2016, the very first U.S. offshore wind farms was launched in Rhode Island. Other offshore projects are getting more attention. Wind turbines pose a risk to bats and birds. They kill hundreds of thousands annually, but less than collisions with glass or other dangers such as habitat destruction and invasive species. Engineers are seeking ways to make these secure for wildlife flying through them.

Solar: Solar cells are changing the energy industry all over the world from the rooftops of houses to farms on a large scale. The world’s installed photovoltaic panel capacity for energy has grown by 4,300 percent in the 10 years between 2007 and 2017.

Apart from solar panels , which convert direct sunlight to electricity Concentrating sun power (CSP) plants also use mirrors to concentrate solar power plants and extract thermal energy. The U.S., Japan and China are leaders in the field of solar transformation. But solar needs a lot to complete. In 2017, in the U.S. generated around two percent of the electricity. In the world, solar thermal power is utilized for solar heating and cooling, as well as hot water.

Solar energy can be used to power your home

The installation of a photovoltaic solar residential system is the ideal way to conserve money on solar energy. The [xfield_companycompany’s Solar Marketplace is a great place to start your look for the right solution at the right cost. Sign up for free quotes from pre-screened, qualified solar installers near your location. It’s easy to compare quotes and to understand key metrics like energy requirements and cost per watt.