What is Solar Energy?

There are numerous benefits of clean energy , and it’s not just about simply being “green”. The sector is expanding and creating jobs. It also makes the electricity grid more durable and increases access to energy for those in the developing world. And it helps lower the cost of energy. All of these factors have played a role in the recent revival of renewable energy, which has seen wind and solar set new records in electricity generation.

In the last 150 years, humankind has heavily relied on oil, coal and various fossil fuels to power everything, including light bulb to automobiles and factories to cars to vehicles. The greenhouse gases released by fossil fuels from burning them have reached historic levels.

The average temperature of the surface is rising because greenhouse gases trap heat that could otherwise go to space. Global warming is one sign of climate change. Scientists now use the term”global warming” to describe the complex changes affecting the weather and climate systems on our planet. Climate change can be described as increasing temperatures extreme weather events changing habitats for wildlife and increasing sea levels and a myriad of other effects.

Like any other energy source are not without their own set of trade-offs. One of them can be described as renewable electricity. Renewable energy, in its strictest sense, is exactly what you might believe. 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 . There are opponents to large hydropower dams or corn-based ethanol. It does not include other sources that have emissions that are low or zero, and also have advocates such as energy efficiency and nuclear power.

3 Examples of Renewable Energy sources

Hydropower: Humans have used the power of rivers for centuries for harnessing their potential and construct dams to regulate the flow of water. The world’s largest source of national renewable energy labs is hydropower. It is the largest producer of hydropower and has China, Brazil and Canada being the top producers. Although hydropower can theoretically be an alternative source of clean energy that can be replenished by rain or snow but there are many drawbacks.

Large dams may create disruptions to the river ecosystem and communities. This could lead to displacement of residents as well as wildlife. Silt accumulation can cause hydropower generation 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 more than normal over a period of 15 years. This was due to utilities turning on gas and coal to replenish the hydropower lost due to drought. Hydropower even at its highest capacity has its emissions problems since the organic material that decays in reservoirs emits methane.

Dams aren’t the only best way to harness the power of water, but also is tide and wave energy. Although marine energy projects generate less than 1% of all renewables but they still have the potential to produce 500 megawatts. This area has been encouraged through programs such as The Saltire Prize in Scotland.

Wind: Wind energy has been utilized for energy production for over 7,000 years. Wind turbines, which generate electricity are now popping up across the globe, with China and the U.S. The United States and Europe are the largest producers of wind power. Between 2001 to 2017 the world’s total wind power increased by 22 times. It was 23,900 MW, but it could generate 539,000 megawatts.

While some may be displeased about the way wind turbines appear at the horizon, or the sounds, wind power is now an asset that is too valuable to be ignored, because of its falling prices. While the majority of wind power is generated through onshore turbines, most of it is generated by offshore wind farms. Most prominently, they are located in the U.K. and Germany. In 2016, the first U.S. offshore wind farm opened located in Rhode Island. The other offshore developments are getting more attention. Wind turbines are a danger 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 like habitat loss or the spread of invasive species. Engineers are looking for ways to make them safe for flying wildlife.

Solar: Solar cells are changing the energy market across the globe, from rooftops on homes to huge-scale farms. The photovoltaic panel’s installed energy capacity has increased by 4,300 percent during the 10 years between 2007 and 2017.

Apart from solar panels , which convert direct sunlight into electricity, concentrating sunlight power (CSP), plants also use mirrors to focus solar power plants, and to extract thermal energy. It is believed that the U.S., Japan and China are leaders in solar transformation. However, solar needs a lot to be done. In 2017, in the U.S. generated around two percent of the electricity. Worldwide, solar thermal energy is being used to power solar cooling and heating as well as hot water.

Solar energy can be used to power your home

The installation of a photovoltaic solar residential system is the best method to conserve money on solar energy. The Texas Solar Group|company’s|The Texas Solar Group} Solar Marketplace is a great place to start your look for the right system at the right price. Sign up to receive free quotes from pre-screened, qualified solar installers close to your location. It’s simple to evaluate quotes, and to understand crucial metrics such as the energy requirement and cost per watt.