Why Solar Energy is important?
Why Solar Energy is important?
The potential of solar energy to solve a number of world’s challenges is the principal source of renewable energy. There are numerous reasons for the solar power source to be a prominent factor in the energy sector. Because it’s versatile and offers numerous benefits to both people and environmental protection, the power source is growing in popularity.
What exactly is solar energy?
Sunlight is the source that gives rise to solar energy. The sun is the source of power for our planet. It provides the energy necessary to maintain our environment and grow our population, irrespective of whether you are aware of it or not. Sun’s power is enough to meet our entire needs. It is estimated that the US Department of Energy estimates that 173,000 terawatts sun energy hit the earth each second, which is over 10,000 times more than the total world energy consumption. The sun can be used to generate electricity that’s free clean, renewable, and sustainable. Solar energy can be used to provide heat, light, and other electricity-dependent needs in homes and buildings.
Environmental Protection is essential
According to the U.S. Department of Energy the amount of sunlight Earth receives in one hour is higher than the energy that is consumed by the entire planet for one year. Bloomberg reports that solar power was the most rapidly growing energy sector in 2015, with an increase of 33. The promotion of solar energy is motivated by its environmental advantages.
Solar is safe and clean
The most secure alternative to fossil fuels like coal and gas is solar. Solar power can generate electricity that produces air pollution, water, and soil. According to the World Wide Fund For Nature (also called the WWF) warns that electricity generated from fossil fuels could create pollution in the air, acid rain, damage to forest areas, and alter the production of agricultural products, leading to a reduction of millions of USD globally. The process of fracking that is being used in the United States uses thousands of liters of water to extract water. This could also cause earthquakes and contamination of water bodies nearby. The environmental disasters generated by nuclear energy have resulted in contamination of the land and water. These unclean and dangerous consequences of using fossil fuels will be eliminated through the use of solar power.
Habitat destruction prevented
In order to extract raw materials such as fossil fuels or nuclear fuels, forests are cut down. For their food trees continuously extract carbon dioxide from the air and store it within their forests. This carbon sink is lost when forests are removed for the mining of the raw materials needed for traditional energy. This also can contribute to the climate change. According to WWF the majority of ten land-based animals live in forests. A loss of forest habitats can lead to a decrease in the amount of wildlife they have. It is crucial to switch to solar power to preserve these habitats for wildlife that inhabit them and to maintain clean air.
Climate Change Combated
Based on the Environmental Protection Agency, 2017 greenhouse gas emissions were 13% lower than 2005 levels. In actual fact, greenhouse gas emissions actually decreased by.5% between 2016 and 2017. Global warming and changing weather patterns are all caused by emissions. Heat waves and an rise in the number of pests that spread disease can result in serious health issues, particularly for children and the aged.
The change in weather patterns has resulted in an increase in floods as well as hurricanes as a result of climate changes. An increase in carbon dioxide levels is causing acidification of the oceans and the corals are dying off along with marine life. Climate change is responsible for the destruction of species from the Sub-Arctic boreal forests as well as the tropical Amazon forests. The melting of the polar cap causes a decrease in the wildlife habitats as well as an elevation of sea levels. People are displaced by the disappearance of the coasts. In the world, irregular rain or more frequent droughts could be detrimental to agriculture and the lifestyles of the poorer sections of society.
Since solar power doesn’t release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, solar power could slow climate change. According to Greenpeace myth 5 (report on myths about energy) solar panels could offset carbon footprints in just 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) which is enough to power over 13 million homes during the second quarter of the year 2019.
Sources of small and decentralized electricity
The main benefit for solar power is its capacity to produce on a small scale by the consumer, as opposed to large-scale conventional energy sources controlled centrally by large corporations.
Photo-voltaic cells that are mounted on the roofs of buildings produce heat and electricity using solar energy. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), this is a distributed source of energy that is utilized by households and businesses. As per the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there are also passive solar designs for buildings that can heat or cool space and energy-efficient solar heating of the water.
These systems are becoming more popular for power generation at the community levels. According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s analysis, 13 states had more than 100 megawatts in power production capacity in the year 2015. Residential units had 2 gigawatts. Between 2010 and 2015, 100 MW of solar power plants for community use were constructed. These are vital to ensure that communities continue to function at a lower cost.
EIA also states that the large-scale “Solar thermal/electric plant plants generate electrical energy by condensing sunlight to heat a fluid, and then producing steam that powers a generator.”
Because solar power is decentralized, it can be used in remote locations that are not connected to the grid. This is vital for farms that run greenhouses, irrigation, dryers for hay. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, this makes agriculture safe.
A reliable, affordable and cost-effective energy source
The price of solar panels has been reduced by technological advancements as well as government subsidies and policies. According to Energy.gov, the price of solar solar systems have dropped by 60%, and the cost of solar energy systems has decreased by half. The solar energy market is more competitive than conventional energy sources.
According to Greenpeace, the running costs are lower , and the initial investment is recovered leading to savings in energy costs. According to Greenpeace’s myth-busting report (myth 1) solar energy is based on sunlight and is free. Yet, fossil-fuels must be extracted and transported over long distances. According to the Greenpeace report, within the United States, the costs of dealing with environmental problems caused by using “dirty energy sources” are twice or more than the electricity costs that comes from coal or other traditional sources. The additional cost are able to be eliminated or offset by solar power.
Generation of Jobs
Guardian states that United States was the fifth-largest solar panel producer in the world in the year 2016. The industry has also created thousands of new jobs. According to Energy.gov Solar employment has increased 123% over five years. In 2015, there were 209,000 solar employees. Most solar installations were performed by small companies. Next came designers, salespeople and service professionals. The industry was growing at a 12% faster pace than the average American work force, which helped keep the economy moving.
Solar Energy Industry Jobs
64 percent of U.S. electricity was generated from fossil fuels, such as coal, petroleum natural gas, natural gas, and various other gas. About 19% of the electricity produced was generated by nuclear energy, and 17% from renewable sources. This is unchanged from 2015. According to an Solar Foundation report, the solar industry employed 242,000 workers in the year 2018.
The Solar Workforce is Growing
U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER), 2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) The number of workers employed in the traditional Energy and Energy Efficiency sector are around 6.4 millions Americans. The number of jobs that were created in 2016 was nearly 5percent more than the previous year, which was 300,000. In 2016 14% of all new jobs in the U.S. were created by this industry. The industries employ 55% the energy workers, while around 374,000 employees work part-time or full time in solar. There are around 260,000 full-time employees in the solar sector. The number of solar workers increased by 25% in 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. Since 2006, solar energy received funding of over 150 million dollars. Research into solar power earned $310 million in 2013, with an additional $65 million more added in 2016. The idea was to increase the performance of solar cells, create innovative solar collectors, and storage capacities, and reduce the price of electricity generated to make it accessible to everyone via the [xfield_companycompany.
According to MIT, research is underway to create new photovoltaic devices. This includes decreasing how much silicon is used and testing various forms and shapes of panels, biobased material as well as solar panel production that is not panel-less and so on.
A different option would be to improve the battery’s capacity for storage so that they can save surplus solar energy for later use. This can increase efficiency and ensure continuous supply. Lithium-ion battery combination with software, as well as the new “polymer hybrid supercapacitors” can help reduce costs.
Five Reasons to Be Proud of Solar Energy
Numerous businesses and homeowners are turning to solar power due to a variety of reasons. There are many advantages to solar power, not only for individuals but for the whole globe. These are only some of the reasons to be supportive of solar energy.
1. It’s beneficial for the environment.
Solar energy is more environmentally friendly as compared to conventional electrical power. It does not rely on fossil fuels and does not cause pollution to the air and water. This is why solar energy is a superior option for many. Solar energy utilizes the earth’s resources, while traditional electricity depletes or harms the resources.
2. This is an efficient and efficient and cost-effective source of energy.
The sun is a renewable energy source. Although fossil fuels may eventually exhaust their energy however sunlight will not. Solar energy is therefore highly reliable. It’s also less expensive than fossil fuels, which can be expensive to extract and then use. To reap the benefits only require a one-time solar equipment installation.
3. It will save you money in the long-term
Although the cost to install solar panel systems as well as solar electrical systems have decreased in recent times, some people still find it daunting to invest into solar power. It is important to be aware that solar energy installation is a one-time event. But, the cost of electricity is a continuous, costly and regular expense, particularly with the rising cost of electricity. It is possible to reduce your expenses when you invest in solar electricity.
4. Solar Power creates jobs and spurs economic growth
Did you realize that US solar industry is responsible for more jobs per average than any other industry? According to the Solar Foundation’s most recent National Solar Jobs Census report solar energy generates seventeen times the number of jobs as does all other industries in the US general economy. There were 250,000 employees working in the solar power field as of 2019.
5. It promotes energy independence
Energy independence refers to the ability to not depend on the grid to get energy. This leaves you open to price increases and can cause power outages on Long Island and New York City. It could be a problem in the event that there isn’t a way to provide power to your home. When you have an emergency battery backup system as well as solar PV panels, you can avoid being dependent on unstable power grids at times when you need it most.
