As the world population continues to rise and modernization and advancements are witnessed daily, countries all over consume energy rapidly. Many experts fear the pending arrival of the depletion of non-renewable energy sources like oil, gas, and coal, forecasted in the next 30, 40, and 70 years respectively.
Unbeknownst to many, these sources aren’t limitless and the time will come when they’ll run out. Sadly, that time is fast approaching, so the people of this planet must find a way to utilize alternative energy sources like the sun. This will help reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels.
This post will explore solar energy’s advantages, applications, challenges, and future. It’ll discuss how solar can become a viable renewable energy source for our planet, so read on to discover more.
What Is Solar Energy?
Solar energy is the power harnessed from the sun that’s converted into electricity. This energy can power factories, commercial establishments, schools, homes, and even the entire city. The sun’s abundant powerful heat generated in an hour is believed sufficient to power the whole world for a year. That’s because the sun’s heat reaches the planet at about 430 quintillion joules per hour. That energy is virtually limitless since the sun isn’t expected to die any time soon. Well, not in the next five billion years, anyway.
In recent years, people have benefited from the sun’s powerful rays through solar panels to power their homes. However, some get discouraged by the high upfront cost of solar installation. If you plan to use solar in the future, check out this valuable resource: Thin Film Solar Cells and Solar Panels: Everything You Need To Know, so you’ll be guided.
The Advantages Of Solar
The power generated by the sun is considered clean since it doesn’t produce greenhouse gas emissions or harmful pollutants. It’s one of the most environmentally friendly and reliable energy sources since the sun is present all year round.
Solar panels are low maintenance, and units are durable and reliable. Units usually have a lifespan of about 25 years. This means that homeowners don’t need to experience constant repairs and replacements. Despite its high acquisition and installation cost, many prefer to invest in solar energy for their homes and businesses.
How Solar Energy Works
There are two main types of solar applications: photovoltaic cells and concentrated solar power.
- Photovoltaic (PV) Cells
This is used in homes and many other small-scale applications. The PV cells use silicon to absorb photons from the sun to convert to electricity. They are also placed on panels positioned on a structure’s roof.
- Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Systems
These ones were used in large-scale applications. The CSP systems use mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight onto a central receiver, usually a tower or a trough that heats a fluid, such as water or molten salt, to generate steam. This steam is then used to drive a turbine and generate electricity.
The Many Applications Of Solar Energy
Many industries benefit from the power of the sun. Today you can see many homes with solar panels on their rooftops. The top city that uses solar panels in the United States is Honolulu, Hawaii, which is about three solar panels attributed to each person. With each person generating a solar capacity of about 1,133 watts. An impressive number for this tiny island.
Aside from residential applications, many commercial establishments also benefit from solar. Furthermore, the transportation sector also uses solar to power vehicles, including cars, trains, and buses. Meanwhile, the agricultural industry uses this to power irrigation systems to help farmers with their crops.
The Disadvantages Of Solar
Despite its many benefits, there are also issues with using solar, such as the following:
- The high upfront installation costs
- The intermittent availability of sunlight can affect the continuous supply of power
- Land use and environmental concerns potentially affect local ecosystems and wildlife since solar power plants require vast land to generate electricity.
- Disposal of solar panels when they reached the end of their life since they contain toxic substances
The Future Of Solar Energy
The future of solar energy is promising, and many look forward to converting to this renewable energy source for their residential and business use. Some key factors the industry is expected to witness are the following:
- Technological Advancements – Solar cells can now be printed on more flexible materials such as thin film, which may replace the toxic silicon-based solar cells, as mentioned in the first half of this post.
- Storage and Distribution – Experts are now eyeing to use batteries to store excess energies collected from panels to be utilized during peak times or during weather disturbances.
- Integration with Other Renewable Energy Sources – Solar has the potential to be integrated with wind or hydroelectric energy sources for a more stable supply of power
Conclusion
Solar energy has already become one of the most reliable renewable sources. And as technology advances, the world will still witness more ways to harness the sun’s power more efficiently to sustain the entire population’s needs.
As the world looks forward to running with a renewable energy source like solar, it can expect to be alleviated by the burden caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Since solar is cleaner than gas, oil, or coal, depending on this energy source will be a more valiant effort. We can leave the world better for future generations.
