What is Solar Energy?

Another term for Solar Energy is Renewable energy

Renewable energy is often mentioned as a viable alternative to reduce the most severe effects of increasing temperatures. This is because renewable energy sources such as solar and wind don’t emit carbon dioxide and other gases that could contribute to global warming.

There are numerous benefits of green energy that go beyond the fact that it is “green”. The industry is expanding and is creating new jobs. It also makes electricity grids more robust and improves access to energy in developing countries. And it helps lower the cost of energy. These factors have all played a role in the recent revival of renewable energy, with solar and wind setting new records for electricity production.

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

The average temperature of the surface is rising due to greenhouse gases trapping heat that could otherwise go to space. Global warming is a sign that climate changes are taking place. Scientists use the term”climate change” to describe the complex changes affecting the climate and weather systems of our planet. Climate change can be described as rising temperatures, extreme weather events, shifting wildlife habitats and populations, rising seas and a myriad of other effects.

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, strictly speaking is exactly what you think it is. It’s always available or, as it is described by the U.S. Energy Information Administration states, “virtually unlimited.” However, “renewable,” does not necessarily mean sustainable . There are the main opponents to hydropower dams or corn-based ethanol. It does not include other sources that have emissions that are low or zero, and are also backed by advocates, such as energy efficiency and nuclear power.

3 Examples of Renewable Energy sources

Hydropower: People have used the power of rivers for many centuries in order to tap into their energy and construct dams to regulate the flow of water. The biggest 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 could theoretically be a source of clean energy that is replenished by rain or snow however, there are a few drawbacks.

Large dams can cause disruption to river ecosystems and communities. The result could be the displacement of residents and wildlife. Silt buildup can cause hydropower generation to be less efficient , and also damage equipment. The drought can also cause problems. According to a 2018 study carbon dioxide emissions in the Western U.S. were 100 megatons higher than usual over a 15-year period. This was due to utilities switching on gas and coal to replace lost hydropower because of drought. Hydropower, even when it is at its maximum capacity, has emissions issues as the decaying organic material in reservoirs emits methane.

Not only are dams the best way to harness water’s power, but so are tide and wave energy. Although marine energy projects generate less than one percent of renewable energy, they still have the potential to produce 500 megawatts. This is a trend that has been boosted by programs like that of the Saltire Prize in Scotland.

Wind: The energy of wind has been utilized to generate energy for more than 7,000 years. Wind turbines, which generate electricity are now popping up throughout the world, with China, the U.S. The United States and Europe are the largest producers of wind power. Between 2001 and 2017, the world’s cumulative wind power grew by 22-fold. It was 23,900 mw, but it could generate 539,000 megawatts.

Although some might be dissatisfied with how wind turbines look in the sky or their sounds, wind power is now too valuable to ignore, because of its falling cost. Although most wind power comes from onshore turbines most of it comes from offshore wind farms. The most prominent being in the U.K. and Germany. In 2016 the first U.S. offshore wind farms was launched in Rhode Island. Others offshore wind farms are also getting more attention. Wind turbines pose a threat to bats and birds. They kill thousands of bats and birds annually, but they are not as numerous as collisions with glass or other dangers such as habitat destruction and invasive species. Engineers are seeking ways to make them more secure for wildlife flying through them.

Solar: Solar cells have revolutionized the energy market all over the world, from rooftops on homes to large-scale farms. The 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 solar power (CSP) plants also use mirrors to concentrate solar power plants and extract thermal energy. The U.S., Japan and China are the leaders in the field of solar transformation. However, solar requires a lot to complete. In 2017 in the U.S. generated around two percent of the electricity. Worldwide, solar thermal energy is being used 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 method to conserve money on solar energy. The LA Solar Group|company’s|The LA Solar Group} Solar Marketplace is a great starting point to look for the right system for your needs at a reasonable cost. Sign up for free estimates from pre-screened, certified solar installers in your area. It’s easy to evaluate quotes, and understand crucial metrics such as the energy requirement and cost per watt.