What is the reason Solar Energy is important?
Why Solar Energy is important?
The potential of solar energy to tackle a variety of world’s challenges is the principal source of renewable energy. There are many reasons that allow that solar energy source being a prominent factor in the energy sector. Because it is versatile and has many benefits for people and the environment, this energy source is gaining popularity.
What exactly is solar energy?
Sunlight is the source that gives rise in solar energy. The sun power our planet. It supplies the energy needed to maintain our environment and grow our population, regardless of whether or not you realize it. Sun’s power is enough to supply all our needs. According to the US Department of Energy estimates that 173,000 terawatts sun energy hit the earth every second, more than 10,000 times the total worldwide energy consumption. Sun energy can be utilized to generate electricity that’s free, renewable, and clean. Solar energy can be used to provide heat, light, and other electricity-dependent needs in homes and buildings.
Environmental Protection is of paramount importance
As per the U.S. Department of Energy the amount of sunlight Earth receives in one hour is more than the energy consumed by the entire world for one year. Bloomberg states that solar energy was the fastest-growing energy sector in 2015 with the growth of 33. Promoting solar energy is motivated by its environmental advantages.
Solar energy is safe and clean.
The most secure option to replace fossil fuels such as gas and coal is solar. Solar power can produce electricity, which can cause air, water and soil pollution. According to the World Wide Fund For Nature (also known as the WWF) states that fossil fuels may cause pollution of the air and acid rain, cause destruction of forest areas and affect agricultural production and result in the reduction of millions of USD globally. Fracking in the United States uses thousands of liters of water to extract water. This could also cause earthquakes as well as contamination of water bodies nearby. The environmental disasters caused by nuclear power have led to water and land pollution. The harmful and unclean 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 nuclear or fossil fuels, forests are destroyed. To feed their families, trees constantly remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their forests. This carbon sink is destroyed when forests are cut for the mining of raw materials for traditional energy. Also, it contributes to the climate change. According to WWF, eight out of ten animals living on land live in forests. Loss of habitats for forests could lead to a decrease in the number of animals they can find. It is essential to convert to solar energy to maintain these habitats for animals that live there and also to keep the air clean.
Climate Change Combated
Based on the Environmental Protection Agency, 2017 greenhouse gas emissions were 13 percent less than the levels of 2005. In actual fact the greenhouse gas emission actually decreased by.5% between 2016 and 2017. Global warming and shifting weather patterns are caused by the emissions. Heat waves and an rise in the number of insects that transmit diseases can lead to severe health problems, especially for the elderly and children.
The disruption of weather patterns has caused the increase of floods and hurricanes as a result of climate changes. A rise the levels of carbon dioxide are acidifying oceans, and killing marine life like corals. Climate change is causing the extermination of species, from the Sub-Arctic boreal forests as well as the tropical Amazon forests. The melting of the polar cap leads to a reduction in habitats for wildlife, and an increase in sea level. People are forced to relocate due to the submersion and loss on the coasts. Globally, irregular rainfall or more frequent droughts could be detrimental to agriculture and the lifestyles of the poorer segments of society.
Since solar power doesn’t emit carbon dioxide, it could slow climate changes. According to Greenpeace myth number 5 (report on myths about energy) solar panels are able to reduce carbon emissions in as little as four years.
and Social Benefits. and Social Benefits
Based on the Solar Energy Industries Association, the U.S. had an installed capacity at 69.1 gigawatts (GW) which is enough to power more than 13 million homes in the second quarter of 2019.
Sources of small and decentralized electricity
The greatest appeal to solar energy lies in the capacity to be produced on a smaller scale by end consumers in contrast to the traditional energy sources that are controlled centrally by big corporations.
Photo-voltaic panels that are positioned in the rooftops of buildings are able to generate heat and electricity by utilizing solar energy. As per the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), this is a distributed source of electricity that can be utilized by both businesses and households. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there are also passive solar designs for buildings that can heat or cool spaces as well as the solar power of water heating.
These systems are getting more popular for power generation at the community levels. According to the Office for Renewable and Energy’s report 13 states produced more than 100 megawatts in power production capacity in the year 2015. Residential units were 2 gigawatts. Between 2010 to 2015, 100MW of community solar facilities were constructed. These are vital to allow communities to function at the lower cost.
EIA also says that the large-scale “Solar thermal or electric plant plants create electrical energy by condensing sunlight to heat the fluid, then producing steam to power generators.”
Because solar power is distributed, it can be used in remote areas that are disconnected from the grid. This is crucial for farms that operate greenhouses, irrigation, dryers for hay. As per the Union of Concerned Scientists, this ensures that agriculture is safe.
A reliable, affordable and cost-effective energy source
The high cost of solar power systems has been reduced by technological developments along with government subsidies and policies. According to Energy.gov the cost for solar panel systems has dropped by 60% and the cost of solar energy systems by half. It is more affordable than conventional energy sources.
According to Greenpeace that the operating costs are lower , and the initial investment is recouped leading to savings on energy costs. According to Greenpeace’s mythology research (myth 1) solar energy is based on sunlight and is cost-free. But fossil fuels need to be mined and transported over long distances. According to the Greenpeace report, in the United States, the costs of dealing with environmental problems due to the use of “dirty energy sources” are at least twice as high than the cost of electricity generated from conventional sources such as coal. These additional costs can be eliminated or offset by solar energy.
Generation of Jobs
Guardian reports that the United States was the fifth-largest solar panel manufacturer in the world in 2016. It has also created thousands of new jobs. According to Energy.gov the solar workforce has grown by 123% in the last five years. In 2015 there were 209,000 solar employees. The majority of solar installations were done by small companies. Next came designers, salespeople and service professionals. This industry grew at a 12% faster rate than the typical American job market, keeping the economy moving.
Solar Energy Industry Jobs
64 percent of U.S. electricity was generated from fossil fuels, including petroleum, coal natural gas, natural gas and various other gas. Around 19% of electricity was generated using nuclear energy, while 17% came by renewable sources. The figures are the same as 2015. According to an Solar Foundation report, the solar industry employed 242,000 employees in 2018.
The Solar Workforce is Growing
U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) 2017. U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) the number of employees in the Traditional Energy and Energy Efficiency sector comprise approximately 6.4 millions Americans. The number of jobs created in 2016 was almost five percent higher than in the previous year, with 300,000. In 2016, 14% of the new jobs in the U.S. were created by this sector. The sectors employ 55% of the energy workers. Moreover, around 374,000 employees work either full-time or part-time in the solar industry. There are around 260,000 full-time employees in the solar field. The number of solar workers grew by 25% in 2016.
and Innovation Funding and Innovation Funding
Since 1977 in 1977, since 1977, the U.S. Department of Energy has been the main funding agency. Since 2006, solar power received funding of over 150 million dollars. Studies into solar power received $310million in 2013, with $65 million more added in 2016. The idea was to increase the effectiveness of solar panel systems, develop the latest solar energy collectors and storage capacities, and lower the price of electricity generated to make it more affordable for everyone through the [xfield_companyThe [xfield_company
According to MIT, research is underway to create new photovoltaic devices. This includes reducing the quantity of silicon used and experimenting with various forms and shapes of panels, biobased materials as well as solar panel production that is not panel-less etc.
An alternative is to increase the storage capacity of batteries to save excess solar energy for future use. This will improve efficiency and guarantee a continuous supply. Lithium-ion battery combination and software, and new “polymer hybrid supercapacitors” can help lower costs.
Five Reasons to Be Proud of Solar Energy
Many homeowners and businesses are switching to solar power for many reasons. There are many advantages for solar power, and not just for people, but for everyone on the world. Here are some of the reasons to be supportive of solar power.
1. It’s great for the environment.
Solar energy is more environmentally friendly in comparison to traditional electricity. It doesn’t rely on fossil fuels and it does not pollute the water or air. This is why solar energy is a superior option for a lot of. Solar energy makes use of the earth’s natural resources while conventional electricity harms or depletes the resources.
2. It’s a reliable, efficient and cost-effective source of energy.
The sun is the renewable energy source. While fossil fuels will eventually exhaust their energy however sunlight will not. It is therefore extremely reliable. It’s also less expensive than fossil fuels, which are expensive to mine and to use. To reap the benefits you require an installation of solar panels once.
3. It saves you money over time.
The cost of installing solar panels and solar electric systems has slowed in recent times, some people are still hesitant to invest in solar energy. The most important thing to do is keep in mind that installing solar panels is a once-off event. However, paying for electricity is an ongoing, expensive and frequent expense especially with rising electric rates. It is possible to reduce your costs by investing in solar energy.
4. Solar Power creates jobs and boosts economic growth
Did you have the knowledge that US solar industry is responsible for more jobs per capita than any other sector? According to The Solar Foundation’s most recent National Solar Jobs Census report, solar energy creates nearly 17 times as many jobs as the US total economy. There were 250,000 employees within the solar energy field as of 2019.
5. It helps to ensure energy independence.
Energy independence is the capacity to not depend on the grid for energy. This makes you more vulnerable to price hikes and could result in power interruptions in Long Island and New York City. It could be a problem if there is no other method to provide power to your home. When you have backup batteries and solar PV panels, you will not be being dependent on unstable power grids at times when you need it most.
