Why Solar Energy is important?
What is the reason Solar Energy is important?
The potential of solar energy to tackle a variety of world’s challenges is the principal source for renewable energy. There are many reasons that allow solar energy to be a prominent factor in the energy industry. Because it’s versatile and offers numerous benefits to both people and the environment, this energy source is gaining popularity.
What exactly is solar power?
Sunlight is the source that gives rise the solar power. The sun powers our planet. It supplies the energy needed to maintain our environment and increase our population, irrespective of whether you know it. The sun’s energy is enough to meet our entire needs. It is estimated that the US Department of Energy estimates that 173,000 terawatts of solar energy hit earth each second, which is over 10,000 times the total world energy consumption. Sun energy can be utilized to produce electricity that is 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 vitally important
As per the U.S. Department of Energy the amount of sunlight that the earth receives in an hour is greater than the energy that is consumed by the entire planet in a single year. Bloomberg reports that solar power was the most rapidly growing energy sector in 2015 with the growth of 33. Solar energy promotion is due to its environmental benefits.
Solar energy is safe and clean.
The most secure alternative to fossil fuels such as gas and coal is solar. Solar energy can produce electricity that causes air polluting soil, water and air. The World Wide Fund For Nature (also known as the WWF) warns that the electricity produced by fossil fuels may result in air pollution and acid rain, cause damage to forest areas, and affect agricultural production which can result in a reduction of millions of USD globally. Fracking in the United States uses thousands of liters of water to extract water. It can also trigger earthquakes and pollution of water bodies nearby. The environmental disasters that nuclear power has caused have led to contamination of the land and water. These unclean and dangerous consequences of burning fossil fuels will be eliminated through the use of solar energy.
Habitat destruction prevented
To extract the raw materials like fossil fuels or nuclear fuels, the forests of the world are cut down. For their food trees continually extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their forests. This important carbon sink gets gone when forests are cleared to mine the raw materials needed for traditional energy. Also, it can contribute to the climate change. According to WWF the majority of ten land-based animals live in forests. A loss of forest habitats could result in a decline in the number of animals they can find. It is vital to switch to solar power in order to protect these habitats for wildlife that inhabit them and also to ensure clean air.
Climate Change Combated
As per the Environmental Protection Agency, 2017 greenhouse gas emissions were 13% lower than 2005 levels. In reality the greenhouse gas emission actually fell by.5% between 2016 and 2017. Global warming and shifting weather patterns are all triggered by emissions. The effects of heat waves and the increase in the number of disease-spreading insect species can cause serious health issues, particularly for the elderly and children.
The disruption of weather patterns has resulted in an increase in floods as well as hurricanes due to climate change. A rise in carbon dioxide levels is acidifying the oceans, and the corals are dying off along with marine life. Climate change is leading to the destruction of species from the Sub-Arctic Boreal forest and tropical Amazon forests. The melting of the polar ice cap leads to a reduction in the habitat for wildlife along with an rise in sea levels. People are forced to move due to submersion and loss on the coasts. In the world, irregular rain or growing droughts may be detrimental to agriculture and the lifestyles of the poorer segments of society.
Because solar power doesn’t produce carbon dioxide emissions, it could slow the impact of climate change. According to Greenpeace myth number 5 (report on energy myths), solar panels can reduce carbon emissions within as little as four years.
Economic and Social Benefits
As per the Solar Energy Industries Association, the U.S. had an installed capacity of 69.1 gigawatts (GW) sufficient to supply power to more than 13 million homes during the second quarter of the year 2019.
Small and decentralized sources of electric power
The main benefit for solar power is its ability to produce on a small scale by the consumer instead of large-scale conventional energy sources managed centrally by large corporations.
Photo-voltaic cells mounted on the roofs of individual structures are able to generate heat and electricity by utilizing solar energy. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) the solar energy is a decentralized source for energy that is utilized by households and businesses. As per the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there are also passive solar designs of buildings that can heat or cool space and the solar power of water heating.
These systems are becoming more popular to generate power at the community levels. In the report of the Office for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s analysis, 13 states had the capacity of 100 megawatts capacity in 2015. Residential units were 2 gigawatts. Between 2010 between 2010 and 2015, 100 MW of community solar facilities were constructed. They are essential to ensure that communities continue to function at the lower cost.
EIA also says that large-scale “Solar thermal or electric plant plants create electrical energy by condensing sunlight into heating the fluid, then producing steam to power generators.”
Because solar power is distributed, it can be used in remote areas that are not connected to the grid. This is crucial for farms that run greenhouses, irrigation, and hay dryers. In the words of the Union of Concerned Scientists, this ensures that agriculture is safe.
Affordable and reliable energy source
The price of solar panels have been reduced through technological developments, government subsidies and policy. According to Energy.gov, the price of solar panels has dropped by 60% and the cost of solar energy systems has decreased by half. The solar energy market is competitive with traditional energy sources.
According to Greenpeace that the operating costs are lower , and your initial expenditure is recovered leading to savings in energy costs. According to Greenpeace’s mythology research (myth 1) solar energy is based on sunlight and is cost-free. Yet, fossil-fuels have to be mined and transported over long distances. In accordance with the Greenpeace report, within the United States, the costs for dealing with environmental concerns caused by using “dirty power sources” are twice or more than the electricity costs generated from conventional sources such as coal. The additional cost are able to be offset or eliminated by solar energy.
Generation of Jobs
Guardian reports that the United States was the fifth-largest solar panel manufacturer in the world in the year 2016. The industry has also created thousands of jobs. According to Energy.gov, solar employment has increased by 123% over five years. In 2015 there were 209,000 solar employees. Most solar installations were carried out by small businesses. Next came designers, salespeople, and professionals. The industry was growing by 12% more pace than the average American job market, keeping the economy going.
Solar Energy Industry Jobs
64 percent of U.S. electricity was generated using fossil fuels, including petroleum, coal natural gas, natural gas and other gas. Around 19% of electricity produced was generated by nuclear energy, while 17% came from renewable sources. The figures are the same as 2015. According to an Solar Foundation report, the solar industry employed 242,000 workers in 2018.
Solar Workforce Increasing
U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER), 2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) The number of workers in the Traditional Energy and Energy Efficiency sector are around 6.4 million Americans. The number of jobs that were created in 2016 was nearly 5% higher than the year before, and was 300,000. In 2016, 14% of all new jobs in the U.S. were created by this industry. These industries employ 55% the energy workers, while approximately 374,000 people work on a full or part-time basis in the solar industry. Around 260,000 employees work full-time in the solar industry. The number of solar employees has increased by 25% since 2016.
Research and Innovation Funding
Since 1977, the U.S. Department of Energy has been the main financing agency. In 2006, solar energy received funding of more than 150million dollars. The research into the solar energy was awarded $310 million in 2013, with $65 million added in 2016. The idea was to increase the effectiveness of solar panel systems, design the latest solar energy collectors and storage capacities, and reduce the price of electricity generated to make it accessible to everyone via the [xfield_companycompany.
According to MIT researchers, they are working to develop new photovoltaic devices. This includes reducing the quantity of silicon used and experimenting with various types and designs of the panels. They also experiment with biobased substances, panel-less solar production, etc.
Another option is to increase the battery’s capacity for storage in order to save surplus solar energy for future use. This will improve efficiency and guarantee a continuous supply. Lithium-ion battery combination and software, along with the new “polymer supercapacitors that are hybrid”, would help to reduce costs.
Five Reasons to Support Solar Energy
Many homeowners and businesses are turning to solar power for a variety of reasons. There are many benefits for solar power, and not only for individuals but also for the entire planet. Here are a few reasons to support solar power.
1. It’s great for the environment.
Solar energy is more environmentally friendly than conventional electricity. It does not rely on fossil fuels, and it does not pollute the water or air. This makes solar energy a more suitable option for a lot of. Solar energy makes use of the earth’s natural resources while conventional electricity harms or depletes the resources.
2. This is an efficient, economical energy source
The sun is a renewable energy source. While fossil fuels will eventually exhaust their energy, sunlight won’t. Solar energy is therefore highly reliable. It’s also less expensive than fossil fuels that are costly to mine and use. For the best results only require an installation of solar panels once.
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 dropped in recent years, some individuals are still reluctant to invest into solar power. The key thing is to remember that solar energy installation is a one-time event. But, the cost of electricity is an ongoing, expensive, and frequent expense, particularly in light of rising electricity rates. You can reduce your expenses when you invest in solar electricity.
4. Solar Power creates jobs and boosts economic growth
Did you realize that the US solar industry creates more jobs per capita than any other sector? According to the Solar Foundation’s most recent National Solar Jobs Census report solar energy is responsible for 17 times more jobs than the US overall economy. There were 250,000 people employed working in the solar power field at the time of the 2019 census.
5. It helps to ensure energy independence.
Energy independence is the ability to not rely on the grid to get energy. This leaves you open to price increases and can cause power failures in Long Island and New York City. It could be a problem in the event that there isn’t a method to provide power to your home. When you have an emergency battery backup system as well as solar pv panels, you will not be being tied to unstable power grids at times when you need it most.
