Solar energy is a renewable source of energy that is gaining much importance in the energy sector. Countries like India have massive solar potential, where it could generate more than 5,000 trillion kilowatts of electricity by itself. However, public awareness of solar energy, considered to be an alternative viable energy source, remains very low, thereby hindering its wide application in various industrial sectors to a certain extent.
Relevantly, in the past 19 years, there has been a rise in the consumption of fossil fuels by 31%: from 94,314 terawatt hours in 2000 to 136,761 terawatt hours in 2019. This upward trend indicates the growing urgency of seeking alternative sources of energy. Solar energy is a clean and sustainable energy source that has great environmental benefits, which will help reduce dependency on fossil fuels and decrease carbon emissions.
Another crucial perspective is weighing the potential of solar energy with the variety of application advantages for different areas, from generation to heating, as well as for public lighting. Additionally, the technology development and costs, which decline further, continuously enable these applications of solar energy to be more economical and viable. In the future, with enhanced public awareness and policy support, solar energy is bound to hold a more significant position in energy structure and make strong support for achieving sustainable development.
Solar energy is created by converting sunlight into electricity, a process accomplished in practice mainly by two technologies: solar photovoltaic and concentrated solar thermal power. Solar photovoltaic technology is more familiar, whereby sunlight is directly converted into electricity via solar panels.
In the last few years, a new technology has been developed to generate high-temperature solar process heat by concentrating sunlight and is being used on an industrial scale. Solar process heat can be utilized to produce more sustainable alternative fuels, and that means industries with high dependence on fossil fuels can now use the sun and its process heat for cleaner, more sustainable fuel alternatives. We go into details later, but let's just stop and take a look at some interesting facts about solar energy that are worth knowing first.
With energy prices around the world continuing to rise, the need for both more affordable and cleaner alternative sources of energy becomes increasingly important. However, because of advances in technology, the cost of solar power has come down drastically over the past decade, and in the United States, it is 33% cheaper than natural gas power.
Solar energy, much like all other renewable energies, is clean and does not pollute the environment at all, or at least much less compared to conventional methods of generating electricity. While in operation, solar energy emits no substance whatsoever, and life cycle emissions of solar energy are approximately 12 times less than those of natural gas and 20 times less than coal.
Many people think that solar power generation is ineffective on cloudy or rainy days, but actually, it can generate power even on unfavorable days. Typically, solar panels generate about 30% to 50% of their maximum potential on cloudy days and about 10% to 20% on heavy rainy days. It is worth noting that some industrial-scale solar power plants have already been operating.
Solar panels typically function well for around the first 25 to 30 years. You tend to realize returns from your investment and cost savings in about 6 years from installation. That would mean that even beyond 30 years, even though degraded in performance, your panels will be converting sunlight into electricity and won't just stop working.
Solar panels require very little maintenance and can work stably for a very long period. They hardly need any maintenance, and aside from simple cleaning and regular system checks, there are no other large recurring expenses like monthly tariffs or fuel costs. Thus, solar panels will keep providing stable supplies of energy for decades with almost zero extra maintenance costs.
Installing a solar system is one of the effective ways to increase the value of your house. Solar energy systems have the ability to power a house with sustainable, clean energy. This reduces dependence on the traditional power grid, thus reducing long-term electricity bills. The feature of saving energy in homes makes them more attractive in the market, especially at this time when energy costs are rising. According to relevant data, for every added kilowatt of solar capacity, the value of a home rises by about $6,000. Therefore, besides offering savings to homeowners, a solar system will go a long way in raising the market value of the house substantially when it is put up for sale, making it a worthy home improvement.
Solar energy storage technology will provide powerful support to solar panels, making them more reliable and efficient. On sunny days, with excess electricity stored, the solar batteries make sure there is a continuous and smooth power supply even on cloudy days or nights. This energy storage solution not only improves the general performance of the solar but also reduces over-dependence on the traditional power grid. Solar energy storage batteries are gradually becoming the first choice for many families and companies, laying a solid foundation to ensure around-the-clock clean energy supply.
With the constant decline in solar energy costs, this flexible and versatile source of energy is increasingly becoming more reasonable and appropriate for a range of power supply and application requirements. While it serves to provide energy for heating and cooling systems, it can also be applied for various purposes like household power generation, lighting of buildings, ventilation systems, and cooking and baking equipment.
The price of solar has come down amazingly over the last decade and is now even cheaper compared to natural gas and coal. The cost of solar is actually 84% less than it was in 2009. In fact, new solar power plants in the United States are now cheaper than most existing coal-fired generation. This cost reduction has made solar energy a more economically attractive energy option, driving its widespread adoption around the world. If you’re considering installing solar, take action!
Going solar is a big decision, and it's very important to carefully weigh your options and plan accordingly. To make sure you're getting a quality installation and the best price, it's a good idea to get multiple solar quotes and compare them. Huijue Group is committed to the research of solar products and is definitely your best choice.
