Potential Benefits of Solar Energy
Solar power is produced by harnessing the power of the Sun to produce energy. It is mainly used to generate electricity from a renewable resource (the Sun’s rays) in regions where sunny days are the norm. The result is less consumption of fossil fuels that pollute the Earth’s environment as well as being a non-renewable and dwindling resource. Converting solar power into electricity can be achieved in several ways, but the most common methods are through the use of photovoltaic panels or solar heat concentration.
The Benefits of Solar Energy
Photovoltaic solar panels are assembled special silicon or germanium coated cells, which convert sunlight into usable electricity. These panels can be grouped together in a solar panel array and installed around homes and businesses and are usually situated on the roof of a building.
Solar power heat concentrators, on the other hand, do not utilize photochemical panels, but work more like a magnifying glass just on a larger scale. The sunlight is reflected through mirrors and lenses and concentrated into a beam of solar-charged heat. This solar heat is beamed towards a specific target, such as a steam generator for a power plant where the heat produces electrical energy.
Sunlight-driven solar energy is being put to many different uses including:
1) increased agricultural productivity;
2) natural and hybrid solar lighting;
3) water distillation and desalinization;
4) solar-powered food cookers;
5) electric-powered vehicles and gadgets, and
6) heating water.
A Limited Use Energy Resource
Despite all the potential benefits of solar energy in many areas of our personal and industrial lives, solar power still provides less than 1% of all electricity here in the United States. California is by far the state at the forefront of solar energy usage and innovation. Though solar systems are slightly more common in Europe and China, they still represent a minor source of energy compared to the energy produced using fossil fuels.
Pros and Cons of Solar Energy
There are two main drawbacks to using solar power; mainly the relatively high cost as well as being an inconvenience to many. Since the electricity is generated via sunlight, solar panels (and the use of heat concentrators) are only effective during the day while the sun is out. This is inconvenient when homes or business need to use electricity at night to power their air-conditioning and heating systems; electrical appliances, or lights. In addition, if you compare solar systems to other sources of renewable energy, solar power tends to be one of the more expensive options often costing more to produce than wind or wave generated power.
Fortunately, costs have been gradually declining plus new technological advancements are constantly being made, making solar energy an attractive option when considering the future of renewable energy. This is particularly true in areas receiving 300 plus days of sunshine like the southwestern U.S.
Despite its apparent drawbacks, solar power is undeniably important in terms of utilizing a renewable resource in order to provide the electrical power we all need. The inconvenience of being out of electricity at night can be diminished with the installation of alternative energy systems (wind power or buy-back from the grid) when the Sun sets or on cloudy days.
Over time the cost issue will likely continue to diminish as the price of traditional energy sources rise and technical advancements lead to more efficient systems. Rest assured, fossil fuels will not last forever, and as we continue to deplete that resource, their prices will rise even faster. As long as people still want to enjoy the comforts of a modern lifestyle, transitioning to renewable energy sources is more than necessary and with all the benefits of solar energy it will be part of the solution.
