Evolution of Solar energy

Over the past two decades, the use of solar energy has steadily increased as more and more people have come to understand the immense benefits of using solar panels.

In the US, the demand for installing solar panels has gone from 0.34 gigawatts in 2008 to 97.2 gigawatts today. This is enough energy to power 18 million average American homes. The good news is that this higher demand helps to keep prices down. The price of solar PV panels has dropped by almost 70% since 2014. By 2030, the US Department of Energy thinks that at least one in seven American homes will have a solar PV system on the roof.

What Is Solar Energy?

Solar energy is energy derived from sunlight. Whether you know it or not, our planet is already powered by the sun. It gives us the energy to keep our environment and population growth. The amount of sunlight in the earth's atmosphere is more than enough to meet our needs. The US Department of Energy says that every second, 173,000 terawatts of solar energy hit the earth. This is more than 10,000 times the energy the world uses! We can use the sun instead of regular electricity to power our lives because it is free, clean, and always there. Solar energy can heat, light, and do other things in homes and buildings that need electricity.

Solar panels vs. Coal power plants

Most homes on the electric grid get their power from coal-fired power plants. When you look at the effects of solar energy, it's not hard to see how solar panels are good for the environment. Solar can reduce pollution from fossil fuels, water use, and air pollution.

Even though solar panels don't release any carbon when they produce energy, they do when shipped, installed, or fixed. The carbon footprint of making solar panels varies significantly from sector to sector. This is primarily because of the fuel that each sector uses. A study found that the carbon footprint of a solar panel made in China, which gets most of its electricity from coal, was twice as big as that of a European panel.

As a consumer who cares about the environment, you can do good by asking for information about the industries that make solar panels. Installers of solar panels will be forced to ask their production companies for this information and choose companies with good environmental practices.

Customers will choose companies that care about the environment because that's what they want. This means that the production industry will grow toward a greener future.

BENEFITS OF SOLAR ENERGY

Against climate change

Renewables don't release greenhouse gases when making energy, so they are the cleanest and most practical way to stop the environment from worsening.

Renewable energy

Unlike conventional energy sources like coal, gas, oil, and nuclear, which have limited supplies, clean energies are as plentiful as the sun, where they come from. This is why they are called "renewables": they can be used repeatedly. This makes them an essential part of a sustainable energy system that lets us grow without putting the growth of future generations at risk.

A Free Way to Get Energy

We get more energy from the sun than we could ever use, and no one can take all of it. You'll start saving money as soon as you turn on your solar power system. However, the benefits of solar power are best seen over time.

Most of the time, we think of solar energy as a way to get electricity, which is done with PV panels. But this energy is also used to heat up the environment or anything. This is done by installing solar thermal systems that turn the sun's energy into heating solutions.

Solar technology is getting closer to being accepted, and we can start by using more solar panels.

Non-Contaminating

Solar energy doesn't release any dangerous chemicals or pollutants into the air, which can harm the environment and people. Toxic substances can cause acidification of land and water ecosystems and corrosion of buildings. Pollutants in the air can lead to heart disease, cancer, and lung diseases like asthma.

Solar energy doesn't make waste or pollute water, which is very important given how scarce water is. Wind energy uses a minor amount of water compared to fossil fuels and nuclear power plants. This makes it an essential way to protect water resources.

Getting more competitive

In most parts of the world, wind and photovoltaic energy are cheaper than traditional energy sources.

The costs of primary renewable energy sources, for example, wind and solar photovoltaic, are going down a lot. This means that in more and more places, they can compete with conventional sources. Renewable energies are already becoming the most environmentally and economically sustainable way to power the world, thanks to economies of scale and new ideas.

No fuel to burn

Compared to other ways to make electricity, the costs of running solar panels are meager once they are set up. Solar power doesn't need fuel, which means it can make a lot of electricity without having to worry about and pay for a fuel supply.

Create jobs and boosts the economy

Solar power can help the economy of our whole country. The more people choose solar. The more solar panels companies will need to install. This creates more jobs for skilled workers and keeps the economy growing.

In 2015, for example, the UK was the continent's largest market for installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and employed 35,000 people in the solar industry.

Final words

The significance of solar energy is vast, as it provides benefits for home and business owners, as well as for society as a whole and our planet. As the climate changes, we must do everything possible to prevent catastrophe. Solar energy is a simple, practical, and cost-effective solution. Solar energy is the primary pillar of our collective clean energy future.