Future Of Solar Power Energy Generation Guide
Future Of Solar Power Systems Is Bright And Assured
By J K Hellios
Future of solar is assured, with the current and increasing
uptake of solar power systems in homes and businesses.
One of the success stories of solar power is solar hot
water.
As many people have been able to use solar power to
heat their water, they now look to use solar power to
power all their appliances. The current solar technology
allows you to power all your appliances and turn on
the lights in your home.
Some street lights you see in our cities, are powered
by solar power. The Hubble Space Telescope runs on solar
power. In the near future, solar may be the dominant
source of power as it comes from a renewable source,
sun energy. Sun energy is free and there are almost
no emissions when generating solar power.
Wind And Sun Energy Are Renewable Energy Sources
Traditional sources of electrical power generation
are running out as production will peak in the next
decade but demand will continue to rise. Energy prices
will continue to rise at a higher rate as well as the
number of outages during peak hours. There is the obvious
problem of the pollution we are causing to our environment.
The world’s energy needs vary greatly and there is
no clear single solution to the problem of supplying
the world’s energy.
Current Energy Sources
All forms of energy production have issues associated
with them:
1. Coal - Pollution/Strip Mining
2. Natural Gas - Cost and Lack of Infrastructure
3. Hydro - Limited Availability/Environmental Concerns
4. Wind - Limited Site and Resource Availability
5. Solar PV - Higher Cost
6. Nuclear – Waste disposal
The Solution Is Solar Power
Solar PV (Photovoltaic) systems effectively deliver
three to five hours of peak power per day at roughly
10 Watts per square foot. Not one square inch of new
land would be required to site PV. Theoretically, there
are adequate residential, commercial, Government rooftops,
and parking structures in California to power a substantial
percentage of our State’s electrical needs from solar.
In Southern California, solar produces a net energy
gain in approximately three years. This means that within
three years, PV systems begin producing more energy
than the energy spent in producing the system and its
raw materials. Best of all, the energy produced cost
zero emissions.
At today’s prices, a typical solar system costs approximately
$8.00/watt, installed and has an operating life in excess
of 25 years. For all intents and purposes, maintenance
and operating costs are minimal. Now there are systems
available for rent.
Solar energy increases the diversity of power and adds
stability to a fossil fuel favored energy structure,
while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Benefits Of Solar Power
Solar can be quickly deployed at the point of use,
reducing the need for additional transmission and distribution
infrastructure, and cost thereof. Unlike digging fossil
fuels out of the ground and transporting long distances
and then burning them with high emissions. and creating
more greenhouse gasses. There are almost no emissions
with solar power generation.
Solar operates most efficiently at mid day, when grid
demand is at its peak. By decreasing the strain during
peak hours, the longevity of existing power plants and
infrastructure is extended, lowering further the cost
of energy production.
Cumulative Effect
By deploying solar over time, the cumulative effect
of the installed base is impressive. Given its 25-year
life, within 10 to 20 years, a respectable portion of
California’s energy could be supplied by solar.
Once installed, the cost is fixed. In comparison to
traditional sources of energy, the fuel cost is nonexistent,
and operational costs are limited. A solar system’s
cost is amortized over its life, there are no rate hikes
due to fuel or operating cost increases.
Investing In Solar Systems
There are some negatives with solar systems. Presently,
solar costs more than traditional energy generation.
Its efficient use is limited to daylight hours unless
storage is employed. Admittedly, the solar industry
today is not large enough to address all of our needs.
The solar industry does not have the financial influence
to compete with existing utilities, which typically
oppose PV, within political circles. (Industry revenues
globally represent only 3.0B/year).
Energy Independence And Security
Globally, the industry has experienced an annual growth
rate in excess of 18% in over a decade. This rate of
growth is equivalent to that of semiconductor, telecommunications
and computer industries.
Clearly, there is no easy solution to California’s
energy problem. No doubt, a variety of technologies
and tools are needed to ensure California’s energy independence
and security.
Replacing The Current Power Systems With Solar
As new solar technology systems are developed, with
better research to create more efficient systems, then
solar power systems may take over the power generation
systems of today.
You can review your options and take advantage of current
technology and use free sun energy to generate free
electricity in your solar home. All you need, is to
pay for a solar power system and installation fees,
then you should have free electricity in your home,
as you do not need to pay solar power generation fees.
Using the solar power systems available now, the future
of solar is assured.
About the Author:
J K Hellios has written a number of articles on Solar Power and Renewable Energy including
About Solar Panels,
Solar Energy,
Solar Vs Oil,
Solar Power Lights,
Solar Powered Cars.
Keep a lookout for more articles available on this website soon.
Little Known Wind Power Facts.....
Wind energy has become a topic for debate. Though it
costs quite a lot to initially set up the wind farms
to power homes and businesses, in the long run it begins
to pay off.
Many cities and countries around the globe are looking
at ways they can help the Earth’s environment and using
the wind is one of the best answers besides solar power.
Fossil fuels cannot be relied upon for future use for
heating and cooling your home. It is time to start thinking
about using the wind as a source of energy.
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