Solar vs. Oil | Solar Power Energy Generation

Solar versus oil is the big debate these days, including the cost of converting current systems such as electricity generation to solar power systems. As solar power systems are being built on a massive scale, then there will not be any need to use oil and other fossil fuels to pollute our atmosphere, as these resources are continued to be depleted.

Solar power is generated using free sun energy as the source. This source is infinite and the power generated is renewable. Once oil is burned, then you have dig more oil out of the ground, transported huge distances and then dig more to replace the oil burned. This means, that one day, oil will be depleted and will not be able to meet demand.

With solar energy, free sun energy can be trapped from the sun again and again, without having to transport the energy huge distances. The source is infinite. In other words, it will not depleted and will continue to meet demand.

Oil And Coal Are The Old Technology

The industrial revolution was built on the back of oil and coal. There is no denying that solar played no part whatsoever. This is particularly true since solar cells were not invented until the 1950s! That being said, it appears indisputable that we have reached or are approaching a new debate about how we deal with our insatiable thirst for power.

At first glance, the mere mention of a comparison of solar to oil as an energy source sounds laughable. It is laughable when we are talking about large scale energy production, but the tide is turning.

The Numerous Advantages Of Solar Power

In a comparison of solar to oil, solar power has numerous advantages. The power source for solar, the sun, is free. Solar is available as a resource in every country, regardless of location, economic strength and so on since the sun shines everywhere. The process of converting sunlight into electricity or heating produces no greenhouse gases.

Whether you believe in global warming or not, solar still is advantageous in that it doesn’t produce pollution. If you live in a big city, you know how much pollution is in the air. You can often see it!

Huge Cost Of Conversion Of Oil To Solar

Flipping the coin, oil has some serious advantages over solar. We have already developed technology to efficiently convert oil to power. The cost of converting industry, vehicles and such to solar or any other power source would be huge.

Oil also has an advantage in that it is easier to use in a wide variety of applications, such as vehicles. Finally, it is easier to use oil to provide power to massive energy platforms, such as electricity for New York City.

For large scale energy needs, oil is still a superior choice to solar as an energy resource. The technology simply does not exist to provide solar energy solutions for vehicles, national electrical grid systems and so on.

Advancements In Solar Technology

Advancements in solar technology, however, may be changing this fact in the very near future. Technologies such as quantum dots, essentially microscopic solar panels that could exist in the paint on your home, may make oil a thing of the past.

For now, oil remains the backbone upon which our energy needs sit. In the next 5, 10 or 20 years, however, new technological applications may change this. Don’t believe me? Then consider the fact oil companies such as Chevron are investing heavily in solar companies.

World Solar Challenge

Although solar technology is improving, there are solar cars on our roads and there is even a World Solar Challenge where solar cars from around the world are racing in one location. New and better solar cars are being produced and one day these cars may be ready to be produced on a massive scale to meet the costs and efficiency of cars running on oil.

Once these new solar cars are produced, then we may be able to breathe cleaner air and be rid of the smog covering many of our large cities. The challenge, is to leave a legacy for our children, to live and breathe with a cleaner atmosphere.

Generating Free Electricity

Some solar techologies may not be large enough to meet electricity needs on a power grid, but then using an electricity grid may not be needed when you can arrange for the installation of solar panels in your home and generate your own free electricity from an infinite source, the sun.

You may find in the long run, the debate between solar vs oil, may swing to solar and other green and renewable power sources, as oil resources are no longer able to meet demand.

About the Author:
J K Hellios has written a number of articles on solar power and renewable energy including Solar Powered Homes, Solar Powered Lights, Solar Powered Cars.
Keep a lookout for more articles available on this website soon.

Little Known Solar Facts.....

What happens if it is a cloudy day?
Unless you have storage for your collected solar power, you will have to rely on other means to heat, cool or power your home.

If the solar panels do not receive sunlight, the process of converting the thermal rays into electricity does not happen. If you do have storage, the power will be pulled from there.