What is Solar Energy?

There are numerous benefits of green energy that go beyond the fact that it is “green”. The industry is expanding and is creating new jobs. It also makes the electricity grid more durable and increases the availability of energy for developing countries. It also helps reduce energy costs. All these factors have been a factor in the recent rise of renewable energy sources, which has seen wind and solar set new records in electricity generation.

In the last 150 years, mankind has relied heavily on coal, oil and other fossil fuels for powering everything including light bulb to cars and factories, and from automobiles to cars. The greenhouse gases released by fossil fuels from burning them have reached record highs.

The average temperature of the Earth’s surface is rising because greenhouse gases trap heat that could otherwise escape into space. Global warming is one of the signs to the onset of climate shift. Scientists use the term”global warming” to explain the complicated changes that affect the climate and weather systems that exist on the planet. Climate change can be described as rising temperatures extreme weather events shifts in wildlife habitats and increasing sea levels and a myriad of other effects.

Renewables, like any other energy source, have their own trade-offs. One of these is the definition of renewable electricity. Renewable energy, as it is defined is exactly what you would expect. It’s either always accessible or as according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration declares, “virtually unlimited.” However, “renewable,” does not mean that it is sustainable, as are the main opponents to hydropower dams or corn-based ethanol. It does not include other resources with emission-free or low emissions that are also backed by advocates, such as nuclear power and energy efficiency.

3 Examples of Renewable Energy sources

Hydropower: People have used the energy of rivers for centuries in order to tap into their energy and construct dams to regulate the flow of water. The biggest source of national renewable energy labs is hydropower. It is the largest producer of hydropower and has China, Brazil and Canada being the top producers. While hydropower is theoretically an alternative source of clean energy that is replenished through snow or rain however, there are a few drawbacks.

Large dams may cause disruption to the river ecosystem and communities. This can result in the displacement of residents and wildlife. Silt build-up could cause hydropower generation to be less efficient and damage equipment. Drought can also lead to issues. According to a study in 2018 carbon dioxide emissions in the Western U.S. were 100 megatons more than normal over a 15 year period. This was due to utilities switching to coal and gas to replace lost hydropower because of drought. Hydropower even at its highest capacity is not without its emission issues as the decaying organic material in reservoirs emits methane.

Dams are not only the most efficient method to harness water’s power, but so is wave and tide energy. While marine energy projects account for less than 1percent of all renewable energy, they still can produce 500 megawatts. This is a trend that has been boosted by programs like the Saltire Prize in Scotland.

Wind: The energy of wind has been used as a source of energy for over 7700 years. Wind turbines, which generate electricity are now thriving across the globe, with China and the U.S. It is believed that the United States and Europe are the top producers of wind power. Between 2001 between 2001 and 2017, the world’s accumulated wind power grew by 22-fold. It was 23,900 MW however, it was able to generate 539,000 megawatts.

Although some might be dissatisfied with the way wind turbines appear on the horizon or their noise, wind energy is now an asset that is too valuable to be ignored, because of its falling cost. Although the majority of wind power comes from onshore turbines most of it is generated by offshore wind farms. The most well-known are situated in U.K. and Germany. In 2016 the very first U.S. offshore wind farm launched located in Rhode Island. The other offshore developments are also growing in popularity. Wind turbines pose a risk to bats and birds. They kill hundreds of thousands annually, but not as many as from collisions with glass or other dangers like habitat loss or invading species. Engineers are looking for ways to make them more secure for flying wildlife.

Solar: Solar cells are changing the energy market around the globe from the rooftops of homes to huge-scale farms. The photovoltaic panel’s installed capacity has increased by 4,300 percent in the decade between 2007 and 2017.

Apart from solar panels that convert direct sunlight into electricity Concentrating sun power (CSP) plants also make use of mirrors to concentrate solar power plants, and to extract thermal energy. CSP is a popular method of generating thermal energy. U.S., Japan and China are the leaders in solar transformation. However, solar still has a lot of work to be done. In 2017 in the U.S. generated around two percent total electricity. Around the world, solar thermal energy is utilized for cooling and heating in the sun as well as hot water.

Solar energy can be used to power your home

The installation of a photovoltaic solar house system is the most efficient method to save money on solar energy. The [xfield_companyThe Shneyder Solar Solar Marketplace is a great starting point to search for the ideal system at the right cost. Sign up for free estimates from pre-screened, certified solar installers in your area. It’s easy for you to review quotes as well as comprehend crucial metrics such as the energy requirement and cost per watt.