Top 10 Solar Energy Facts You Probably Didn't Know About

“Solar Energy could power 13% of the World by 2030”- International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Every hour, the radiant light and heat that sun beams onto Earth is more than enough to satisfy multiple global energy needs. This renewable solar energy that has revolutionized the world today is a result of harnessing sun’s energy and rendering it usable.

Many countries have started utilizing solar energy extensively, but still there’s a long way to go to fulfill their demands for energy, completely through it.

Here are few facts on solar energy that can help you assess its potential to meet global requirements-

1.     Solar Energy is the most abundant energy form on earth.  As per wiki, our Earth continuously receives 174,000 terawatts of solar energy, twice of all the Earth's non-renewable resources of coal, oil, natural gas, and mined uranium combined in one year.

2.     The solar energy is made usable (heat/electricity) or converted into solar power by two main methods-

•       Direct Photovoltaic (PV) -  Photovoltaic systems use solar panels, to convert sunlight (generated power) into electricity.

•       Concentrated solar power or Solar thermals –  Concentrated solar power systems use mirrors/lenses to generate electricity/heat.

3.     The solar energy is a highly appealing source of electricity. When you install the solar panel (key player in the fast-growing renewable energy sector), it absorbs the sun rays to generate electricity. Solar panels use N-type and P-type semiconductor material to convert sunlight into usable energy.

 4.   The U.S. is the third-largest solar market in the world and is positioned to become the second.

As per U.S. Solar Market Insight report of Green Tech Media (GTM) Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) US solar market is booming. “Growing 43 percent year over year, the U.S. saw 2,051 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) installed in the second quarter of 2016. This marks the eleventh consecutive quarter in which more than a gigawatt (GW) of PV was installed”.

5.     As per Solar Energies Industries Association (SEIA), California dominates the U.S. solar market - with 44% market share (2015). Other markets are also expanding as evident from the image below.

 The largest solar power plant in the world is located in California the Mojave Desert (spanning 1,000 acres).

6.     Solar jobs in the U.S. have doubled in last five years. The US solar industry added 35,000 jobs in 2015, which is 20% up from 2014, according to The Solar Foundation, a nonprofit in Washington D.C.

  

7.     Solar Energy powers 4000 K-12 Schools around the US and more than 2.7 million American students attend solar schools- Brighter Future, Solar foundation and Solar Energies Industries Association (SEIA).

8.     The growth in solar industry is led by unprecedented low prices -more than 70% over the last 10 years, leading the industry to new market expansion and deployment of systems worldwide.
These dropped prices and benefits of solar energy have made it an economical energy choice for American homeowners and businesses, increasingly.

9.      Installing solar panels reduces both global warming and urban heat. Solar energy emits no carbon-dioxide and produces no other harmful emissions, while it is in use.

Moreover, solar power is greener than the conventional ways of energy generation such as fossil fuels as their combustion produce environmental toxins, but solar energy releases no toxins in the environment. 

10.Solar panels/ thermals have a lifespan between 25 and 35 years and the maintenance requirement for the solar energy systems is too low.     

      So, bring cleaner energy to your home, go solar!

If you have anything to say regarding this write-up, share your comments in the section below.

Should You Go With The Solar Panels Or Continue Without Them?

We all love our smartphones, don’t we? But imagine, someday it runs out of the battery and your area is under a power cut. Fearful! 
 

Our earth is just like a smartphone, if we use too much of its applications (resources) faster without worrying about its capacity (battery), we would soon end up in a situation with no resources and no energy. To prevent encountering such a scenario, all we need is a continuous source of energy, so that we never run out it.  Sun is that constant source of energy. 

Installing solar panel in households and businesses is creating buzz with its ability to create clean and non-polluting electricity. Driven by rapid extension in developing countries, it is gaining stance as the most advantageous alternative for securing power. 

Investments in national solar training programs are also rising extensively, with the United State’s energy department announcing an additional $10 million to be used in its development.

 

Generating electricity through the solar energy is a step towards a greener and a safer planet.

According to Lawrence Berkeley National laboratory, “Installing a residential solar energy system costs eight percent less in 2015 than in 2014.” Many of us are still caught in the dilemma of whether to go or not to go with the solar panels. Well, it’s completely acceptable! After all it’s not like buying a car or a house; it’s a much bigger decision.

In order to take a decision in this context, you need to be aware of solar panels’ advantages and disadvantages. 

Go for the solar panel- The advantages:

1.      Let go of those tiring electricity bills

By deciding to install photovoltaic solar panels, you can easily get free from those recurring monthly bills. Spend your money shopping stuff instead of paying metered bills. J According to the studies, typically every US home spends about, $1,200 annually on those electricity bills. You need no other reason to wait, when you can get 100% electricity needs fulfilled by installing cheap solar panels, better than monthly upfront costs.

2.      Catch the financial rebates before they drain out

Undoubtedly, the government encourages the people to go green by offering a number of rebates on taxes and credits. For ex, California once used to have rebates amounting to $15000, but thanks to the ever increasing acceptance rate of the solar energy in the Golden state, that those rebates have now been eliminated. So, it’s good to grab the first hand opportunity, else you may just keep wishing. 

3.      Benefitting from SREC programs

Solar renewable energy certificate runs many programs under it to promote the use and production of solar energy. They run incentive programs to encourage people for solar installation at their residences or offices. But these programs will rule only till the demand of the solar panels rises exponentially. Hence, by being the early movers, you can benefit from them.

4.      Saving the environment

One of the most conventional reasons behind going solar is “Saving the environment.” When everyone else is talking about global warming, you should make your contribution towards being a responsible citizen. Generating electricity from sun is a harmless way of powering the world. 

Should I continue without solar panels – The Disadvantages

Frankly speaking, the disadvantages or continuing without solar panels, are just the opposite of advantages mentioned above. 

• You’ll continue paying hefty electricity bills.
•  You never get rebates on traditional methods of procuring electricity. 
• You will continue contributing towards global warming. :(  

Going with the solar panels - The Bottlenecks

• Location matters
  One of the major concerns before installing solar panels is the location of your house or building. If it is covered with trees or other sun blocking objects, generating electricity would be difficult. The areas which mostly get covered with fog and clouds, can again not go for solar panels.
  All in all, energy source though is unlimited, but its availability is limited. Your homes’ aesthetics issues can pose the next issue. You may not necessarily agree with the placement and design of solar panels on your roof. It may not go with your home exteriors. 

• Lack of energy storage mechanism
  Like we discussed in the last point, what if the sun did not shine for a day or it is winter time. Unlike the traditional sources of energy, solar energy does not come up with stored form of electricity to be supplied as and when required. But the government authorities are trying to work towards this loophole.

Key takeaways:

Undoubtedly, the advantages of solar panels have outnumbered its disadvantages. If they are worked upon by the authorities, solar panels can be a good way of enlightening the world.

GTM Research’s new market report says, “The US solar industry expects to install 14.5 gigawatts of solar power in 2016, a 94% increase over the record 7.5 GW last year.” It is blooming and will be a large market in the coming years.

So, if you are also caught in the circle of whether to go or wait for the solar panels, we would say now is the right time -dive right in.