For many, the thought of harnessing solar power and using it to light up their homes may seem far-fetched at this point in time. However, thanks to the innovative minds behind the various solar technologies, things are beginning to change. In particular, the solar energy industry has seen an uptick in interest as of late, and this is largely attributed to the sharp drop in solar panel installation costs which now make solar power more accessible to a broader audience.
In order to better understand the growing popularity of distributed solar power, one must first consider the basics of solar energy itself. In broad terms, solar power is the ability to convert light into electricity. That’s pretty much it, but that’s also pretty much all anyone needs to know in order to get started with solar power. When sunlight hits the surface of the Earth, it is broken down into distinct wavelengths or colors which give off heat that can be used to generate electricity. While the majority of the sunlight is filtered out by the atmosphere, enough gets through to Earth to fuel it comfortably for many years.
The problem is that while the supply of solar power is virtually unlimited, its ability to be converted into usable energy is not. The majority of the energy produced by the sun is either diffuse (such as the sun light that hits the surface of the Earth) or captured by expensive devices such as solar PV panels which are only capable of converting a small percentage of the solar power into usable electricity. This is where the need for alternative energy sources arises. Even if you have a solar energy system which is getting power from the sun, it is not guaranteed that you will be able to completely use it.
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There are three things to consider when selecting an energy-harvesting system for your home or business. The first is how much energy you need, the second is where you will be able to find the energy, and the third is how you plan on using it. While any energy source is beneficial, if you are looking to use solar power to produce electricity which you can use to operate your home or business, you will have to look into the different systems which are available and decide which one is the best for your unique needs. Let’s take a quick look at each type of energy-harvesting system in turn.
The most basic form of energy harvesting system is one which simply collects the sunlight and stores it for later use. This is the most basic and oldest form of solar power and is still commonly used today in places with severe weather conditions or where regular maintenance is difficult due to extreme temperatures or heavy rainfall. Even in these cases, sunlight still manages to sneak in when you don’t expect it and cause a lot of damage which you would have to repair at great expense. In 2018, around 80% of the world’s solar power was generated using this method.
The second most basic form of solar power generation takes the shape of a wind turbine which is integrated into a solar panel. This type of setup allows for the production of electricity even in the absence of sunlight, and since this is a decentralized energy source, fluctuations in supply and demand can be better controlled. As a result of its simplicity and flexibility, this type of solar power generation has boomed in recent years and can be found all over the world, even in places which are considered to be hopelessly off-grid.
What Are The Differences Between The Three Types Of Sustainability?
While the above method of generating electricity from the sun is certainly useful and has numerous advantages, it still relies on non-renewable resources such as sunlight and wind which, as we have seen, are both naturally occurring and therefore non-renewable. For that reason, this type of energy production is generally considered to be unsustainable. If we want to truly be green and sustainable, we need to look into other options.
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity, often simply called hydro, is one of the most efficient and sustainable forms of renewable energy. The term hydroelectricity comes from the fact that the power is generated by passing water through a series of turbines which are connected to an electric generator. When you think about it, water is pretty much the ultimate source of all energy, and with enough of it, you can generate a phenomenal amount of electricity. This makes it a very attractive choice for people who want to generate electricity while avoiding climate change in a large way.
The first and most obvious advantage of hydroelectricity is that it is environmentally friendly. Whenever possible, you want to avoid generating more waste and less pollution than is already present. As a result, you will have to make sure that your source of drinking water is clean and unpolluted which, in turn, will help ensure that the generation of electricity is also clean. In very cold climates, you may need to warm the water before it is passed through the turbines in order to maximize their efficiency. Even in warmer climates, the water must still be relatively warm in order to generate sufficient electricity. Once the water has passed through the turbines, it is either released back into the environment or collected and stored for later use.
One of the main disadvantages of hydroelectricity is that the amount of electricity which it generates is highly dependent on the weather. The amount of rain and snow which falls is often the key factor which determines how much electricity you will be able to generate. For this reason, you may have to wait a long time before the energy produced by the turbines is actually used, and as a result, it is often cheaper to purchase your own energy from renewable sources such as solar or wind power. This is particularly important if you want to be able to power your home or business after dark. In these cases, you will need to purchase an energy storage system such as a wind turbine connected to a battery or a large capacitor.
Solar Thermal Electricity
As we learned in school, heat is lost in the process of conversion from one form to another, and this is also the case with solar power. When sunlight is converted into electricity, a certain amount of energy is lost due to the temperature difference between the sunlight and the air. This is why it is generally best to gather all the sunlight which is possible and utilize it as efficiently as possible. In doing so, you not only generate your own electricity but you also store energy which you can later use.
The first and most obvious advantage of solar thermal electricity is that it is extremely efficient. The amount of electricity which is generated by a solar thermal system is directly proportional to the amount of sunlight which is focused on it. As a result, it is often more cost-effective to purchase a solar thermal system than a comparable solar PV system. The reason for this is that while the price of solar PV has decreased significantly in recent years, the price of solar thermal systems has remained almost the same.
One of the main disadvantages of solar thermal systems is that you need to purchase and maintain a large amount of equipment including solar trackers and reflectors in order to properly concentrate the sunlight. This makes it more of a commercial venture and less of a homeowner-friendly option. In areas where the sunlight is not concentrated enough for the equipment to be useful, you will either need to purchase more intense sunlight or raise the temperature of the air using various means, such as air conditioning systems or heat sinks. These are all quite expensive options and make solar thermal systems more expensive than a solar PV system of a similar capacity.
Thermal Power
Thermal power, also known as thermoelectric power, is the ability to generate electricity from the heat which is present even in the absence of sunlight. This type of power is used when a certain amount of heat is required which can be provided by many different means, such as nuclear reactors, charcoal-burning power plants, or geothermal power plants. The latter of these is the only kind of power which is actually generated from the earth itself, and while it is a highly efficient and reliable source of energy, it does require a fair amount of maintenance.
The first and most obvious advantage of thermal power is that it is extremely versatile. As long as you have some way of creating and utilizing heat, you can generate electricity using this method. This makes it ideal for people who want power at any time of day and don’t necessarily want to restrict their power generation to daylight hours. It also makes it ideal for places with extreme weather conditions or where it gets very hot or cold, as you can use heat pumps or air conditioners in order to generate electricity during the cooler hours or longer days when sunshine is not available.
One of the main disadvantages of thermal power is that it is relatively inefficient compared to the other types of renewable energy which we discussed above. This is mainly because heat is lost in the process of conversion from one form to another, and this is true even if you are utilizing the most modern and most efficient heat pumps and air conditioners. While this isn’t necessarily a problem, it does make thermal power less desirable than other forms of renewable energy.