For years, people have been comparing the cost of electricity to that of thermal energy, but it wasn’t until the last few years that the prices started to line up and become more affordable. As solar power continues to decline in price, more and more homeowners are looking to invest in solar thermal energy to reduce their energy costs. But how much does solar thermal energy cost? Let’s compare the two options to see which one is more affordable.
How Does Solar Thermal Energy Work?
At the most basic level, solar thermal energy is just like any other energy source. You have the solar panels, which are responsible for generating the electricity. Then, you have the batteries, which store the electricity for use whenever there is sunlight.
The main difference comes in the form of the storage. With most other energy sources, such as coal or natural gas, the fossil fuels are stored right next to the power plant. However, with solar thermal energy, the storage occurs at or near the earth’s surface, where the heat can be readily transferred.
This reduces the cost of transporting the energy and helps make solar thermal power more affordable. It also allows for a greater degree of monitoring and customization. If you have a pool that you use in the summertime, you can use the stored heat to keep the water at a constant temperature for longer.
Not only does this make the energy more affordable, it also means that the energy can be used more consistently. The temperatures at which most other forms of energy are produced fluctuate with the seasons, which means that the energy is not always available when you need it. This is largely due to the fact that other forms of energy are more expensive to produce than solar thermal energy. It also means that you have to build more power plants to account for the fluctuating demand, which in turn leads to even higher electricity prices.
Cost Effective
One of the most attractive features of solar thermal energy is that it is generally cost-effective compared to other forms of energy generation. In most cases, you can expect to pay around $0.03 to $0.05 per kwh, which is far less than the $0.10 to $0.20 per kwh that you would pay for power from a traditional plant.
For example, the cost of electricity from a solar power plant can be less than half of what you would pay for the same amount of power from a natural gas power plant. The cost savings are even greater for commercial buildings, where you can often find solar power plants priced at around $0.02 per kwh. This is because natural gas is more expensive than most other types of energy sources and because most natural gas power plants have additional costs associated with them, such as insurance against natural disasters.
In some cases, the cost of electricity from a solar power plant will be the same as or even less than the cost of electricity from a conventional power plant. This makes solar thermal energy a cost-effective option for anyone who needs cheap electricity.
Durability
In addition to being cost-effective, solar thermal energy has another advantage over most other forms of energy generation: durability. The energy from a traditional power plant, for example, can be quickly destroyed if you don’t have the proper equipment to handle it. This is because most traditional forms of energy are produced at high temperatures, which in turn makes them more susceptible to wear and tear. For instance, the blades of a conventional turbine can be damaged by extreme temperatures, which in turn can lead to major repairs and even potential shut-downs. This is often why traditional energy sources are not used as much in locations that are prone to extreme weather conditions. They simply cannot handle the wear and tear of these conditions well.
Since solar thermal energy is produced at ambient temperatures, it is more durable and can therefore be used in places with a lot of exposure to the elements. This means that you don’t necessarily need special equipment to keep the solar power plants operating. You just need to make sure that the structures and vehicles that you are using to transport the material and equipment for the plants are weather-proof. In many cases, this will lead to a marked reduction in the costs associated with maintaining a conventional power plant, as well as an increase in efficiency.
Mobility
Another advantage of solar thermal energy over most other forms of energy is that it is mobile. This means that you can take the plant with you and set it down almost anywhere. It doesn’t need a fixed location like a coal mine or gas station. This makes it much easier to transport and set up than most other energy sources, which means that you can avoid paying excessive amounts for land use. In most cases, you just need to make sure that you have a place to plug it in. This can be either at home or at work, depending on your individual needs.
One of the main downsides of solar thermal energy is that it is seasonal. This is because the sun heats up the earth during the day, which in turn heats up the water at the surface. This makes it easier for heat to be lost during the night and in the wintertime. To combat this, you can either make more efficient use of daylight or implement an energy-saving strategy. For example, if you notice that you are using more energy than you need during the day, you can lower the temperature of the water in the pool by setting up a screen on the pool deck to block the sun. You can use an energy monitor to track your daily energy usage and adjust as needed.
Even then, the seasonal nature of the resource presents a problem that needs to be addressed. If you live in a region where the seasons are extreme, you can easily have months where the temperatures are below freezing and you cannot use the pool without risking damage to your equipment. In these cases, you can either choose to not use the pool or block off a portion of it with a snow fence or hedge. In most cases, this will prevent excess energy being lost and will make the pool more usable throughout the year.
The decision to install solar thermal energy is not an easy one. The advantages of the resource are considerable, but so are the disadvantages. The decision comes down to how much you are willing to pay for electricity versus the hassle and expense of installing and maintaining a conventional form of energy production.
Now that you know how much solar thermal energy costs, it’s time to decide whether or not to invest in the technology. If you’re looking for an energy-efficient, cost-effective alternative that has the added benefit of being mobile, look no further. Just make sure that you have enough sunlight to sustain the operation of the solar plant.