For centuries, humans have relied on the sun to provide them with energy. Thanks to modern technologies and innovations, we can now harness the power of the sun even when the sun isn’t out! Let’s explore how solar energy works and why you should consider generating your own solar power instead of depending on traditional energy sources.
All About Energy
Unlike fossil fuels (which we’ll discuss in more detail in a moment), solar energy is a sustainable and environmentally conscious source of energy. In the simplest terms, solar energy is the energy we get from the sun, and almost everyone possesses this energy whether they know it or not. While the sun isn’t always visible, it always provides energy somewhere on Earth, which is why the phrase ‘solar power’ exists.
The most common (and most effective) way of generating solar power is through photovoltaics (PV). This is the process of converting sunlight directly into electrical energy using semiconductors and other materials. Modern PV cells can generate large amounts of power – up to 20 kW – and have a lifespan of up to 15 years, depending on how often they are cleaned and maintained.
PV cells, and other forms of solar-powered technology, are popular because they’re environmentally conscious and sustainable. While traditional sources of energy are often seen as a last resort because they emit gases that contribute to climate change, the reverse is true with solar energy. These traditional sources of energy are often a cause of climate change and don’t contribute to sustainability in any way, shape, or form. Because of this, many large companies have gone green with their energy use and are working hard to reduce their environmental impact through alternative energy sources.
Energy Consumption
One of the issues with traditional forms of energy is that the resources to fuel them are limited. Yes, you may find oil and gas under the earth, but these are likely to deplete over the next few decades. If we continue to rely on these forms of energy, we may find ourselves in a situation where there isn’t enough to sustain our energy needs. When this happens, we’ll either have to reduce our standard of living or find more energy sources.
Photovoltaics generate their own energy, which means there’s no need to consume more energy in the process of generating it. This could be a significant advantage for those concerned with climate change – switching to a sustainable source of energy could help reduce a country’s carbon footprint.
Why Go Green?
You might be wondering why you should generate your own solar energy when so many benefits are associated with using traditional forms of energy. After all, isn’t switching to a greener energy source just an attempt to be eco-friendly?
While it’s a good idea to go green and reduce your energy use wherever possible, you shouldn’t let this impact your decision to generate your own solar power.
Why? Because being eco-friendly is about more than just reducing your energy use. It’s about doing your bit to preserve the environment around you, which provides you with resources that you need to survive. If you want to be truly eco-friendly, you have to consider not just your energy use but also how you generate and sustain your energy. This will help ensure that your efforts are not wasted and that the environment is preserved for future generations.
Saving Money
Instead of spending money on expensive candles and other forms of energy, which often generate a lot of heat that you need to pay for, you can generate your own solar energy and use it anytime you want (assuming you have the equipment). This is likely to save you money in the long run because you won’t have to pay for expensive energy usage as you would if you were to purchase it.
Depending on your financial situation, you may want to consider generating as much solar power as possible and using it as much as you can. After all, the more you use, the less expensive it will be per unit of power (assuming you don’t spend money on electricity bills).
Generating Power When The Sun Isn’t Out
One of the main advantages of photovoltaics is that they can provide power even when the sun isn’t out. This is particularly useful for those who live in areas where the sun doesn’t shine directly on the surface of the land (such as the UK).
To be able to utilize this abundant and sustainable source of energy, you need to install a solar panel system that is designed to work with the existing electricity network. If this is not possible, you will have to generate your own electricity through other means and feed it into the electricity grid. However, even when the sun is out, it doesn’t always correlate to an abundance of power.
In some areas, such as Hawaii, the sun shines brightly all year round and this provides almost constant energy during the day. The energy generated by the sun in Hawaii is so great that it is actually cheaper to generate it than it is to purchase electricity on the open market. This is because the state’s main power utility, Hawaiian Electric, purchases energy at wholesale prices during the day and sells it at retail prices at night, when there is no energy generated by the sun. The situation in Hawaii is not unique to this state however, as similar examples can be found in other areas of the US and UK where the sun shines brightly during the day but there is no energy at night. This can make generating power during the day very expensive – potentially more than you’d spend on a night out with your friends and family!
How Much Does It Cost To Generate Solar Power?
The cost of generating solar power depends on a number of factors, including:
- your solar panel system (e.g. how many panels you have installed and how efficient they are)
- the size of your roof – the bigger the roof, the more power you can generate
- the time of day you generate power (e.g. it is more efficient to generate power at night when demand is low)
- your geographical location (if you live in a high-rainfall area, you will need to consider whether or not to install a water-collection system to generate more power)
- your energy needs (how much power do you need? how often do you need it? how big is your electricity bill? do you need a standby generator? etc.)
Obviously, you can’t put a price on sustainability and the environment but, if you are aware of the factors that influence the cost of generating solar power, you can make smarter choices about your energy use and be more mindful about the impact that your choices have on the environment. With solar power, the cost-benefit analysis almost always works in your favor because you are generating your own clean energy and you won’t have to pay for the pollution that other forms of energy often cause. Another significant advantage of solar energy is that it is a renewable source of energy, meaning it will never run out.
If you want to know how much solar power you can generate for free, all you need is the sun and some time in the day when it is shining – which is why it is often cheaper to generate power at night when demand is low. You can use online calculators to determine how much power you can generate for free given the size of your roof and geographical location. You simply need to input these details and the calculator will do the rest.
The Rise In Popularity
The popularity of solar power is increasing rapidly as more people become environmentally conscious and learn to value sustainability. For years, humans have either had to rely on fossil fuels or don’t have access to electricity that is generated outside their home (e.g. through photovoltaics). Due to climate change and the growing need for clean energy, it is likely that more and more people will seek out sustainable and green energy sources to provide for their needs.
It is also important to note that, while the cost of generating solar power varies from area to area and device to device, it is often quite affordable. In some areas of the world, such as Australia, you can get systems that are free or nearly free. This is because governments support green energy through rebate schemes and other incentive programs. In other areas, such as the UK, you will probably have to pay a bit for your solar power system but the payback in energy savings and reductions in your energy bill can more than make up for this cost.