Solar energy is often hailed as the future of energy, due to its many advantages, mostly related to its cleaner and more sustainable nature. However, if you’re not well-versed in the facts and figures surrounding this exciting new form of energy, you could be making grave errors in your endeavour to implement it.
Thankfully, the information below will set you right. Here’s some light on solar energy fact and figures, gathered by SolarBuzz in a single source:
Solar Energy Production By Country (2012)
Looking to invest in solar energy? Where should you move to, given that the solar resources are lacking in your home country? You could try your luck in one of the following nations: the U.S., Canada or China. The latter two are excellent places to park your cash in, with China currently leading the way, producing more solar energy than any other country in the world. Its government is keen to support the development of green energy, particularly solar power. As a result, local energy companies have the resources and ability to provide any customer with a quality solar power solution.
Cost Comparison Of Various Forms Of Generating Power (2011)
Cost is always a key consideration whenever you’re contemplating a power purchase. If you want to get the best value for your money, especially if you’re seeking financial advantage, you need to compare solar energy prices with those of conventional power generation. As its name suggests, conventional power generation uses conventional, combustion-based energy sources, such as coal or oil, to produce electricity. The energy comes from fossil fuels, which are non-renewable and cause climate change. The cost-saving benefits of going green, and choosing solar power, are many and varied, but among the most important are:
- The declining cost of solar electricity
- The decreasing cost of solar electronics
- The increasing size of the installed base
- The decreased cost of ownership
- The decreased cost of operation
- The decreased environmental impact
- The ability to produce electricity 24/7
- The ability to contribute to green energy goals
- The ability to provide power to remote locations, such as off-grid properties, islands, etc.
How does solar energy compare to other power sources in terms of cost? As noted above, the cost of solar energy continues to decline rapidly. For instance, solar electricity prices are currently around $0.03/$0.04/kWh in Germany, compared to $0.05/$0.06/kWh for conventional power providers such as coal or gas. This makes it one of the most cost-effective, and financially advantageous, ways of generating electricity. This compares very well to the cost of buying electricity at $0.03/$0.04/kWh in other countries, such as Italy or Spain, where solar is not available.
World Population Growth And Energy Consumption
Did you know that the human population is growing at an exponential rate, and that it’s expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050? That’s a lot of people, and a lot of energy will be required to provide for their everyday needs. It’s important to remember that the increase in population will lead to an increase in energy consumption. However, an important distinction needs to be made between the source of that energy. Inevitably, some of that energy will come from fossil fuels, which, as noted above, are non-renewable and contribute to climate change. The good news is that renewable energy, such as solar power, can help to mitigate the damaging effects of climate change, and allow for human development and well-being beyond what is possible today. As the global population continues to grow, and energy demand increases, more people are looking to generate their own power using solar energy. In fact, since 1980, an increasing number of people have been doing this thanks to declining prices and improvements in technology.
Global Warming And Energy Consumption
Did you know that global warming is caused by excessive energy consumption? Fossil fuels, such as oil, gas and coal, are a primary source of that energy. As noted above, these fuels are non-renewable and are causing climate change. The good news is that alternative, renewable sources of power, such as solar energy, can help to reduce global warming by providing another, clean option for generating electricity.
The above article was an informative summary of solar energy facts and figures. Hopefully, it answered all of your questions about this exciting new power source. If not, then feel free to contact SolarBuzz, our experienced team of solar energy experts, who will be happy to help you out.