When you consider the various forms of energy that humans have created over the years, from windmills to hydroelectric dams to solar panels, it’s clear that we have gone beyond powering our homes and businesses with electricity. These days, we’re looking to combine alternative sources of energy to make our houses and our vehicles run more efficiently – and that’s what makes the stories of the Tesla solar roof and the Fisker ocean energy station so interesting.
The Rise Of Solar
The modern-day pursuit of alternative energy sources really began back in the 1800s, with hydroelectric power generating stations popping up across Europe and North America. During this time, renewable energy sources such as solar power gained popularity as populations grew and the demand for electricity increased. The development of photovoltaic cells in the 1950s and the construction of the world’s first solar plant in California in 1954 were important steps in the transition from traditional energy sources to renewables.
The Rise Of Wind
While solar power traditionally had the upper hand when it came to renewable energy sources, that all changed with the rise of the wind industry in the early 2000s. Thanks to new technologies that make it easier and more affordable to manufacture wind turbines, manufacturers around the world have seen a boom in business as the demand for wind turbines increased. In fact, global sales of wind turbines reached $16.9 billion in 2016, up from $11.8 billion in 2011. Just three years later, that amount is expected to have nearly doubled to $32 billion.
Why Are We Turning To Alternative Energy?
The most obvious answer is climate change. As our world becomes more technologically sophisticated, individuals and businesses are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. One of the big contributors to carbon dioxide emissions is energy consumption, so transitioning to more sustainable energy sources is a clear route to take.
In some parts of the world, especially developed countries, the demand for energy is also on the rise. We’re producing more than we need, and while that’s great for manufacturers, it also means that there’s a greater demand for energy. Fortunately, this trend is opening up new opportunities in the alternative energy sector as countries around the world strive to meet this higher demand.
The Different Forms Of Alternative Energy
While solar and wind power are both forms of alternative energy, they operate under very different conditions, so it’s important to know the differences. To put it simply, solar energy is produced when the sun shines, and wind energy is produced when the wind blows. While solar panels harness the power of the sun directly, wind turbines use the power of the wind indirectly – they turn the turbine blades using magnets or electrical motors, generating electricity when the wind blows across them. Because of this indirect connection to wind and solar energy, the production of wind energy is not as stable or consistent as solar energy, but it’s a lot easier and more affordable to manufacture.
How Do They Actually Work?
You might be wondering how exactly solar and wind energy work, so let’s take a quick look. When the sun shines, it provides a certain amount of energy – measured in watts – to power our world. This is the consistent and stable energy source that we need to rely on, as it always shines and provides power when needed. On the other hand, the wind can be unpredictable – we never know when or where it’s going to come from, so we have to prepare for the worst and ensure that our systems are windproof and prepared to capture the energy when the wind blows. This is why we see many different forms of wind turbines around the world, not just the traditional round ones.
Solar energy is also extremely flexible – we can use it at any time of day and don’t need to worry about the wind, so we can get straight to work when we need power and stop generating when there’s no sun or when it’s cloudy. This energy source is also incredibly beneficial to the environment, as it reduces our dependence on fossil fuels and prevents energy from being consumed by power plants – it’s always available wherever we need it.
On the other hand, wind turbines are only as good as the wind is capable of pushing them – if there’s no wind, they won’t generate any electricity. This requires a lot of maintenance and upkeep, as we have to monitor the wind and make sure that it’s always blowing to ensure that the turbines continue to turn and generate electricity. If we want to store the energy for later use, we need to build more and more wind farms to create bigger and bigger reservoirs of wind energy. This can also become expensive, as it requires a lot of land to store sufficient energy for a single household or business to use.
How Much Does It Cost To Generate Electricity?
Depending on the price of fossil fuels and the capacity of your solar array, your cost of electricity will vary, but it’s not a lot compared to the cost of traditional energy sources. In fact, if you live in a country where electricity is expensive, you might want to consider investing in a small wind turbine instead, as it could end up being more affordable. Remember that the price of solar and wind energy varies based on the time of day and the season, so you’ll have to check the details of your particular contract to know what your costs will be. With hydroelectric power, your costs are largely determined by your location and the amount of rain or snow that falls – the energy contained in these natural occurrences is all but infinite, so you’re guaranteed to never run out of energy as long as you have water to generate it with. Fossil fuels are a cheap way to generate electricity, as they can be bought from energy suppliers for less than $0.10 per kilowatt hour (kWh), while the price of solar energy in Germany is about 7 cents per kWh and Wind Energy is about 11 cents per kWh. This is mainly due to Germany having some of the cheapest energy in the world and the increasing cost of fossil fuels – most likely due to climate change and governments’ efforts to reduce emissions.
These days, we often hear about the numerous perks that come with owning a home solar power plant – the ability to generate your own energy and save money on your monthly bills are just a few of the benefits that come with this seemingly effortless source of energy. While it is true that solar and wind energy are cost-effective compared to traditional sources of energy when purchased in bulk, it’s not always the best option for everyone – especially those living in rural areas or more remote places where the sun doesn’t shine and the wind rarely blows. If you’re looking for an affordable and stable energy supply in a place where the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow, then fossil fuels are still the way to go. There are also some disadvantages to solar and wind energy, which we’ll talk about next.