Top 10 Facts About Solar Energy You Probably Didn’t Know

Top 10 Facts About Solar Energy You Probably Didn’t Know

Today, most people are utilizing non-renewable sources such as coal and oil, which is increasingly alarming.

However, the time has come when individuals have to consider renewable energy like solar energy.

Although different nations have already started using solar energy, more has to be done to exploit the power in a way that sustains the daily electricity demand.

Various facts can help people understand the elements of solar energy.

Solar energy can be described as the energy obtained from the sun.

Many solar technologies utilize power from the sun to produce heat as well as to produce light.

Solar panels are the equipment used to trap the sun’s rays and transform them into usable energy in the form of heat or electricity.

This process is referred to as photovoltaic, where protons produce electrons that flow and create power.

However, the primary advantage of solar power is that it does not pollute the environment, and it’s considered the safest energy.

Accordingly, solar power requires minimum maintenance, and installing the solar system is very simple.

As presented, the only disadvantage with solar energy is that sun rays can only be trapped during the daytime, and the quality of sunlight received relies on the weather conditions, time of the day, and year.

The potential of solar energy is mind-blowing.

10 Facts about Solar Energy

1. Environmentally Safe

Solar energy can be utilized effectively without interfering with its availability for the coming generation.

Extraction and fossil fuel burning result in climate change as non-renewable energies produce carbon dioxide that pollutes the environment.

Significant weather changes have characterized climate change.

Also, environmental damages are caused by the land that is mined and cleared during the extraction of natural gases.

However, solar energy is preferable to prevent escalating ecological pollution.

When the solar panel is installed where sun rays are best trapped, utilizing the solar system becomes more comfortable.

Solar energy does not produce harmful radiation when sunlight is transformed into usable energy.

Compared to solar energy, fossil fuels generate nitrogen oxides, mercury, and carbon monoxide, which are toxic chemicals to human and animal health.

Installing solar panels means that clean energy will be produced.

Also, nearly eight pounds of sulfur dioxide can be reduced.

Fossil fuels are responsible for approximately sixty-seven percent of sulfur dioxide radiated to the environment.

Further, a 4 kW solar panel installed can reduce up to 200,000 pounds of CO2 emissions, in a period of twenty-five years.

Some of these chemicals can cause severe diseases such as asthma.

If the world adapts to the use of solar energy, the levels at which fossil fuels are utilized will decrease, thus preserving the environment.

Solar energy is the only alternative to alleviate the environmental pollutions experience today, for instance, lowering the number of gasses emitted by greenhouses.

Furthermore, solar energy is better for all individuals involved in producing it.

Considering the effects of air pollution caused by emissions from fossil fuels and coal affecting the climate, solar energy use is likely to grow higher.

2. It’s a Significant Investment at Home

Solar energy is undoubtedly an essential type of energy that can help you save money.

In most cases, investments made at home do not add much value in comparison to the capital invested in them.

Investments made using solar energy extract property values.

According to research, the majority of home buyers pay more for homes that have installed moderate-sized panels.

The extra money paid by a home buyer becomes a pure return on the solar energy investment.

Also, the money one saves on energy while utilizing renewable energy is a bonus.

Investing in solar energy has become cheaper than, and solar energy is commercially striking compared to other energy sources.

Installing solar panels at home can influence home buyers to consider the solar-powered home over others.

Investing in solar energy can also deliver substantial returns compared to bonds and stocks.

While technology is advancing, the solar system is becoming more popular, thus lowering the financial incentives.

This makes it the right time to invest in renewable energy.

Accordingly, solar energy investment can help one save money used on taxes as the panels are not incorporated in property taxes in many regions.

Although the countries like the United States have imposed property tax exemptions imposed, solar panels are not considered when a property is valued.

With the high rate of technology advances, especially in both energy storage and solar panels, the future that solar energy holds is bright.

3. Solar Energy is Efficient

When generating energy, solar panels are readily available.

In favorable weather conditions, gathering solar energy has an increased efficacy where nearly twenty-two percent of solar power can be converted into usable AC energy.

The majority of the modern solar panels have been certified as they’re snow and wind-resistant.

Other environmental factors do not interfere with modern panels during the energy process.

Cost efficacy associated with solar energy is pretty low compared to the amount of money used on electricity.

Renewable energy is a poor substandard alternative, it serves as the best solution, and individuals need to shift.

Solar energy has been notable following its environmental benefits, and also their technologies have received increased attention.

In some regions, direct solar irradiation is more than three hundred W/m2.

This makes such areas solar-rich, escalating the availability of this energy.

Accordingly, the efficiency of the commonly used multi-crystalline silicon photovoltaic cell is nearly seventeen percent.

Consequently, solar energy can supply electricity directly to where it’s needed without losses or causes of insecurity.

The great use of solar energy has been adopted because of its low cost as well as compact.

Today, urban households are also utilizing solar-initiated water heaters.

However, to secure more transition from non-renewable fossil fuels, the generation of low-cost and efficient energy require to be developed.

Solar energy is also space-efficient.

Compared to the space needed to generate centralized power systems, solar plants require unused roof space.

For instance, the large rooftops in schools can be used to generate considerable solar power.

The more efficient the solar panel is, the higher the amount of energy production required in a home.

4. Solar Power Plants are Durable

When solar power plants are constructed, they can last from forty to fifty years.

Also, the infrastructure near the solar plant had a significant value.

Although solar panels can be replaced, once a solar plant is established and constructed, it has a very long lifespan.

Compared to other power generating technologies, solar energy power plants have a low maintenance cost.

Nevertheless, proper maintenance of the plant is required to improve energy yield and also increase the lifespan of the plant.

Some of the aspects of maintenance required include preventative maintenance.

This is scheduled to prevent faults from happening.

Also, preventive maintenance is aimed at keeping the energy plant functional at its optimum level.

In the case of plant failure, unscheduled maintenance is carried out.

To ensure the performance of a solar energy plant is optimized, careful consideration must be made when selecting the maintenance and operation contractor.

Nevertheless, the production of a power plant is expected to decrease after the third or fourth decade of its life.

This is caused by degraded modules as well as aging plant components.

Further, solar panels used in solar energy systems are highly durable.

They’re primarily made of tempered glass that is resilient to high winds and snow.

The manufactures offer a twenty-five-year guarantee of power production and also assure the buyers that the panel will still produce power after the warranty duration.

The solar power plant does not stop producing energy after exceeding the lifespan; what decreases is the energy production that is initially considered substantial.

5. Solar Panels Can Generate Power Without Direct Rays

Sunlight is the most reliable source of energy used by solar panels.

Nevertheless, the panels do not require direct sunlight to generate electricity.

The panels can capture sunlight from a different spectrum.

When the sun is not directly bright, or it happens to be gloomy, the panel still captures sun rays.

You get that right.

During the day, photons are converted into energy by the solar panel.

Although there are arising questions on whether solar panels require direct sunlight to produce energy, the answer is no.

What is needed is daylight, not sunlight.

The modern solar panels incorporate concentrators that utilize mirrors and lenses to increase light in cases where they do not reach the cells.

However, solar panels are said to be forty percent effective during cloudy seasons.

This means that a substantial amount of energy will still be produced without direct sunlight.

Before installing solar panels, you have to consider the size of the panel to use.

Production of power, especially in cloudy weather is less in large solar panels compared to the small sizes.

During the rainy seasons, solar panels can still produce power.

Photovoltaic panels can generate nearly twenty-five percent of their prime capacity in rainy seasons.

However, the amount of energy produced relies on how heavy the rains are or how dark the cloud cover is.

During such seasons, extra protection is only required to prevent surges caused by thunderstorms or lightning strikes.

As technology advances, panels that are resistible to low temperatures, ultraviolet radiation, and hails, among other environmental factors, are invented.

Although direct sunlight translates to considerable power, solar panel efficacy cannot be interrupted by indirect sunrays or cloudy weather.

Solar energy continues to become our reliable power source; the capacity to harvest solar energy generally depends on the technology.

6. More than Two Million Solar Systems are Currently Used in the U.S.

According to research carried out in early 2021, the number of solar systems used in the United States surpasses two million.

This project is expected to hit four million installations by 2023.

Solar energy is characterized as the fastest developing energy source globally.

It took the solar industry forty years to get to one million installations but just two years to hit two million installations.

Solar energy has indeed become too good to ignore.

Generators have been another source of energy, but they stand to lose revenue of approximately $2bn.

This is due to the increased solar installation in the United States.

The rise in solar energy has highly benefited from policies like the renewable energy mandate as well as Investment Tax Credit, which significantly drives solar energy growth.

Advancements in technology have also contributed to the high installation levels in the United States.

However, the first one million installations were influenced by state markets profiting from incentive programs as well as an abrupt reduction in cost.

Implementation of ITC lowered the costs of solar installation by approximately seventy-three percent.

This has facilitated the solar industry to install thousands of solar systems countrywide.

Also, the industry has highly expanded into new markets.

For example, solar systems have enhanced market reset in various state markets, which have transitioned to new structures that distribute generation programs.

In the United States, growth in a solar installation is expected to grow.

As the installation costs continue to drop, so is the proliferation of solar use.

Accordingly, solar installation is expected to double and deployment topping to hit 100 GW within two years.

The U.S. is on track to be the 4th largest solar market globally.

7. Solar Energy Technology is Flexible

Solar energy has made its way in all aspects of life.

Solar panels can be installed on any type of building.

This also includes roads, satellites as well as spacecraft.

Solar panels are lightweight, thus making them easy to carry around and transport.

Solar panels are also designed for small devices such as phone chargers.

Flexible thin solar panels that are developed using organic materials are utilized for mobile devices such as planes and boats.

Some of these panels are bendable and rigid.

This refers to the capability of solar panels to be curved and installed in curved spaces.

Also, some solar panels can be integrated into textiles or installed on facades.

Solar panels flexibility has contributed to the high rate of solar energy use.

Flexible solar can be utilized indoors or outdoors

They also pertain to silicon technology which makes them robust, construct flexible as well as weather-resistant.

The same factors enable solar panels to be installed on office windows and also on high-rise buildings.

This translates to high energy use and flexibility of solar energy.

In the coming generation, boats and cars are expected to upgrade to solar energy.

At large, empty lands are being used today to accommodate solar plants.

The largest solar plant is based in Mojave Desert, California.

However, the transition from non-renewable power generation requires increased operational flexibility because renewable energy sources contain fluctuating power levels.

8. Solar Energy is Affordable

Investments based on solar energy technology have highly increased.

This means that the cost of electricity is becoming more efficient.

Switching to renewable energy is not an option for saving the environment anymore, but because the energy sources are cheaper compared to fossil fuels.

As much as the sun keeps on shining, energy costs continue to fall.

Solar energy is technology.

As technology continues to advance, solar energy becomes cheaper.

However, the market price of non-renewable fuels does not show the cost utilized to cater to its health impacts in society.

Also, it’s vital to remember the tax finances used to rebuild energy sources in case of a natural event.

Considering these factors, solar energy will be gaining ground faster than any other type of energy.

The price of gas and coal is escalating because the majority of traditional power plants are utilized less.

The price of installing and maintaining solar energy equipment is quite low, which has influenced the mass to adopt renewable energy.

Also, efforts made by governments to keep low cost is expected to propel further.

Initially, financing entities alleged renewable energies as not suitable due to their high cost.

Nevertheless, comparing solar energy to electricity, solar energy is extremely low.

Utilizing solar energy is cost-effective.

The price of solar panels has fallen by up to sixty percent.

The cost of purchasing and installing a standard solar array is almost half the price of fossil fuel plants.

Considering the tax credits as well as discounts, the cost of solar energy especially in leading countries is less than ten thousand dollars.

However, solar energy has become more affordable than it was predicted.

The implementation cost and the availability of sunlight translate that the rooftop systems will continue to compete with electricity.

There are expectations that the price for this energy will continue to decline shortly.

Most regions globally have shifted to solar energy.

The number of people installing solar energy systems is expected to increase following its affordability.

9. China is Leading in Renewable Energy Globally

Although China is considered with the highest carbon emissions, it’s the largest producer of renewable energy.

This country has been leading in renewable energy use for seven years globally.

This is according to the UN’s report.

Also, this country contributes to nearly a third of worldwide renewable investments.

Increased production of solar energy in China has influenced the sale of electric vehicles in this country.

Countries with the ability to implement solar energy technologies can improve their international influence.

Today, China is also the biggest producer and exporter of solar equipment.

Also, they’re the largest installer of solar panels, which makes them the largest in the global energy transition.

China is still pushing harder to become a true climate leader.

The Chinese have set themselves in a better position to become the leading nation in renewable energy.

Factors influencing their energy production include the fact that solar energy is widely available, whether in sunny seasons or during the winter.

However, this increases the chances for China to develop a substantial amount of solar energy.

Solar energy revolutions facilitate Chinese global leadership.

The reduction of fossil fuels in China has supported energy independence in this country.

The transformation from non-renewable energy has brought significant power shifts, although these changes present both challenges and opportunities, the benefits outweigh the challenges.

The Chinese government prioritizes solar energy investment because it primarily enables the country to combat water and air pollution.

The number of people using fossil fuels is still high, which is the leading cause of sulfur dioxide emissions.

Air pollution is the second leading problem in China.

The government has however embraced solar energy, to lower air pollutants.

Also, the increased proportion of solar energy makes China less reliant on other regions for energy security.

The Chinese leaders and policy-makers must anticipate the current changes and navigate the geopolitical setting.

10. There is always a solar panel near you.

Big solar energy plants are often constructed in remote deserts.

Nevertheless, solar panels are continuously distributed in areas where anyone in need can access them.

Target (NYSE: TDT) is the most prominent solar energy firm, producing 147.5 MW, followed by Walmart (NYSE: WMT) which produces 145.0 MW.

The price of utility-scale solar has lowered, which makes the panels more accessible and affordable.

The average cost of watt-Dc in the United States is 1.03 dollars for the fixed-tilt systems.

Panels that project the movement of the sun and absorb energy from all angles cost 1.11 dollars.

The majority of solar panels are generated in China, which holds the most substantial proportion of manufacturing these modules.

However, more panels are produced, which outweighs their demand.

This means that individuals import panels at a low cost, which translates to a low cost of utility-scale solar.

Solar panels are becoming more and more accessible.

Declining prices, as well as efficient hardware, are creating a clear way for solar panels than before.

It’s predicted that, by 2050, nearly one hundred and thirty-nine countries might be getting all their power from solar energy sources.

Deciding on which type of panel to utilize depends on one’s desired system features.

There are different types of solar panels, and each has its own merits and demerits.

Generally speaking, when one wants a panel with high efficacy, monocrystalline panels are the best.

These types of solar panels contain batteries made of silicon wafers.

Monocrystalline cells are developed from a single pure silicon crystal.

Although these types of solar panels are expensive, they have high performance.

This aspect makes the panels the most favorable.

Photovoltaic is another type of solar panel that has been effective since the twentieth century.

This panel is pocket-friendly, and the majority of people in the U.S. utilize it.

The type of panel to purchase also depends on the type of installation one considers.

Installing solar panels is a significant way to cut electricity costs.

Final Thoughts

The concluding line is that solar energy is advancing all over the world.

The majority of people have shifted to this type of energy.

Also, with a vital plan, solar panels produce enough power that can meet all the household needs and eliminate most of the electricity bills.

As long as there is enough roof space, the right size solar panel system can be installed.