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Natural Energy Sources
More and more countries nowadays are encouraging citizens to go solar. This is because it is viewed as the best natural energy source since it has no impact on the environment. In addition, solar energy also helps property owners and businesses save on energy costs.
It's a renewable and clean energy source to use in your home and business in Adelaide. This article looks at the future of solar energy, but before indulging in that, let's look at how solar energy works.
What Is Solar Energy?
Solar energy utilises the sunlight and heat to produce a green or renewable energy source. The most popular type of solar energy is usually leveraged by photovoltaic cells or solar panels. In the photovoltaic power stations, the panels are arranged near each other to capture the sunlight in extensive areas.
You can also get the panels installed on top of buildings and houses. These solar cells are usually designed from semiconductor materials. When the sun's rays hit these cells, the electrons get loose. This makes them flow freely through the cells and produce electricity.
On a more extensive scale, solar collectors usually produce electrical power for many people at once. It is also worth noting that solar thermal power plants apply many techniques to generate power from the sun. The energy is utilised for boiling water which then operates steam turbines that produces the same type of energy produced by nuclear or coal power plants.
The sun is a great energy source since it is readily available and renewable. Advanced technological innovations lead to more reliance on solar power by enhancing efficiency. Unlike in the past solar panels are now cheaper. Many companies are producing a large number of solar cells. Solar installation is also faster and more accessible because of the innovative designs of solar panels.
Reasons Why Solar Energy's Future Is Bright
With more and more homes and companies using solar energy and the benefits involved, the future of solar is bright. Below are some of the reasons that make the future of solar bright.
You can use solar energy anywhere
Solar energy's future is bright because of its versatility. You can use the power regardless of the location where you live. The sun is readily available and always there, making solar energy the most versatile energy source. It offers the best energy solution for people living in areas with no form of electricity.
For instance, for people who live in isolated or rural areas, solar panels allow them to leverage the sun's power and power their homes without a lot of hassles. Solar energy is more reliable since the sun is a guaranteed energy source compared to fossil fuels.
Even if you live in an area where solar is not thought to be a potential energy source, solar will offer you the electricity you require for your business or home use. Another great thing is that the panels can be used in colder climates and winter.
A more economical energy source
People are always looking for ways to reduce their monthly costs at home and in their businesses. With the economic hardships that most people are going through, especially in companies, they are looking for ways to save on energy costs. It's good to note that energy costs take a considerable fraction of monthly expenses at home and in business.
Using solar power is one of the most effective ways to save on energy costs. It helps eliminate or reduce electricity bills making it the most cost-effective energy source in businesses and homes in Adelaide. There are different ways that people can save a lot of money by embracing the use of solar in the future.
The use of solar energy means that you get electric power generated from the sun. You don't need an electricity connection in your home, thus eliminating electric bills at the end of every month. The net metering program also allows property owners to sell excess power to the local energy provider and earn credits.
This makes it possible for homes to receive negative bills or zero charges every month. Net metering also eliminates paying for battery storage for solar installation. Other ways to save money include solar feed-in tariff or rebate programs.
Solar energy is the best for the environment
There are many initiatives worldwide to help conserve the environment and reduce pollution. Conventional energy sources such as oil, coal, or gas have adverse effects on the environment. For instance, fossil fuel extraction leads to massive pollution and climate change. On the other hand, electricity production also leads to excess carbon dioxide emissions.
The environmental damage caused has adverse effects such as global warming, a significant concern in modern times. Considering all the above problems, it's evident that the future of solar energy is bright because it doesn't cause any adverse effects on the environment.
Solar energy is clean and pure, making it a great alternative to coal or natural gas. Solar energy minimises greenhouse gases and carbon footprints globally. Once the panels are installed, electricity production is emission-free and needs only a little water. As such, water sources suffer no adverse effects.
Solar energy is good for health
Solar energy leads to less air pollution. There are no air pollutants such as nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide, or other harmful substances emitted. Thus, solar power reduces respiratory issues such as asthma, bronchitis, and cardiovascular health complications.
It is a massive investment
Solar energy offers long-term energy solutions for businesses and homes in Adelaide. Once you have installed the solar panel system in your home, you can enjoy the power generated for many years to come. The only cost involved is buying the solar power system and installation.
After installation, property owners can enjoy electricity without paying monthly electric bills. Thus, you get a good return on the investment. It is also estimated that the cost of solar panels will reduce, hence making solar energy a significant investment in your home or business.
Trends Show Solar Energy's Future Is Bright
There has been a sharp increase in the number of businesses and homes that use solar energy. Specific trends in modern times show that the future of solar energy is bright not only in Adelaide, Australia but also worldwide. Here are some of these trends.
Evolving sector
Solar energy is one of the most evolving sectors. Most of the traditional energy companies are diversifying to include renewable sources of energy. Solar energy is one of the most preferred renewable energy sources by providers. Its use is expected to skyrocket in the coming years, focusing more on cleaner energy.
There will be more efforts to encourage the use of clean energy. You can also expect more regulations and reduced incentives to use non-renewable sources of energy. Governments in most countries are offering a more conducive business environment for solar energy providers.
Solar panels are becoming more affordable
In modern times, solar panels have become more affordable than they were in the past years. You find that many homes, even those with low income, prefer the use of solar energy because of its cost-effectiveness. It is also expected that the price will reduce further, leading to increased installations of the panels in residential and commercial properties. The other great thing is that solar energy is becoming the cheapest source of electricity.
Increased demand for solar products
There is also a trend in which most people are swapping electricity-powered products to those that leverage solar power like cookers, portable smartphone chargers, and others. People nowadays prefer using solar products that use solar power to function. This helps reduce the electricity costs since the electric power used by these appliances also contributes to the high energy costs.
Solutions To Solar Energy Problems
Even with the bright future of solar energy, problems are still faced. Solar power is used for cooking, heating water, and general home use. However, the challenge is that not all areas get the long hours of sunlight needed to increase the solar panels' efficiency. The other challenge is solar energy storage.
Modern solar battery storage systems are costly. Besides, getting maximum efficiency out of the solar panel is also quite challenging. The silicon panels are 33 per cent efficient, meaning that most solar radiation is not utilised to produce electricity.
Improvement needed in the solar energy sector
With the future of solar energy looking bright, it is also good for solar panels to make the necessary improvements to help in advancing solar power. Here are some things that would make solar energy more efficient as its usage increases in the future.
Use better materials for the solar panels
The disadvantages of the conventional silicon panels include low efficiency and high price. However, with the use of perovskites, a mineral featuring oxygen, titanium, and calcium, the panels' efficiency is expected to improve.
It's now easy for the panels to be made as thin layers, need less material, and are designed using a simpler and faster process. After thorough research and development, the efficiency of perovskite panels has risen and is far better than the silicon options.
Enhance storage and transmission
Another technical issue for solar that requires improvement is storage capacity. Solar panels need to have more battery storage capacity to work even more effectively during cold weather conditions. With high-level storage, it becomes possible for the users to use it for a longer duration of time, even during winter.
This would also help those who live in areas that don't experience a lot of sunlight. With more storage capacity, users will not see the need to supplement solar energy with other energy sources in their homes or businesses.
Allowing solar to stay afloat
One of the ways to expand solar installation that requires implementation more widely involves floating the solar panels on water bodies such as lakes or other water surfaces. These panels work similarly to the usual land-based panels but offer more advantages. The water makes the panels remain cooler for a long time, leading to increased performance.
Installing the solar panels on the water bodies also helps solve the issue of limited land for extensive scale projects. The other great benefit is that the floating solar can use hydropower and be part of the energy grid. The major challenge here is anchoring and mooring the solar panels on water. It might also be costlier than installing the panels on land.
Create a favourable environment for solar energy use
The major advancements in solar panel manufacturing have made the panels more available in the past years. More and more homes and businesses in Adelaide are using solar energy. With the expected increase in solar energy, there is a need to have better laws to enable property owners to get more incentives for using solar energy in their homes.
Moreover, there is a significant need for the government to make it easy to install solar panels for large-scale projects, remove permits for rooftop installations, and make it easier for all people to access solar panels.
Innovations To Make Solar Energy More Efficient
With the increased use of solar energy, there is also a need to create more innovative ways to make solar power more efficient. Here are some of the solar power innovations to improve efficiency.
Design thin-film solar panels
Leveraging solar energy does not involve the use of large solar panels. The solar thin-film technology helps reduce the cost of the panels and installation. This also makes it possible to install more solar panels on rooftops or integrate them into roofing materials.
Solar balloons
Solar balloons are not hot air balloons that are powered by the sun. Instead, it is a more innovative technology to get solar power on collections of silvery balloons. The large balloons direct the solar energy into solar cells by using more available and less costly components.
Hairy solar panels
The hairy solar panels are products that use light-absorbing nanowires that leverage more energy from the sun than silicon. These panels can lead to the production of more power and enhance efficiency.
Renewable Energy Sources
From the article, you can see that the solar future is bright. With the many benefits the energy offers, you can expect more and more people to start using solar energy in their homes. More so, most governments, encourage their citizens to use solar energy to promote environmental conservation.
There are also incentives provided to encourage people to embrace solar energy in their homes and businesses. If you want solar panels installed, you should work with the best solar installation company. Work with a company that can help you with high-quality servicing, maintenance, and system repairs.