Solar Energy: A Renewable Energy Source for Future World
The energy crisis is one of the most crucial challenges of the twenty-first century. With coal, crude oil, and natural gas accounting for more than 80% of the primary energy supply in 2018, fossil fuels and traditional energy-producing methods have dominated the energy supply. However, due to the production of different gases from the combustion of fossil fuels, the environment is severely damaged. It is more susceptible to catastrophic climate phenomena including land drought, heat waves, wildfires, a rise in sea level, floods, and others. In addition to growing pollution levels, finite and diminishing fossil fuels resources and fluctuating prices of fossil fuels drive people to find alternative clean-energy technology. Therefore, a sustainable future world needs a secure, ecologically friendly, and efficient energy supply today more than ever.
The availability of renewable energy sources including solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and biomass energy is expanding quickly because of technical developments that have lowered costs and enhanced efficiency. Solar energy use has accelerated recently, particularly when discussing sustainability.
How Solar Energy Works
The amount of sunlight that hits the Earth’s surface in a single hour is higher than the world's energy needs for an entire year. As a result, the sun is seen as a powerful, dependable energy source with a significant environmental benefit over other energy sources, as sunlight reaches every place on Earth over the course of the year. Solar energy systems concentrate solar radiation and transform sunlight into usable types of energy. The two primary solar energy technologies used today are photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP).
Photovoltaics (PV): When the sun shines on a solar panel, the panel's PV cells collect the solar energy. In reaction to an internal electrical field within the cell, this energy generates electrical charges that move, which results in the flow of electricity.
“Solar Photovoltaic Technology - solar cells, also called photovoltaic cells, convert sunlight directly into electricity.“ Source: NREL Transforming Energy
Concentrating solar power (CSP): CSP collects solar energy and converts it to heat, which may then be utilized to generate electricity or stored for later use. Mirrors are used to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers. It is mostly utilized in sizable power plants.
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Technology. Picture: Greens MPs
Solar Energy vs. Fossil Fuels
Availability
Fossil fuel reserves are finite, and they will run out due to an ever-increasing demand for energy. Solar energy is the most plentiful and cost-free source of renewable energy. The planet receives solar energy in a variety of ways, including heat and light. The majority of this energy's part is lost during transit due to cloud absorption, reflection, and dispersion. However, solar energy can be used effectively to meet the world's energy needs. It is also a viable source of energy, since it has higher output efficiency than other energy sources.
Environmental Effects
Solar energy use and monitoring have fewer negative effects on ecosystems if the natural balance is maintained for the benefit of living things. Fossil fuel exploitation destroys ecosystems, which in turn upsets the natural order. Recently, a study has accessed several solar energy technologies and came to the conclusion that CSP and PV had the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of all the sources of energy.
Costs and Access
Despite greater upfront expenditures for the user, switching to solar is cost-effective in the long run. Significant price reductions have also been brought about by technological advancements. Over the past 10 years, the cost of solar energy has reduced by 73%. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the cost of solar energy is typically between 3 cents and 6 cents per kilowatt-hour and is on the decline, whereas the cost of electricity derived from fossil fuels is between 5 and 17 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Due to its low cost and wide range of applications, solar energy will likely become the most accessible form of energy in the future. Solar arrays may be successfully employed for individual houses, businesses, and even entire villages.
Applications of Solar Energy
Solar energy has many uses since it is readily available with the proper equipment and does little environmental harm. Nowadays, solar energy can be used for food refrigeration, water heating, distillation, drying, cooking, heating and cooling of buildings, as well as many other operations.
Roof mounted PV-systems for building integration: Building-integrated photovoltaics are gradually becoming more popular among families all over the world, especially roof-mounted PV systems.
Irrigation for agricultural crops: Solar energy is currently used in many regions of the world for irrigating field crops affordably.
Solar energy for wastewater treatment: Significant amounts of water are consumed in several industrial processes and then released into the environment, which seriously harms the ecosystem and all living things. PV panels are crucial in providing the power needed to run different treatment plant components, reducing environmental pollution, and improving output.
Environmental Benefits of Solar Energy Technologies
Compared to traditional energy sources, solar energy has clear environmental benefits that support the sustainable growth of human activities.
Decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, namely CO2 and NOx, and elimination of harmful gas emissions (SO2, particulates)
Restoring damaged land
Reducing the number of electrical grid transmission lines needed
Enhancing the standard of water resources
Rising living standards and a growing global population are predicted to fuel a significant rise in energy usage over the coming decades. One of the most important sustainable actions we can do to combat climate change and its detrimental impacts is to switch to solar energy. In comparison to traditional energy sources, solar energy systems significantly improve the environment, promoting the sustainable growth of human activities.
