Solar power’s major advantages

In today’s world where news of climate-related weather disasters is increasingly present, there is major move toward renewable energy sources. Solar energy offers many advantages over conventional energy systems by minimizing flaws in those systems sometimes considered to be unchangeable. Solar power for home energy production has its flaws, too, which are outlined in another article, but they're overwhelmed by the advantages listed below.

The following are advantages of solar energy

While fossil fuels are a dangerous and finite source of power, the amount of available solar energy is staggering -- about 10,000 times that currently required by humans -- and it’s perpetually available. A mere 0.02% of incoming sunlight, if captured efficiently, would be enough  to replace every other fuel source on earth. Earth’s average albedo is around 30%, meaning that about 52 petawatts of energy is reflected by the earth and lost into the atmosphere every year. Compare this number with global energy-consumption statistics. On a yearly basis, the energy lost to space is the combined equivalent of 400 hurricanes, 1 million Hoover Dams, Great Britain's energy requirement for 250,000 years, worldwide oil, gas and coal production for 387 years, 75 million cars, and 50 million 747s running steadily for one year. Solar power is a zero-emission technology and solar panels produce no pollution, although they impose environmental costs via manufacture and construction. These environmental conditions are negligible, however, when compared with the damage inflicted by conventional energy sources:  the burning of fossil fuels releases roughly 21.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually.

If you want to know more about solar. Make sure to check out our solar facts article.

Rural and remote areas grateful to have solar power

\Solar power is a great solution for remote areas that are not connected to energy grids. It may come as a surprise to city-dwellers but, according to Home Power Magazine, as of 2006, 180,000 houses in the United States were off-grid, and that number is likely substantially higher today. California, Colorado, Maine, Oregon, Vermont and Washington have long been refuges for such energy rebels, though people live off the grid in every state. While many of these people avoid the grid on principle, owing to politics and environmental concerns, few of the world’s 1.8 billion off-the-gridders have any other options. Solar energy drastically improves the quality of life for millions of people who live in the dark, especially in places such as Sub-Saharan Africa, where as many as 90% of the rural population lacks electricity. People in these areas must rely on fuel-based lighting, which means significant social and environmental costs, from ill health through contamination of indoor air, to limited overall productivity. Even though tariffs have been slapped on solar panels, costs remain relatively stable when factoring in rebates and other incentives given by utility companies and government entities. Scientists tell us that there is no time to waste and that our only real hope to save the planet is the mass adoption of renewable energy sources. There are so many options when it comes to solar, including solar farms for community power that is shared with customers who may have no access to rooftop solar panels. For those who have the correctly pitched roof, solar panels are a terrific investment that continues to pay dividends for decades after installation. In addition to the peace of mind that solar offers financially, almost everyone feels good about reducing their carbon footprint. We all feel good not only generating our own power, but also taking better care of the earth.

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