Beneficial features of solar energy

Pollution is causing global warming and the world is waking up to the reality of a planet’s accelerated demise. Climate experts have long warned us about the perils of burning fossil fuels but until recently renewable energy did not have much assistance. Now solar is trendy in a world where the unpleasant effects of global warming are being encountered in people's daily lives. Solar technology is ready to go today and it will be the predominant energy form until humans have found a cleaner way to generate energy.  The sun contains an enormous amount of energy which has only recently been tapped into. It grants immense resources which can generate clean, non-polluting and sustainable electricity, resulting in no greenhouse gas emissions. Recently, it was determined that the energy of the sun can be collected and stored, to be used on a global scale with the intention of ultimately replacing the conventional sources of energy. As the world turns its focus to cleaner more sustainable forms of power, solar energy has seen a meaningful rise in value and acceptance.

The many environmental advantages of solar power

Solar energy systems offer demonstrable environmental benefits in connection to conventional energy sources.  They greatly contribute to the sustainable growth of human activities. However, at times, the wide-scale implementation of such systems must face likely adverse environmental implications. These potential difficulties may be a strong barrier for further advancement of these systems for some consumers.

The potential environmental impacts connected with solar power can be classified according to numerous types, some of which are land use impacts, ecological impacts, impacts to water, air, and soil, and other impacts such as socioeconomic effects, and can differ greatly depending on the technology, which includes two broad categories:

Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells or

Concentrating solar thermal plants (CSP).

Land use and ecological consequences  of solar power

Generating electricity at a utility-scale, solar energy facilities require large areas for collection of energy. That means the facilities may conflict with subsisting land uses and can impact areas such as wilderness or recreational management areas. As energy systems may impact land through materials exploration, extraction, manufacturing and disposal, carbon footprints can become higher. Thus, some of the lands may be utilized for energy production.

Impacts on soil, water, and air resources

Construction of solar facilities on large areas of land entails clearing and grading, resulting in soil compaction, disruption of drainage channels and increased erosion. Central tower systems need consuming water for cooling, which is a problem in dry settings, as an increase in water demand may extend available water resources as well as chemical spills from the plants which may result in the contamination of groundwater or the ground surface. As with the development of any large-scale industrial project, the development of solar energy power plants can pose hazards to air quality. Such threats include the discharge of soil-carried pathogens and results in a rise in air particulate matter which has the consequence of contaminating water reservoirs. However, fossil fuel generating stations emit pollutants morning and night, while solar projects are only lightly polluting when they are being installed. After that, the solar panels generate clean safe energy for the life of the panels.

There has never been a better time to install a solar energy system! It is no longer just a question of climate change. Since solar panels are so affordable, installing a solar energy system is one of the better investments you are ever likely to make.

For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.

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