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Solar energy is the energy
emitted from the light of the sun. The light effect from the sun,
measured at a 90° angle to the distance of Earth is 1367 W/m². This
energy is constant as can be harnessed efficiently and gently on sunny
days.
Every year the sun
generates thousands of times more energy than is necessary for all
human consumption while also providing enough energy to take care of
all of nature. Solar power is often criticized for being unprofitable
and too difficult to use. However, many believe that it is research in
the field that is lacking and that with the right brains on the case,
solar energy could be the answer to many of the world’s environmental
issues, if we can learn to fully understand how solar energy works.
 Two of the most obvious
benefits of capturing the sun’s rays to produce energy are the fact that the
sun provides energy for free, and that solar panels generate zero CO2
emissions. The potential of the sun to power our planet
remains largely unexploited because of our current over-reliance on
fossil fuels.
As these fossil fuel
supplies are slowly dwindling and their price is skyrocketing, it may
be time to put more money into research on solar power and other green
forms of energy. This would lead to a
drastic decrease in CO2 emissions and pollution, while at the same time
utilizing the largest free source of energy available- the
sun.
These are the most obvious facts about solar energy, but they are far from the only benefits:
Free
Energy from the Sun’s Rays
Solar panels produce solar thermal energy
directly from harnessing the energy from the sun. They can be
especially effective in very sunny areas, although they can still be
effective even in more cloudy areas. This energy is
constantly available whenever the sun is shining and can provide
limitless amounts of free energy depending on the size of the solar
panels.
Produces Clean Energy
In modern times, our
reliance on fossil fuels has resulted in a huge increase in the amount
of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that are released into the atmosphere
every year. One of the biggest advantages of solar energy is that it
produces absolutely zero emissions of any kind. The only
downfall is the large amount of space required for solar panels, which
makes them much more difficult to use in some urban environments such
as inner cities.
Eliminate Your Electric
Bill
By installing solar panels
in your home, you can save a large amount of money on your electric
bill, or possible even eliminate your electric bill
altogether. Some places even allow you to sell any extra
energy created back to the electric company, thus receiving a credit
instead of paying money. Although solar energy has a large
start-up cost, it can quickly pay for itself in a matter of years, and
even has the opportunity to make you money in the long run.
Maintenance Free Energy
Production
Once installed, solar
panels require almost no maintenance, and because the energy is being
produced directly from the sun’s rays, they also require no additional
costs to keep them functioning. A properly installed solar
panel can last for several decades without the need for expensive
repairs. This only serves to increase the amount of money you
can save. Solar panels require no fuel to be added, and don’t
need to be turned on or off - they are constantly absorbing the sun’s
energy whenever it is sunny out.
Total Energy Independence
= No Blackouts
By producing your own
energy, you can be completely self-reliant and not have to depend on
the electric company for your power needs. This means you can
be free of any power outages or blackouts that may affect your
neighborhood. It also means that in case of emergency, you
can still continue to produce and use energy as long as there is no
damage to your solar panels.
Can Provide Energy 24
Hours a Day
Solar
energy may be
dependent on the energy gained from the sun’s rays, but this doesn’t
mean that can only use electricity when the sun is shining. Although no
energy is produced when the sun isn’t shining or during the
night, this doesn’t mean that no energy can be consumed. Most
all solar units come with a self-charging battery unit which is capable
of storing several days or weeks worth of energy depending on the size
of the battery.
Provide Energy No Matter
the Location
Solar panels can be and
are installed anywhere and everywhere in the world. They can
be installed on the roof of a building in the middle of a city, or in
the middle of an open prairie. The only thing that determines
where they can be installed is the size of the solar panel
itself. Some solar panels are quite large and so require a
very large space to install them, so these might not be ideal for many
situations such as in the middle of a city. However solar
panels come in a variety of sizes to fit almost any space, although the
output is limited by the size of the particular panel. Solar
panels are almost always installed facing north to take advantage of
the sun’s rays most effectively.
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