About Solar Energy : Top 10 Solar Energy Facts

With all of the rising concern about environmental sustainability worldwide, the solar energy sector is sure to become a thriving industry within a few years.

This will not only create numerous job opportunities for people, but it will also aid us in our efforts to maintain an environmentally friendly way of life.

Several decades of advancement and political debate have culminated in the solar energy industry being able to stand on its own.

With or without subsidies, Solar Power ventures worldwide are outpricing fossil fuels in terms of cost, and with each victory, the outlook for the future becomes a little brighter.

However, there is still a lot about solar energy that the majority of people are unaware of.

Here are ten things that may come as a surprise.

1. Solar energy is the amplest source of energy on the earth.

Energy derived from the sun, which is transformed into thermal or electrical energy, is referred to as solar power.

Solar energy is the safest and most plentiful renewable energy source currently available, and the United Kingdom is home to some of the world's most abundant solar resources.

A variety of applications for solar energy are possible, including the generation of electricity, the provision of lighting, and the creation of comfortable interior surroundings, as well as the heating of water for commercial, domestic and industrial purposes.

Every hour, the Earth receives enough solar energy to fulfil all of humanity's energy requirements for an entire year.

The oil, coal, and natural gas reserves could all be abandoned in the ground if we could only grasp one hour's valuation of solar energy every year.

That's the scope of the opportunity available to you.

The Earth receives 173,000 terawatts of solar energy continuously.

That is over 10,000 times the total amount of energy consumed by the entire world.

Solar energy can be harvested in three ways: solar heating and cooling, concentrating solar power, and photovoltaics.

Photovoltaics is the most common type of Solar Energy harvested.

Photovoltaics (PV) are solar-powered devices that produce electricity directly from sunlight through an electronic process.

They can be utilized to power everything from small electronics like calculators and road signs to entire homes and large commercial enterprises.

In both solar heating and cooling (SHC) as well as concentrating Solar Power (CSP) applications, the heat produced by the sun is used to heat space or water, in the case of SHC systems, or to generate electricity, in the case of CSP power plants, by driving traditional electricity-generating turbines.

2. Since 1977, the cost of solar panels has decreased by 99%.

A simple solar cell cost $77 for every watt when it was first introduced in 1977.

According to the Q3 2017 Solar Market Insight Report published by the GTM Research and solar energy Industries Association, the cost of a solar cell is currently $0.21 per watt.

The cost of a fully assembled module is $0.39 for every watt.

There are a variety of factors that influence the price of a solar-powered system.

Here are just a few examples:

Installation Types

Solar panel installations come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles.

Roof mounts are by far the most common type of installation.

On the other hand, ground mounts and carports may necessitate the installation of additional posts that must be secured to the ground.

This can result in higher labour as well as component costs in some instances.

Type of Equipment

The power density and colour of solar panels are the two most important variables to consider.

The amount of electricity that the solar panel generates per unit of its size is referred to as its power density.

As a general rule, the more "power dense" a panel is, the higher the cost per watt will be.

The other factor with solar panels is colour.

In a basic panel, the blue cell is surrounded by a white back sheet, which is framed in silver.

Black-framed modules are going to feature a black back sheet or cell as well as a black frame, and they will generally be more expensive than other modules.

Roof Type

Solar panels can be deployed on flat, shingle, and metal roofs.

Each type of roof has its own set of components, as well as a different level of labour to put it together.

Shingle roofs necessitate the use of a particular flashing piece to secure the panel racking to a roof.

Racking is directly attached to the metal roof in the case of a ribbed or even standing seam metal roof.

Panels are assembled on a flat roof with the help of a ballast mount, which is a tray that is kept in place by a cement block.

3. Solar energy is significantly less expensive than fossil fuels.

The latest version of Lazard's Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis-Version 11.0 estimates that solar energy can be as cheap as 4.3 cents for every kWh on an unsubsidized basis, making it significantly less expensive than nearly every alternative for new fossil-fuel power plants.

Natural gas is the most affordable fossil fuel option, with prices ranging between 4.2 to 7.8 cents for every kWh.

Depending on where you are looking at solar energy production, it is likely already cheaper than nuclear, coal, diesel, and, in most cases, natural gas, which is particularly true in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe.

Solar will soon outcompete all other forms of fossil fuel on a cost basis if cost reductions continue to be followed.

The cost of reducing the world's dependence on fossil fuels is a significant factor in the race to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

It has taken years, but technological advancements and increases in both effectiveness and output have assisted in bringing the cost of renewable energy down, which has in turn enhanced demand for the resource.

On a global scale, fossil fuels are still more affordable than these alternative energy sources.

However, there are a few places in the world where green energy is outperforming fossil fuels on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

It also happens that there is so much of it from time to time, which in turn makes the market price drop to zero.

With the price of renewable energy falling year after year, if not month after month, environmentalists are optimistic that renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power will one day completely replace fossil fuels in the energy mix.

Let's look at some of the places where renewable energy demonstrates that living in a clean world does not necessarily mean paying more money.

• Free wind power in Dallas

• Free Solar Power in Chile

• Denmark has the world's cheapest wind energy.

• Solar homes in Australia that are competitive in terms of price

4. Solar power plants have a lifespan of 40 years or longer.

The construction of a Solar Power plant is typically accompanied by signing a power purchase agreement (PPA) with a customer (a utility, business, or residential) that will endure for 20 to 25 years.

However, this does not imply that such plants are going to be worthless in two decades.

Apart from the fact that solar panels have a 40 - 50 years lifespan, the infrastructure that surrounds a Solar Power plant is quite valuable.

Solar panels can be replaced with new, more effective modules at a relatively cheap cost, improving performance.

However, once a site has been selected and the infrastructure has been created, a Solar Power facility has a highly long effective lifespan of more than 30 years.

Various methods may be used to assist you in prolonging the life of your Solar Power plant.

They are as follows:

Regularly Get your panels inspected and maintained

Broken glass, loose connections, and cracked panels are the three most common problems that you can encounter with the panels throughout their lifetime.

If you believe that something is wrong with the solar system, have the provider evaluate your power output.

Electrical defects are more difficult to detect.

If you see a significant variation between this month and the same month in past years, you may encounter an electrical problem.

Inverters should be replaced after ten years.

System failures are caused by faulty inverters far more frequently than by defective solar panels.

In general, a solar inverter has a lifespan of about 10-15 years, with a 5-10 years warranty.

In this case, the inverter will need to be replaced far more frequently than the solar panels.

Microinverters are becoming increasingly popular among households because they may last up to 25 years, which is almost as long as high-quality solar panels.

5. China is the worldwide leader in solar energy

Solar energy is beginning to receive significant attention in the United States, but the U.S is still a small fish compared to China.

Solar energy systems were installed at a rate of 12.4 GW in the United States in 2017, according to GTM Research.

China deployed 24.4 GW during the first half of the year alone, and it is expected to surpass 50 GW for the entire year.

To bring China's 2017 solar deployments in perspective, the 50 GW of solar would be enough to power 8.2 million homes in the United States.

China has surpassed the United States as the world leader in the production of solar photovoltaic technology, including its six largest solar enterprises having a combined market capitalization of more than $15 billion.

In 2007, China generated approximately 820 megawatts (MW) of solar PV, second just to Japan.

In particular, the Chinese government prioritizes investments in renewable energy since it allows the country to address issues such as air and water pollution, as well as concerns associated with socio-economic instability.

The Chinese government encourages renewable energy to reduce air pollution, which is a direct result of this policy.

6. Solar power accounted for 39% of all new electricity generation capacity built-in 2016.

Not only is solar energy cost-effective, but it also constitutes a significant portion of the new power plant mix.

Solar energy accounted for 39% of all new electric capability installed last year, increasing 4% in 2010.

This proportion of new additions is expected to rise as solar costs continue to decline and more utilities choose to invest in solar assets.

However, even while solar energy accounted for less than a tenth of total worldwide electricity output in 2016, it is expanding at a high rate of 33% each year.

At least a couple of factors have contributed to the tremendous surge in the popularity of solar energy in recent years.

One, the photovoltaic cells are now more affordable and efficient than they have ever been.

Solar energy costs approximately $100 per watt when it was first introduced in 1975.

In 2015, the price for every watt had dropped to just 61 cents, representing a reduction of more than 99%.

According to the second point, people will endure less and less pollution and the global warming produced by the use of non-renewable fuels such as oil and coal as renewable energy sources such as Solar Power become more cost-effective.

7. Solar energy is the most rapidly deployed renewable energy source.

The scenario in Puerto Rico following the hurricanes revealed that, when calamity strikes, no electrical source can be produced or maintained as quickly as solar power.

The island was able to host small Solar Power facilities with energy storage capacity thanks to the efforts of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) as well as other companies.

There was no way a fossil-fuel power plant or any other renewable power facility could have been built in such a short period.

To achieve a largely decarbonized electricity sector by 2035, as per early findings of a forthcoming assessment by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), solar deployment would need to accelerate 3 to 4 times faster than its current rate by 2030, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The decarbonization of the power industry on a large scale has the potential to increase solar's share of generation from 3% now to more than 40% by 2035.

To achieve these objectives, billions of dollars in investment, as well as market opportunities, will be required through 2050, spanning renewable energy generation, energy storage, power transmission, and operations and maintenance - incorporating low-income and community solar - and other sectors.

Consumers will save thousands of dollars on residential solar systems due to investments that cut hardware and soft administrative expenses of solar.

This will also assist in lowering their energy bills.

The extensive use of solar energy will also result in the creation of new jobs.

A road to a substantially decarbonized electrical industry by 2035 has the potential to create millions of new employment in a variety of renewable energy technologies, including as many as 500,000-1,500,000 individuals working in solar by that time.

Securing strong labour standards in government investments, prevailing wages, project labour agreements, and a fair and free choice to enter a union and collectively bargain can help diversify routes to high-quality solar employment.

8. Utilities are providing customers with solar energy options.

If you want to go solar on your property, a rooftop system may be the best option for you.

However, even if you do not own a home that is ideal for installing solar panels, you can obtain 100% of your electricity from solar energy in a rising number of locations throughout the world.

It is becoming more common to see solar community projects spring up, allowing ordinary consumers to act as the power purchase agreement customers for solar energy projects.

Additionally, utilities across the country are offering customers the opportunity to obtain their electricity from renewable sources such as wind or solar for an additional price.

9. In 1883, Charles Fritts invented the world's first solar-cell panel system.

Charles Fritts, an American inventor, is credited with developing the first solar cell panel, which was made possible by covering selenium with a thin film of gold.

It had an efficiency of 1-2%, which appears to be little when compared to the 10-20% efficiency of modern solar panels installed on UK residences today.

An array of selenium cells developed by Fritts was used to power the world's first rooftop solar array, which was built on a roof in New York City in 1884.

Fritts applied an incredibly thin film of gold on the semiconductor material selenium to improve its conductivity.

Because of the characteristics of selenium, the resulting cells had an electrical conversion efficiency of only around 1%.

This, together with the high cost of the material, precluded the use of such cells for energy generation.

On the other hand, Selenium cells found use in various applications, such as light sensors for exposure timing in photographic cameras, where they were widely used until the 1960s.

Russell Ohl's 1941 creation of silicon p/n junction cells, which achieved efficiencies above 5% by the 1950s and 1960s, was a watershed moment in developing solar cells for power applications.

By 2006, the most efficient silicon solar cells were more than 40% efficient, with the industrial average efficiency above 17%.

10. With solar cells in the Sahara Desert...

With solar cells, we could create enough electricity to power the entire planet if we covered only a small portion of the Sahara Desert with the technology.

The Sahara Desert receives more sunlight than any other place on the planet.

Covering around 1% of its surface with solar panels might provide enough electricity to meet the needs of everyone on the planet.

Its exceptionally light tint means that it reflects a great deal of light and heat into the atmosphere, which helps to cool the environment.

By covering the sand with black solar panels, we would be assured that more sunlight is absorbed, resulting in a rise in the temperature of the surrounding ground.

The warmer sand would cause convection currents to form, which would result in rain.

The hotter air would rise from the desert to high elevations, condensing and forming cloud cover.

The same moisture that was present might occasionally fall as rain.

It wouldn't be long before one of the harshest climates on the planet would undergo an extensive transformation.

After all, if these solar panels will not only supply environmentally friendly energy solutions but they will also provide much-needed vegetation to the world's largest desert, what are we waiting for? Shouldn't we be out there putting these things together by this point? It's a little more complex than that, to be honest.

In the first place, while it is wonderful to produce sufficient energy to power the entire planet, you must also consider how you will distribute that energy to everyone.

Since the desert is positioned far away from storage facilities, we would most likely have to ship the energy to Europe.

Many African economies would benefit greatly from the export of renewable energy, but they lack the financial resources to do it at this time.

At the moment, electrical grids throughout Africa are in a state of underdevelopment.

It would be hard for them to construct power lines that would span approximately 800-3,000 kilometres (500-2,000 miles) to transport the electricity to Europe.

Power leakage of up to 10% occurs when power is transported across long distances, increasing the cost of an already costly project.

Add to it the fact that Northern Africa has traditionally been a region characterized by political instability.

A situation like this severely deters the substantial investment that will be required for this project.

Top 10 Solar Energy Facts Summary

Solar has exploded in popularity worldwide, and there are no signs that the trend will slow any time soon.

This is essential information for investors throughout the energy spectrum.

One fact did not make our top 10 but is possibly the most vital for homeowners contemplating solar: the Feed-in Tariff (FiT).

The Feed-in Tariff (FiT) allows you to receive government payments for the power generated by your solar panels for 20 years.