About Solar Power
Solar power is a clean energy source available in almost every area of the world and of course has been around for as long as the sun itself. Solar power is produced by using photovoltaic (PV) cells that capture the energy of the sun and then convert it into electricity. The basic unit of the system is the solar cell, which are connected together into modules. Solar power is an attractive energy technology because photovoltaic modules produce no pollution, have an expected life of twenty years and require little maintenance. As such, solar power is increasingly being turned to as a long term solution for the world’s current global warming problems. Of the available alternative energy sources, solar power is a favored option because it can generate peak power at times when there is peak demand, unlike wind (which often produces more at night than during the day). Nighttime demand for energy is about half that of daytime demand. In the past it has been the cost of solar power (roughly three times the cost of electricity from conventional sources according to the United States Energy Information Administration) which has inhibited its broad adoption. This price differential has been exacerbated in recent years by silicon shortages (used in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells) which have pushed the price even higher. Nonetheless, the escalating costs of electricity and the global warming problem have meant that all alternative energy sources are now being looked at more closely. Governments around the world have started to encourage the adoption of solar energy through tax incentives. The U.S., Germany and Japan all offer heavy subsidies for solar energy and subsequently have the largest installed base of photovoltaic systems in the world. Government programs and consumer preference have and will continue to accelerate the use of solar electricity, but product cost still remains one of the largest impediments to growth. Solar power has matured as a technology - yields, cell efficiencies, manufacturing efficiencies and economies of scale have all improved - but continued improvement stills need to be made in these areas. Government-funded research and development programs in industry, universities and in government laboratories are generating jobs in each of those sectors. In a burgeoning solar industry, advances in technology can only mean increased efficiency which will bring the cost of solar power down and see its greater proliferation.
Privacy Policy
| 