Global demand for all forms of energy is expected to increase by 54 per cent over the next twenty years, according to forecasts from the US Energy Information Administration.The EIA long-term forecast also predicts that world electricity demand will soar to nearly double by 2025.
The bulk of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas.They release energy during burning, but also simultaneously release carbon dioxide into the air.These traditional energy resources won’t last forever and are not renewable and burning them leads to emissions which harm the environment, therefore there is a growing need to develop renewable energy sources such as wind, water, solar and geothermal.
The energy from the sun that gets to the earth’s surface is six thousand times more than is used on earth.Since ancient times, solar energy has been used to meet some of the world’s energy needs, but with increasing awareness of environmental issues, solar power has come to the fore.
Energy from the sun is a workable alternative to the traditional energy sources of fossil fuels, and is mainly used for generating electricity and heating water.
From massive skycrapers and gigantic sports stadiums to remote farms and regular homes in the surburbs, solar power is a clean, cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution.An example is the giant new stadium in Kaohsiung in Taiwan which is the first stadium to produce power through solar energy. Built for the 2009 World Games, the gigantic 19-hecare structure has nearly 9 000 solar panels on its roof which will generate sufficient energy to power the building’s 3 300 lights and two enormous television screens.
That’s solar power on a giant scale. For ordinary households however, solar power is a real alternative to conventional sources and can meet domestic energy needs cost-effectively and with very little maintenance.
According to solar power experts, Solar my World in Perth, WA, installing solar electric (photovoltaic) panels to a domestic or commercial property will reduce electricity bills, add value to the property and reduce the carbon footprint. There are two options for solar power for Perth property owners, namely grid connect and off-grid solar power systems.
Grid connect systems are predominantly installed in populated areas and supply solar power to the home through an inverter.And in the likely event of the solar system providing more energy than is required, the property owner may be able to ’sell’ the surplus back to the electricity grid if applicable.A standalone system uses a battery bank to store energy until required.This system is more common in remote outlying areas where people have no or restricted access to traditional power sources.
Solar power systems can be designed for AC or DC, and can be expanded to meet growing needs making them very versatile systems.
Energy is the largest single contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, and there is a growing call for people to reduce their C02 emissions and protect the environment.By using solar energy technology to generate power, the new Taiwanese stadium alluded to earlier in this article, will prevent 660 tons of carbon emissions each year.We have the power to save the world if we switch to solar power in our homes.
Tags: renewable energy, solar energy, solar panels, solar power, solar power Perth