With a substantial portion of the world committing to net zero green house gas emissions by 2050 and the increasing implementation of climate legislation, the demand for renewable energy is greater than ever. There has been a steady increase in the production growth of solar energy when compared to other renewables, especially as technology advances at a faster pace than ever. However, when considering solar technology it’s important to assess whether or not the technology will be a good fit for your needs since the options available to you depend on your location, budget and usage.
What is solar energy?
Solar energy is the cleanest form of renewable energy that uses radiated heat and light from the sun to produce electricity. Unlike wind and hydro energy, solar energy depends on taking advantage of the sun’s location by positioning buildings and windows so that as much of the sunlight can be used without obstacles disrupting its path. Similarly, with areas receiving little sunlight, potential solar energy gains may be fewer than in areas that receive more sunlight therefore, energy is dependent on locality and seasonality.
Additionally, active solar technologies, such as solar panels or photovoltaic technology involve mechanical or electrical equipment and are usually the most popular types of solar energy. Solar panels, or solar thermal energy are commonly used to heat water and provide ventilation to buildings or homes whereas, solar photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity.
Passive solar technology would be the prime example of where sunlight is absorbed by a building’s materials and then reflected, transmitted or absorbed to produce ventilation (heating or cooling of living spaces) without using any active mechanical systems. Even though passive solar technology is widely used, it’s not as popular as the active solar technology that’s available to us today. Now let’s explore your options for active solar technology.
Solar PV
Solar electricity can be generated when photons land on photovoltaic cells within a solar module. These cells then convert energy directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. What this means for a homeowner is simply adding a photovoltaic array to their roof can easily provide usable electricity for their home. Additionally, net metering can also be used to implement solar electricity. By supplying the home with solar electricity any generated surplus energy is exported back onto grid, thus reducing the net energy demand.
Solar thermal
Additionally, solar thermal technologies have also become more price competitive over the years and are used for generating heating and water for domestic, commercial or industrial purposes. Solar thermal technologies work by utilizing a solar collector that is segmented by temperature. For example, high temperature collectors are built to operate at temperatures of 180 degrees Fahrenheit or more and are commonly used by independent power produces to generate electricity for the grid. On the other hand, low temperature collectors produce heat at 110 degrees Fahrenheit or less by using metallic or non-metallic absorbers and are commonly used for heating greenhouses, swimming pools, low-grade water and space heating.
With high temperature solar collectors, the sun’s radiation is used by power plants to heat fluids and produce steam, which is converted to mechanical energy through a turbine, and the mechanical energy is then converted into electricity.
In contrast, low temperature collectors utilize solar air panels that are either glazed or unglazed, in order to collect heat. The glazed panels are commonly used in homes and recirculate building air through the panel that heats it. Conversely, unglazed panels are better suited to larger scale, commercial and industrial uses, where entire walls are used as solar collectors and utilizes ambient air from outside. The heat is absorbed into solar panels and then stored into the exterior of the wall until it is fed into the ventilation system. Solar thermal plants are usually built in deserts, due to the potential for energy generation and minimal disruption.
Drawbacks of Solar Energy
Even though solar energy is arguably the cleanest renewable energy it also emits its fair share of greenhouse gases. A 2014 study compares the greenhouse gas emissions from solar PV versus wind energy. What the research found was, 71% of solar PV’s emissions were emitted due to the introduction, cultivation and fabrication of solar PV, followed by 19% emitted due to its construction and 13% due to its decommissioning. However, solar PV produced without fluorinated greenhouse gases using only renewable energy mix had emissions intensity as low as 1 g CO2-eq/kWh. Additionally, using solar PV in deserts with ground mounting can reduce the emissions and harness the solar benefits when used with cadmium telluride, cdSE, QDPV, and micromorph technologies that are present in desert environments. Therefore, the best solar systems are ones with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions during their lifecycle and ones with the best utilization of systems.
Another deterrent that many individuals find with solar PV is the upfront cost of investment. A 2013 study shows that, Solar PV costs are 35-50% above the comparable cost of facilities powered by conventional fossil fuels, and this is with government tax incentives. Additionally, removing tax incentives would increase the cost of electricity from solar PV by 75%. However, the prices of solar cells have decreased over the past thirty years by about 20% for each time the total capacity of solar installations has doubled. Cost competitiveness will be achieved by 2020 with utility scale facilities, while commercial-sale installations will be able to obtain grid parity at the retail price, even if the tax incentives were to ever be discontinued.
Therefore, the cost of solar thermal can vary from inexpensive battery backups to costly central systems. Since there is no cost for fuel, the initial investment cost of installation is the main factor to consider when switching to solar energy. With thermal power costs ranging from 13 to 17 cents per kilowatt/hour and alternative energy sources producing 8 cents per kilowatt, solar energy does appear to be more costly. However, solar technology is growing fast and offers an array of advantages such as the ability to store energy and limited maintenance. With this growth in technology, solar prices will become more competitive and accessible thus making it an increasingly attractive options for commercial and private use.
The Eco-Business 