Solar energy is energy generated from the sun in the form of electric or thermal energy. Solar energy is captured in a variety of ways, the most common of which is with photovoltaic solar panels that convert the sun’s rays into usable electricity. Solar energy doesn’t work at night without a storage device such as a battery, and cloudy weather can make the technology unreliable during the day.
Prevents Destruction of Habitats
Pristine forests are destroyed for mining raw materials like fossils or nuclear fuels. Trees constantly remove and use carbon dioxide from the air to make their food, and this carbon is then stored in them. Plants use the sun’s energy in photosynthesis, cleaning our air and providing fresh oxygen. The sun also provides light and warmth from a colossal 93 million miles away, stimulating plant growth and providing a necessary dose of vitamin D for mammals.
Clean Source of Renewable Energy
Solar energy offers a clean renewable source of energy. It is a safe alternative that can replace current fossil fuels like coal and gas for the generation of electricity that produces air, water, and land pollution. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), notes that electricity generation from fossil fuels causes pollution of air leading to acid rain, damaged forest areas, and affected agricultural production
Small and Decentralized Electricity Source
Solar energy’s greatest attraction is that it can be produced on a small scale directly by the end consumers in contrast to large centralized conventional energy sources controlled by large corporations.
Cheap and Reliable Energy Source
Technological developments and policies and subsidies by the government have reduced the high costs of solar systems. Concurrent with an increase in solar panel efficiency, the cost of solar energy has fallen substantially. In the last decade alone, the cost of a solar panel installation fell over 60 per cent, and many industry experts predict that prices will continue to fall in the years to come.
Generation of Jobs
Due to the growth experienced in the solar energy industry, opportunities in the solar sector include the generation of employment in society.
References
- Vijayalaxmi Kinhal (n.d). Why Is Solar Energy Important? Retrieved from https://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Why_Is_Solar_Energy_Important
- IloveMySolar (n.d). Why Is Solar Energy Important? Retrieved from https://ilovemysolar.com/why-is-solar-energy-important/
- National Geographic (n.d). What is Solar Power? Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/solar-power/
Written by Dakrah