Solar energy is the renewable energy of the future

When you think about renewable energy, solar energy is most likely one of the first that comes to mind. The technology to harvest energy from the sun has been around for a while now, and despite other technologies surfacing, solar energy is here to stay. And there’s a good reason why, read more to find out.

The different types of renewable energy

Renewable energy isn’t electricity that can be used again and again. It is in fact energy, that is generated from resources that are renewable. So the energy itself will be used, but it can be generated again with the same resources.

For example, if you burn oil, you can extract energy from that burning process. But then once the oil is burned, it is gone, forever. Whereas if you catch the energy produced by wind, you can keep doing that as there will always be wind (some days more than others). Let’s have a look at the many types of renewable energy in order to understand why the demand for solar-powered devices has gone through the roof.  

Wind energy

We have already mentioned wind energy. The good thing about wind energy is that it is available anywhere in the world. There isn’t a country on this planet that has banned wind. On plains with little vegetation, the wind has free play and can easily be used to generate electricity. You really don’t want to build a wind turbine in a forest as the trees might block the wind.

Wind turbines are being set in motion by the wind and this creates electricity. It really is a zero emission type of energy. The wind turbines are connected to the grid making it easily accessible for the electric companies. A lot of countries have large wind farms already where you see many wind turbines together. These turbines are rather large and even a bit noisy, so you wouldn’t want to build one in your backyard for your own personal use.

Hydro energy

Hydro energy uses the force of moving water. As a renewable energy, this is a solid one, as the water itself isn’t used as a fuel. The sheer power of moving water can cause turbines to be set in motion which in turn generate electricity. This type of renewable energy is already implemented on large scales. By building a dam, a barrier is created which is used to control the flow of the water. Once the water has passed the turbine, it is free to go, so to speak. No water is lost in the process of creating hydro energy.

Biomass energy 

If we are going into semantics, then biomass energy is not a renewable energy source. With biomass energy, plant based materials are burned to create energy. So technically, the plants that are used can’t be used again. But we can grow new plant based materials, whereas we can’t create new oil. The process of creating the energy out of biomass is the same as what happens in a power plant using coal, oil or gas. However, the emissions are negligible and it is a very energy-efficient process.

Geothermal energy

This source of renewable energy uses the heat that is harnessed inside our own planet. Underground there is a lot of heat and some countries have found effective ways of using this to produce energy. Unfortunately, this is not as widely available as wind energy or hydro energy. But a country like Iceland manages to produce 25% of its total electricity in geothermal power plants.

Tidal energy

Tidal energy, like hydro energy, uses water to produce electricity. And again, it is using the movement of the water, but in a different way. Tidal currents happen twice a day and are therefore the most constant sources of all renewable energy types. Compared to other renewable energy sources tidal energy production is still fairly uncommon, but it has the potential of becoming one of the bigger forms of electricity generation in the future. At the moment it is still expensive though, and it can have a negative effect on marine life forms.

Solar energy

And then there is solar energy, the renewable energy of the future. By using sunlight radiation to create an electrical current in a photovoltaic cell, we are able to generate electricity without burning up any fuel and it is a zero emission type of energy. Due to the quickly developing technology it’s becoming more and more cost effective. Scientists believe that our sun still has about 5 billion years to live, so there really is no need to worry about running out of sunlight for a while.

Solar-powered devices

There is an abundance of solar-powered equipment available currently that can power electronics and appliances without harming the environment. These gadgets utilize the sun’s energy and offer an indefinite source of power. From solar lanterns to outdoor lights, watches or solar panels, the options are extensive.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most cutting-edge solar devices that are available on the market today:

Solar energy advantages

So why is solar power the renewable energy of the future? Unlike tidal energy, you can already easily use solar energy yourself. You can buy solar panels to install on your rooftop, or get a mobile solar charger for your phone. Solar energy is really growing at a rapid rate and it’s especially the individual use of it that is causing this boom.

If you want to make use of solar energy, you could already start today which makes it so much more interesting as an energy source compared to the others. So by being so present today, solar energy secured its spot as the renewable energy of the future.

The future of solar energy: advancements & opportunities

It is commonly expected that solar energy will play a significant part in the future energy mix, as it has become an increasingly important renewable energy source in recent years. Many promising innovations are on the horizon for solar energy, which will make it more widely available and affordable in the years to come.

Increasing the efficiency of solar cells is a major focus of research into solar power. Most solar cells now only have an efficiency of about 20%, thus most of the energy they absorb is dissipated as heat or deflected. But scientists are hard at work on new materials and technologies that could increase solar cells’ efficiency and output by as much as 50 percent.

The integration of solar electricity with energy storage is another promising area for innovation. Excess solar energy produced during the day can be stored and used at night or during periods of low sunshine as the cost of energy storage continues to drop. One of the main problems with solar electricity is that it is intermittent, but this will help fix that.

In addition to these technological advancements, we can also anticipate further growth in solar energy infrastructure over the next few years. Solar farms, rooftop solar installations, and other solar energy infrastructure are receiving investments from governments and enterprises around the world. More widespread use of solar energy will result in economies of scale that reduce the price of solar electricity, making it more competitive with conventional fossil fuels.

Overall, the outlook for solar energy is positive, as developments in technology, energy storage, and infrastructure will make it a more practical and affordable renewable energy option in the years to come. Solar energy is set to play a crucial part in powering our globe for years to come as we try to transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon energy source.