Taking significant steps in fighting the causes of climatic changes is what will determine how the future will be. Using clean energy sources like solar power and windmills will help prevent climatic changes. Thus, protection of the wild lands as it provides an alternative to coal mining and oil drilling. Solar energy is renewable, unlike the fossil fuels which may be exhausted. It is also cheaper, hence, making the country both environmentally and economically secure.
Various states have embraced the use of solar energy. For instance, Arizona has a large solar energy plant. The plant has curved mirrors which are tilted towards the sun and reflect the light on tubes which are of the same length as the mirrors. The light energy heats the fluid in the tubes which is then used to boil the water in the steam turbine generator. It finally results in the production of electricity.
The electricity production process is amazing. It is an example of how rapid the solar industry is evolving. Many solar companies have started up to satisfy the need for solar energy.
Here are a few specific facts about solar energy that may surprise you.
1. Makes deserts useful
The Mojave Desert in California is home to the largest solar power plant, the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility. It is the largest solar energy plant in the world. It incorporates Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology. It’s almost similar to that in Arizona and it involves focusing 173,500 heliostats onto the boilers. Each heliostat contains two mirrors that help create a reflection which goes directly to the desired boiler. The plant started to operate in 2014, and its gross capacity is already 392 megawatts. The CSP technology aids in the storage of electricity for nighttime use, ensuring a consistent supply of power.
2. Economical
With the increase in demand for solar energy, prices of the solar panel have decreased. However, the most significant hurdle of installation is the setting up costs such as zoning, permitting and hooking. For instance, the permitting and inspection process takes more than $2,500 and takes approximately six months.
3. Increased solar usage
Demand for solar energy in the US has dramatically increased. Compared to the past eight years the demand has gone up 23 times. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), the United States is the third largest market for in-demand solar energy in the world.
4. Useful in space exploration
The earliest adaptor of solar energy is the space industry. In the 1950s, solar energy being used for power aboard spacecraft was common. The Vanguard 1 is the first artificial human-made satellite and the first to have solar electricity power it. It is also the oldest human-made satellite in orbit. It is about 6 billion miles away.
5. The invention of solar energy
In 1954, Bell Laboratories built the first silicon solar cell. It is still the precursor of building all solar power devices today. It led to the era of solar energy which is now highly treasured. It made it possible to harness the energy of the sun for human use.
6. Reliability
Solar energy is the most available energy, in high quantities, on earth. It is because the sun supplies 17,300 terawatts of its energy as it hits the earth continuously. It delivers more energy to the earth in one hour than the whole world could use in an entire year.
