Advantages of Solar Energy, continued...

Features

Solar power is renewable because it is powered by the sun, a constant source of energy. The planet will never run out of sunlight and thus, solar power has an advantage because we could never use too much of it. The other advantage of solar energy is that there is enough sunlight year-round across the globe to provide enough power for consumer use.

Benefits

Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic arrays (PV systems), are installed on individual homes. The solar panels are compatible with electricity grids in the area, so if the solar panels do not receive enough sunlight, the house still receives power. If the PV system produces more power than the home needs, the excess can be shared with neighbors and, in most states, the solar powered household is compensated for providing that electricity. PV systems may cost a lot of money initially, but they last more than 30 years and, within about 10, they pay for themselves, plus some. So after that, they are basically providing the household with free electricity. Large solar power systems are usually created by the government. Solar energy used for cars is not common yet, but it has proved possible. Solar ovens also have potential, as do solar stills that convert salt water into fresh drinking water. More uses dof solar energy are under research.

Misconceptions

People may think that a solar-powered house does not have power at night or when it's cloudy, but that is not the case. When your system is installed onto the roof, wires and connectors run into the basement or bottom floor of your home and power batteries that can store all the energy you need to run your house on cloudy days or at night. In extreme cases, a connection to the power grid supplies you with power. A "workhouse" battery typically holds a little more than 50 kilowatt hours of power, meaning that you could have power for over a month with no sunlight at all.

Potential

One of the main arguments for solar energy is its lack of toxic emissions, whereas burning fossil fuels for energy emits carbon dioxide into the air. Larger PV systems have been installed all over the world, including the Tucson Electric Power Springfield Generating Station. This station in Arizona covers 44 acres and features more than 35,000 PV modules. If more of these large arrays are installed, the country could eventually run on mostly solar power instead of relying on fossil fuels.

Considerations

Unless your house actually gets no direct sunlight on the roof, solar panels can absorb sunlight and provide solar power. The solar panels are installed at a 14-degree angle, an angle that works almost anywhere in the world, meaning solar power is viable around the world. There are some larger solar panels that also power multiple residences, but the solar panels are more commonly used for individual houses because of the way the technology is created.