Our sun is the source of all life on Earth, and alternative energy is helpful to us in many alternative ways. The sun creates two main kinds of energy – light and warmth – that we can harness for several activities starting from photosynthesis in plants to making electricity with photovoltaic (PV) cells to heating water and food. So, what are some uses of solar energy? Let's explore seven standard services and benefits of sunlight in our daily lives.
1. SOLAR ELECTRICITY
Uses of solar power Rooftop Solar PV.JPG
This is one of the alternative energy applications that has gained plenty of momentum in recent years. As solar battery costs decline and more people become awake to solar power's financial and environmental benefits, solar electricity is becoming increasingly accessible. At the same time, still, a tiny percentage of the electricity generated within the U.S. (1.9% in 2017), solar electricity is proliferating (almost tripling over three years and up +40% versus 2016) in keeping with the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
A distributed solar PV system is often installed on the rooftops of homes or businesses. These alternative energy systems generate electricity to offset the property owner's usage and send excess production to the electrical grid.
A solar array can connect with your alternative energy system to enable you to use solar after the sun goes down, power an EV overnight, or provide backup power during emergencies. Some homeowners may favor going entirely off the grid with an alternative energy and battery system or a solar energy and generator system.
Uses of solar power Water.jpg
In some cases, solar PV could also be installed on an adjacent structure like a barn or mounted to the bottom, then connected to the meter using underground cabling.
Other uses for solar power include utility-scale solar PV farms that may generate enough electricity for entire power cities. A fair, more efficient solar technology is concentrated alternative energy (CSP). A CSP solar farm uses mirrors to reflect and focus the sun's energy towards a tower or other receiver, generating heat that may power a turbine to make electricity. That thermal energy could also be stored before powering a generator, making it a more flexible source of electricity than solar PV. The world's largest CSP solar farm is the 390 megawatts (MW) Ivanpah project in California's Mohave Desert. However, a fair larger 580 MW CSP plant under construction in Morocco may soon claim that title.
Uses of alternative energy Heating_s.jpg
2. SOLAR WATER HEATING
Uses for alternative energy be water heating systems. Most solar water heating solutions create a predicament that's consumed inside the house. Solar water heaters use a rooftop cell to soak up the sun's heat and transfer it to the tank. Solar water heaters usually have a five to 10-year payback per the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Another application of alternative energy, especially within the southern and southwestern U.S., is heating swimming pools. Water is circulated to a collector where it's heated by sunlight and so pumped into the pool. With costs between $3,000 and $4,000 and a payback of 1.5 to 7 years, the U.S. DOE says that "solar pool heating is that the most cost-effective use of alternative energy in many climates."
3. SOLAR HEATING
Typical uses of solar space heating systems include powering radiant floors or pairing with a Forced Hot Air (FHA) system to heat a home. Passive solar home design can even heat homes and businesses within the winter by considering the location of windows and the selection of materials utilized in the building.
Uses of alternative energy Ventilation Solatube_s.jpg
4. SOLAR VENTILATION
Solar ventilation solutions like solar attic fans can reduce the burden of your HVAC by helping to cool down your home during the summer. This might be a decent option if you're not capable of putting in a solar PV system that offsets your home's entire electricity use. One innovative product is that the Solatube solar exhaust fan.
Commercial and industrial solar process heat applications include solar ventilation technologies, which will preheat a building's air in cold climates, reducing energy costs.
Uses of solar power Lights Twinkle Lights LLC Amazon.jpg
5. SOLAR LIGHTING
Solar lights became ubiquitous and might be found everywhere, from home landscaping and security lights to road signs and street lights. These solar lighting technologies for your home are inexpensive and readily available from basic to high-end designs everywhere, from your local ironmongery store to online shopping websites like Amazon.com.
One innovative use of indoor solar lighting featured on Mashable is that the Solatube skylight adds natural light while reducing energy usage.
Uses of solar power Portable_s.jpg
6. PORTABLE SOLAR
In our connected world, phones and tablets are always with us and, let's face it, often running low on battery. Portable solar PV chargers can keep our electric devices charged on the go. The technology already exists to integrate solar cells into our phones and has been in watches since the 1970s (see the Citizen Eco-Drive). Researchers in Japan have even developed lightweight, water-resistant solar cells that might someday be sewed into clothing to power our devices.
Uses of solar power Transportation - Solar Car Project 3 by Mark Licensed under CC-BY 2.0 source via Flickr_s.jpg
7. SOLAR TRANSPORTATION
Solar-powered vehicles could also be the long run; with existing applications, including buses, trains, airplanes, and race cars built by students in Australia and the U.S., solar-powered cars are even slated for commercial release in 2019. This use of solar power isn't yet widely available unless you own an electric vehicle or EV and charge it with solar panels (generally via a solar-connected battery).
You must be logged in to post a comment.