Photovoltaic power systems have tremendous potential. Do you still need a few reasons to help you understand why solar energy is a good bet for the future? (And, by the way, the future really is NOW!) Then please read on…
- The 89 petawatts (that’s a lot!) of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface is approximately 6,000 times greater than the 15 terawatts of average power consumed by the human population.
- PV generation has the highest power density of renewable energies with a global mean of 170 W/m2.
- PV is entirely pollution free during use (anything free, especially pollution-free is great, right?).
- PV system production end wastes and emissions are manageable utilizing existing pollution controls.
- End-of-use recycling technologies are under development to minimize negative environmental effects (recycling is good!).
- PV systems can operate with minimal operator intervention or maintenance after initial setup.
Grid-tied PV power systems provide many benefits:
- Operating costs of a PV power system are low compared to conventional power technologies.
- PV can displace the highest cost electricity during times of peak demand in most climatic regions and thus reduce grid loading (no more brown outs and/or rolling blackouts!).
- Net Metering is often used, in which independent power producers, (you, the homeowner or business) are connected to the utility grid via the main service panel and meter. When your PV power system is generating more power than required at your location, the excess power is provided to the utility grid. You, the customer, pays the net of the power purchased when the on-site power demand is greater than the on-site power production and the excess power that is returned to the utility grid.
- Grid-tied PV power systems can be used locally thus reducing transmission/distribution losses (transmission/distribution losses in the U.S. were approximately 7.2% in 1995, thus providing a potential for significant energy savings).
So, what do you think about the power of solar energy now?