What is solar energy?
Solar energy is energy which is created from sunlight, or heat from the sun.
Solar power is captured when energy from the sun is converted into electricity or used to heat air, water, or other fluids.
There are currently two main types of solar energy technologies:
solar thermal:
these systems convert sunlight into thermal energy (heat). Most solar thermal systems use solar energy for space heating or to heat water (such as in a solar hot water system). However this heat energy can be used to drive a refrigeration cycle to provide for solar based cooling. The heat can also be used to make steam, which can then be used to generate electricity using steam turbines. It is considered more efficient to build solar thermal electricity generators at large scale, typically in the tens to hundreds of megawatts
solar photovoltaic (PV):
the conversion of sunlight directly into electricity using photovoltaic cells. PV systems can be installed on rooftops, integrated into building designs and vehicles, or scaled up to megawatt scale power plants.
How is solar energy used in Australia?
Australia has the highest average solar radiation per square metre of any continent in the world.
More than 2 million Australian households now have solar hot water systems or solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on their rooftop. Deployment of megawatt-scale solar electricity generation systems is still at an early stage of development in Australia.
The increased deployment of solar energy generation depends critically on the commercialisation of large-scale solar energy technologies.
Benefits of Solar Energy
Creating electricity from sunlight instead of fossil fuels avoids the emission of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants and stimulates the economy.
Environmental
100% pollution-free: Solar power is one of the cleanest sources of energy because it does not emit any pollution when it is produced or consumed, so it can help avoid the carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutant emissions associated with conventional electricity generation
Renewable: It’s inexhaustible so it will never run out, unlike limited fossil fuel sources
Limited land impact: Solar doesn’t require fossil fuel extraction, which damages the land
Economic
Energy independence: Producing renewable energy at home supports a homegrown energy source, helping secure America’s energy future
Demand creates supply: As more people install solar on their homes and businesses, the greater the demand will be for additional home solar systems and larger-scale solar farms
Green job growth: Increased support for renewable energy development creates more employment opportunities in the green job sector, which helps to stimulate our economy
Financial return: A solar energy system can instantly reduce your electric bill and provide a long-term fixed energy rate for the life of your system (20-25 years), which means cost savings now and protection against unpredictable electric prices in the future
Plus, solar panels can increase a home’s resale value—one study found that solar systems added on average $5.50 per watt to a home’s value above the cost of a comparable, non-solar home.
sources: http://arena.gov.au/about-renewable-energy/solar-energy/
https://www.greenmountainenergy.com/why-green/renewable-energy-101/solar-energy-101-benefits/
Solar energy is energy which is created from sunlight, or heat from the sun.
Solar power is captured when energy from the sun is converted into electricity or used to heat air, water, or other fluids.
There are currently two main types of solar energy technologies:
solar thermal:
these systems convert sunlight into thermal energy (heat). Most solar thermal systems use solar energy for space heating or to heat water (such as in a solar hot water system). However this heat energy can be used to drive a refrigeration cycle to provide for solar based cooling. The heat can also be used to make steam, which can then be used to generate electricity using steam turbines. It is considered more efficient to build solar thermal electricity generators at large scale, typically in the tens to hundreds of megawatts
solar photovoltaic (PV):
the conversion of sunlight directly into electricity using photovoltaic cells. PV systems can be installed on rooftops, integrated into building designs and vehicles, or scaled up to megawatt scale power plants.
How is solar energy used in Australia?
Australia has the highest average solar radiation per square metre of any continent in the world.
More than 2 million Australian households now have solar hot water systems or solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on their rooftop. Deployment of megawatt-scale solar electricity generation systems is still at an early stage of development in Australia.
The increased deployment of solar energy generation depends critically on the commercialisation of large-scale solar energy technologies.
Creating electricity from sunlight instead of fossil fuels avoids the emission of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants and stimulates the economy.
Environmental
100% pollution-free: Solar power is one of the cleanest sources of energy because it does not emit any pollution when it is produced or consumed, so it can help avoid the carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutant emissions associated with conventional electricity generation
Renewable: It’s inexhaustible so it will never run out, unlike limited fossil fuel sources
Limited land impact: Solar doesn’t require fossil fuel extraction, which damages the land
Economic
Energy independence: Producing renewable energy at home supports a homegrown energy source, helping secure America’s energy future
Demand creates supply: As more people install solar on their homes and businesses, the greater the demand will be for additional home solar systems and larger-scale solar farms
Green job growth: Increased support for renewable energy development creates more employment opportunities in the green job sector, which helps to stimulate our economy
Financial return: A solar energy system can instantly reduce your electric bill and provide a long-term fixed energy rate for the life of your system (20-25 years), which means cost savings now and protection against unpredictable electric prices in the future
Plus, solar panels can increase a home’s resale value—one study found that solar systems added on average $5.50 per watt to a home’s value above the cost of a comparable, non-solar home.
sources: http://arena.gov.au/about-renewable-energy/solar-energy/
https://www.greenmountainenergy.com/why-green/renewable-energy-101/solar-energy-101-benefits/
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