Research Paper on "Augmenting Traditional Electric Power With Solar Power Is a Wise Investment in South Florida"

Research Paper 5 pages (1678 words) Sources: 10

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Science

Augmenting Traditional Electric Power with Solar Power is a Wise Investment in South Florida

Solar is a powerful source of energy that can be utilized to heat, cool, and light homes and businesses. This is for the reason that more energy from the sun falls on the earth in one hour than is utilized by everybody in the world annually. There are assortments of technologies that can be used to convert sunlight to functional energy for homes. The most frequently utilized solar technologies for homes are solar water heating, passive solar design for space heating and cooling, and solar photovoltaic's for electricity. Businesses and industry also utilize these technologies in order to expand their energy foundation, advance proficiency, and save money. Solar photovoltaic and focused solar power technologies are also being utilized by developers and utilities in order to manufacture electricity on an enormous scale to power cities and small towns (Solar Energy Basics, 2009).

Solar energy produces a foundation for an alternate power source, and with the troubles of fossil fuels growing bigger by the day, may symbolize a feasible answer to the world's energy troubles. Its environmental friendliness is one of its best selling points, and the more efficiently it can work, the better its odds of displacing fossil fuels as a main source of energy. Although chiefly positive, the environmental force of solar energy can be small and its overall impact should be cautiously measured as it is explored to be used in the future (Environmental Effects of Solar Energy, 2011).

As the price of fossil fuels continue to go up and anxieties over greenhouse gases (GhGs) and global climate alteration augment, substitute technologies for generating electricity have gained a greater awareness. Amid the technologies that are thought to help tackle these apprehensions are solar photovoltaic cells (PVs), which capture solar radiation and translate it, directly into electrical energy. Such cells are usually positioned at the site of the end consumer and therefore are a structure of dispersed production. The present direct expense of solar PV power is extensively recognized to be much superior to fossil fuel production or a lot of other renewable energy supplies (Borenstein, 2008).

Photovoltaic (PV) refers to the procedure of turning light into electricity. Individual photovoltaic (PV) cells are linked to panels. Solar panels translate sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. An inverter converts DC into alternating current (AC) for electricity in a house. The utility meter reports the net quantity of energy generated by way of the PV system. When one is generating more electricity than they are using, their meter will spin backwards and the surplus electricity is then sent to the electric grid. This assists to counterbalance the price of one's electricity usage at night or on overcast days when the system is not manufacturing (Clean Energy Never Looked So Good, 2011).

The photovoltaic cells which make up the majority of solar energy systems are typically made of silicon, one of the most ordinary minerals found on Earth. That means that generating the apparatus is tremendously easy, doesn't have to be mined or drilled in a hazardous locale to produce, and can be obtained without participation in politically unbalanced areas such as the Middle East. The environmental effects of this are understated but, because smaller quantities of resources are exhausted in the attainment of silicon, its large effect on the ecosystem is small (Environmental Effects of Solar Energy, 2011).

Solar power is also environmentally beneficial because its energy supply never ceases to exist. The sun will always shine on the Earth and as long as it does, it will hold power which solar technology can utilize. "Contrast this with fossil fuels such as coal or oil, which need to be mined or drilled and thus have a tremendous environmental impact, even in reasonably safe circumstances" (Environmental Effects of Solar Energy, 2011).

Residential solar power gives people the freedom of not depending on the traditional power source and the ability for a person to choose the option that is right for them. The sun has been giving heat and light for a lot of years and will persist to do so in future as well. Consequently, people can always depend on it for the generation of power. Residential solar power is a manner to produce electricity by utilizing sunlight at home. For the generation of electricity photovoltaic cell or panel are used. If one is using photovoltaic solar energy system they need to know how to utilize and get better of it without wasting a lot of money. The solar panel mechanism is a bit costly but after installation it is warranted for about twenty years (Residential Solar Power -- Homemade Electricity for a Cleaner Future, 2010).

Solar thermal devices utilize sunlight-heated salt water panels in order to produce steam that can be turned into electricity. The effectiveness of this is about thirty percent. But not only are these devices fixed costs, they are high risk. The high temperature and force of the water can do substantial damage if it escapes. Apart from competence considerations, expenses continue to be comparatively high. The majority of types of solar panel continue to be fairly costly. "A 30-watt module costs in the neighborhood of $250, while a 195-watt panel will run almost $1,000. In order to install a solar panel power system for a modest home will require panels costing somewhere around $10,000-$16,000. Add batteries and other components and the cost is anywhere from double that to triple or more" (Solar Power -- Solar Technology and Cost, 2010).

As the market becomes more established for solar technology, research dollars have been spent to come up with new manners of mounting efficiency and lowering expenses. Even with the comparatively high price of large application panels, the cost is still much lower than it used to be, accounting for inflation. The cost of PV cells has been falling by about fifteen percent per year for the past ten years. Given that these cells can easily last twenty years, they quickly pay back the original investment, while providing clean power (Solar Power -- Solar Technology and Cost, 2010).

Solar panels are not as competent as they could be which is why they have not been extensively put into practice yet. In order to confine substantial quantities of energy, they necessitate large quantities of cells, which can take up a substantial quantity of space. One sensible answer is to mount the cells on a rooftop, which saves a lot of space while still permitting them utmost contact with the sun (Environmental Effects of Solar Energy, 2011).

Florida is right now greatly reliant on fossil fuels for energy, with eighty percent of its electrical producing ability founded on non-renewable sources that contaminate the environment. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Florida gets thirty seven percent of its power from coal, twenty one percent from natural gas, and twenty two percent from petroleum. Clean, renewable sources like wind, geothermal, biomass, and solar symbolize only about three percent of Florida's power generating capacity, and the rest comes from nuclear power plants. Since Florida is the Sunshine State it is thought to be exclusively positioned to take advantage of cheap, clean, renewable solar power (Neal, 2007).

Floridians want more solar power according to a new state survey. Lawmakers and solar advocates recently came out with a new survey showing Florida residents tremendously support spending more money on solar energy. The survey showed eighty five percent think that the state Legislature should act to sustain investment in solar energy, and eighty one percent said they support venture, even if it costs extra on their monthly utility bills. it's obvious that the Sunshine State likes the idea of Florida becoming a solar energy leader (Poll: Support up for solar energy investment,… READ MORE

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