Solar power is likely to be the most valuable of the renewable energy sources available. That is because it is plentiful and it is the least expensive to implement. New buildings can be built that incorporate the concepts as can homes. There are also solar panels that can be added to what is already in place.
That way you can take any home or business and modify it to use solar power with. They can be expensive but you will find that they can be a very good investment. If you own an apartment building with the electricity included in the rent this can help to reduce your overhead expenses. In a couple of years the process will pay for itself.
This process involves placing collectors and panels that will be in places where the sun will reach such as the roof. The process of converting what is collected into energy is known as photovoltaics. In order to make this happen, silicon is used to transform it.
The concept of solar power has also found its way to vehicles. They have cells that capture energy from the sun to provide movement for the vehicle. The advanced design allows that energy to be continually conserved too such as when you come to a stoplight.
Seems more and more people are “Going Green” for a variety of reasons from saving money to saving the environment. Solar panels can be pricey but you can Build Solar Panels for only $98. Homemade solar panels are easy with this step by step video and DIY Solar Panels kit. Renewable energy is cheap when you do it yourself.
Electric vehicles; although they are not being produced in significant numbers yet, Obama wants to add a million EV cars to the roads by 2015 and some places are preparing. Raleigh, NC is just one of the three US cities involved in “Project Get Ready,” a program to install a number of electric vehicle charging stations throughout the city.
Partnering with Progress Energy and Advanced Energy, Raleigh is paying for the cost of the installation on city property while Progress Energy is paying for the 8 charing stations themselves, the majority of the initial stations which will be located in the city’s parking garages downtown and near N.C. State University at a cost of $1000-$4000 each.
The stations are meant to prepare Raleigh for a time when electric plug-in and hybrid-electric cars are being driven by a significant percentage of drivers. Drivers will be able to use their credit card to access the stations and pay about 2.5 cents per mile to recharge their vehicle, [Mayor Charles] Meeker said. (NewsObserver)
Presently most of the world uses three non-renewable fossil fuel sources in addition to nuclear energy to generate electricity: coal, natural gas and petroleum. Also used in significant quantity is hydroelectric power generation. In limited quantity we see some geo-thermal production and limited quantities of wind turbines.
Since fossil fuels are essentially finite in total availability over the long haul, new sources of creating electricity will have to be found or existing alternative methods made profitable.
For instance, present photo-voltaic methods cost some US$0.023 to US$0.32 per kilo-watt hour which is current KWH prices in the USA range from USS$0.058 to US$0.l67.
Geothermal sources provide less than 1/2% of electricity in the USA and their cost effectiveness presently is limited to areas where geothermal activity is relatively close to the surface of the earth.
Wind turbines generate less than 1/2% of electricity in the USA. In most places the cost of this wind power is not yet fully price competitive but the efficiency of wind turbines is improving and capacity has grown to well over US$4 billion annually in the USA but still less than 1/2% of all electricity produced.
Innovation in most industries comes from small companies that develop a breakthrough technology.
In the foreseeable future (10 to 15 or 20 years out), what do you see as the source(s) to replace fossil fuels for the production of electricity that most of us do not presently have in our viewfinders?
Our mission is to raise awareness of alternative energy sources and how
to incorporate them into your daily life. We are particularly aware of
how you can do that with solar power. Sammy Rogers has been driving an
electric car for over 5 years. He Sells Sunshine to the power company
every day using the solar panels in his backyard. You will find
articles and information on how to use alternative energy sources to
supply almost all of your energy needs.
