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Advantages and disadvantages of solar energy essay
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Advantages of solar energy essay
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In New Zealand we use various methods for our electricity. Most of our electricity comes from renewable sources such as, hydro energy and wind energy (plus a few more) and the other part comes from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels have some disadvantages to them and photovoltaic panels could possibly be a replacement for them. Photovoltaic panels that use the principle of the photoelectric effect have their own advantages and disadvantages. They require sunlight in which itself is a big advantage and disadvantage. It 's a big advantage because sunlight is free and in most parts of New Zealand there is sunlight however this proves to be a problem because sunlight is limited in the times you can acquire it. The sun is only available during the day …show more content…
As we use AC electricity in New Zealand. It also helps during the summer when people require more cooling down as that 's when they will be longer days therefore maximising the sunlight. One of the good things about using photovoltaic panels for electricity is the fact that it is clean and does not produce any harmful waste products and this is good because this will not just benefit our generation but it won 't put future generations in danger. When we look at fossil fuels they produce air pollution due to the by products of carbon dioxide which add to global warming. Solar power is easy to acquire compared to fossil fuels. To get coal they need to be people that dig up the mines to access it and this is risky because people can get trapped in the mines or hurt in them. As long as better storage batteries or any alternative ways are thought of to store the energy so it can be used other times then Photovoltaic panels are definitely the way to move forward because they have more to offer without putting anyone in danger and not helping increase global
Despite generating electricity with fossil fuels for years and years there is a much better way that does not harm the environment. Using Solar panels does not produce any carbon dioxide unlike fossil fuels that “produces huge volumes of carbon dioxide, which is a gas that influences the global climate” (“Solar Power Vs. Fossil Fuels”). Having the choice to get power in a new way that saves the environment, home owners should not have to think twice about trying solar. In fact if home owners collect some amount of watts per hour on Monday, that will not reduce the amount of solar energy a home owner can collect on Wednesday or any other day that week. They can always keep collecting the power. No matter what people may argue about how much coal, natural gas and petroleum remains buried in the Earth, those fossil fuels will run out far earlier than the life of the sun ("Solar Power Vs. Fossil Fuels"). Home owners should invest in solar energy because solar systems have very dependable technology with little maintenance, they offer financial savings and they are better for the environment.
The sun has been a major aspect of life since the beginning of time. People used many other forms of energy before electricity was discovered. There has been a debate over energy resources for years. Many people are worried about what current energy resources may be doing to the environment. Oil spills and nuclear power plant mishaps have only been a few accidents that have had a big impact on the environment and the people who inhabit it. There are plenty of energy sources that do not harm the environment and are still able to get the job done. Solar energy is one energy alternative that will insure the betterment of the country and, at the same time, protect the natural environment.
Today 80% of the energy we use comes from fossil fuels and about 1% comes from solar energy, which is not such a bright idea since nonrenewable resources, such as oil, coal, and gas, are limited (Eia 1). Most significant uses of coal are in steel production, electricity, cement manufacturing, and as a liquid fuel. Solar energy is one of the least used energy sources we have access to in the world; it is also one our mother Earth is relying on to save the nonrenewable fuels, such as fossil fuels. Solar energy is a very useful resource that many of us do not take advantage of because of the limited amount of information we know about it. Cooking coal, also known as metallurgical coal, is used for steel production as well. Coal comes from very
Many nations count on coal, oil and natural gas to supply most of their energy needs. Fossil fuels are a finite resource. Fossil fuels also causes air, water and soil pollution and produce greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Renewable energy from sources that are replenished as fast as they are used. Examples include energy from the sun, wind, moving water and plants. Wind and solar energy are clean sources of energy that have the potential to make a significant contribution to New Zealand economy. New Zealand is rich in renewable energy resources more than developed countries and much of its energy meets by harnessing the power stored in rivers, lakes and geothermal fields. Nearly a third of the total energy is consumed including electricity, heat and transport fuels comes from renewable sources. (http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/wind-and-solar-power/page-1). The 70% share of renewable energy sources make New Zealand one of the lowest carbon dioxide emitting countries in relation to electricity generation. Electricity demand has grown by an average of 2.1% per year since 1974 and 0.6% from 2005-2011. Despite being slightly above the global range New Zealand has called one of the least energy efficient countries when comparing economic output against electricity consumption. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_in_New_Zealand).
The reason we don’t replace coal energy is because it produces a profitable amount of energy, just like most cars get fairly good mpg. While solar and wind energy are not efficient and take a ton of sun and wind as well as entire farms of panels or mills to produce the same amount of energy, which goes back to solar and wind being more expensive.
Energy Upgrade California is a statewide program to help make California buildings more energy efficient, comfortable, healthy, and durable while protecting the environment and conserving natural resources. It is a collaboration between the Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, and investor owned utilities across the state, like San Diego Gas and Electric. The program offers incentives of up to $6,500 for property owners to perform energy upgrades on their buildings. These upgrades can then result in lower utility bills, increased comfort, healthier buildings, reduced impact on the environment, and possibly increased property values. It also offers help in finding low interest financing options, and specially trained
Alternative energy sources are renewable, and is most commonly referred to as free energy sources. There are many alternative energy sources such as hydro power, solar power, wind, biomass, and geothermal. Using alternative sources is more expensive in the long run, but it is the much safer option for our environment compared to fossil fuels. Although everything used is completely free, such as water and wind, the equipment used to generate these things are expensive. There are several pros and cons that come with the utilization of alternative energy sources.
I have already written about the obvious benefits of going solar. There are other benefits as well that decrease the impact on our earth over time. Solar panels and battery banks have a life of 25-35 years and don't need anything more than general cleaning, snow removal and monthly water filling. Solar energy is the cleanest and purest form of energy, allowing for cleaner air overall in our environment. There is great hope for a lot more solar panels to be installed worldwide.
Compare and Contrast Nuclear Energy and Alternative Energy. Standard Number Science 3.4. Today, our society is using more energy than ever. With the increase in demand for energy, problems are presented that have to be addressed.
This kind of power is completely free, right? Why should we put a lot of expense on other sources of energy, when there is a complete free and healthy power? It is evident that solar energy is a healthy source of energy, which will help stop global warming altogether, but it is economically efficient to switch everything to solar energy. Solar energy is capable of becoming the world's future power supply because, it is renewable, eco-friendly, and extremely efficient when strategically placed. Solar energy is clean energy that does not affect our environment.
First of all, solar energy is the energy produced when the sun heats the solar panel. Thus, when the sun heats the panels, it produces electricity. Solar power produces energy during the day and can store energy for the night. Solar power does not pollute the environment. However, it has high maintenance cost, and it takes a lot of land space.
Nuclear power is the usage of nuclear reactions that releases nuclear energy which is especially used to generate electricity. It is considered to be a sustainable source of energy source that reduces the global emissions of greenhouse gases profoundly. Nuclear power stations have begun their operations in the 1950s and to date provides over 11% of the world’s electricity supply. Nuclear technology is mainly used in the production of electricity in nuclear power plants in order for the necessary transformation to the 21st century energy-supply system.
In our world, many different forms of energy are used to create electricity in order to power a wide variety of things including our homes, cars, and even our handheld devices. One form in particular that interested me is nuclear energy. This form of energy is produced in nuclear power plants and is seen as a cleaner source of energy as it does not produce carbon dioxide or any pollutants that may harm our atmosphere. In a nuclear station, electricity is generated with the usage of heat to create steam and drive turbine generators. However, this energy is not considered a renewable resource since it does produce nuclear waste after all and can be deadly if a power plant was somehow unable to constantly be stabilized and resulted in some sort
Global warming is an extremely important and troubling aspect of the world’s current situation. This is due to the fact that the majority of the world’s energy production is from non-renewable energy sources, which are energy sources that either can not be naturally replenished or require thousands of years to be restored. Based on our current energy usage growth rates, there are an estimated 100 years left before our natural resource reserves are exhausted. (Non Renewable Natural Resources: How Much Is Left, Environmental Thinker) China alone consumes nearly as much coal as the combined usage of coal from the rest of the world. (US Energy Information Administration, China Consumes Nearly as Much Coal as the Rest of the World Combined) There is visible evidence of this happening with the increasing pollution levels. Carbon Dioxide and Methane pollution levels in the world reached a record high in 2012 and are 260% higher than the pre-industrial levels. (UN: CO2 Pollution Levels at a Record High, John Heilprin) Converting our world into a more renewable energy dependent society is the most advantageous and likely method for preserving our dwindling fossil fuel supply while also protecting the world that we call home.
Nuclear energy is generated by a process called fission. Fission occurs within the reactor of a nuclear power plant when a neutron is fired at an atom of uranium causing it to split and release subsequent neutrons.1 These are able to crash into other uranium atoms causing a chain reaction and releasing a great deal of heat energy.