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Solar Energy vs. Fossil Fuels

Solar energy through the use of solar panels is being used not only in the Philippines but also across the entire world. People are now turning to renewable energy in an effort to save the environment from global warming.

However, there are still some individuals and industries that prefer to use fossil fuels to produce the energy they need for their daily activities. If you are unsure about which one to turn to, then you may want to continue reading below as this article will compare and contrast solar energy from fossil fuels.

What is Solar Energy?

Solar energy is an important source of renewable energy. Basically, it comes from the heat and the radiant light the sun produces. A wide range of technologies including but not limited to artificial photosynthesis, solar architecture, solar thermal energy, photovoltaic, and solar heating are able to harness the sun’s energy and turn it into solar power.

The International Energy Agency supports the use of solar energy for it can aid the efforts to decrease the causes of a worsening global warming.

What are Fossil Fuels?

These fuels are made through natural means; anaerobic decomposition of dead organisms is one of them. Anthracite coal, petroleum, and methane can be classified as fossil fuels. These materials can be both volatile and non-volatile.

They are not considered as a form of renewable energy because they take at least a mega-annum to be formed and created. Fossil fuel reserves are also being exhausted much faster than new reserves are being created.

Fossil fuels have high percentages of natural gas, coal, petroleum, and carbon contained in them. Burning them results in a huge amount of carbon dioxide being produced in the environment. This chemical compound heightens climate forcing which then leads to global warming.

Why Should You Use Solar Energy rather than Fossil Fuels?

By now, you have enough information to support renewable energy like solar power than fossil fuels. You could truly save the Earth from global warming and climate change. But if you need more convincing, then here are more reasons why you should make this effort.

Investment – There is a high possibility that you will see an economic shift from fossil fuels to clean or renewable energy. HSBC is predicting that stricter regulations regarding the climate can be put in place. This would mean that companies producing fossil fuels can be restricted from getting unused fuels that can be found underground. Ultimately, this may result into their fall.
Cost and Capacity – Solar panel installations are slowly escalating at a thrilling rate due to its cost drastically dropping. It is expected that this development will continue in the future. On the other hand, the cost of coal and other fossil fuels are rising because of the implementation of sterner environmental regulations.
Jobs – In the United States, the solar energy industry is able to hire more and more people. A total of 20,000 new jobs were handed out in 2013 by the various solar companies across America whereas the industry for fossil fuels is slowly but surely cutting jobs since 2012. This could be another result of stricter regulations being put in place.

All the reasons discussed above should really be enough for everyone to at least consider using solar energy (and other forms of renewable energy). Each and every individual has a responsibility towards this Earth. All of us can work together to produce a cleaner and brighter future not only for the next generation but also for the current one.

Edmond Becquerel: The Father of Solar Panels

Father-of-Solar-Panels

With the growing abundance of solar energy in the Philippines, it is not hard to hope that the country will soon become a leader in utilizing clean energy. All of the equipment, like the solar panels, would not be made possible if it weren’t for the man who discovered the photovoltaic effect: Edmond Becquerel.

Edmond Becquerel is a French physicist who studied solar spectrum, magnetism, electricity, and optics. He discovered the photovoltaic effect in 1839, which is the main operating principle of a solar cell. Contrary to popular belief, solar power technology is not a modern development. People have been utilizing this energy during the mid-1800s, during the industrial revolution. Solar energy was primarily used to heat water to produce steam and drive machinery.

The Personal Life of Edmond Becquerel

Becquerel was a pupil turned successor of his father at the Museum National D’Histoire Naturelle. He was appointed professor at the Agronomic Institute, a short-lived school in Versailles. He also became a department chairperson of the Physics department at the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers in 1853. His son, Antoine Henri Becquerel, was one of the people who discovered radioactivity, earning him a Nobel Prize for Physics.

In addition to that, Becquerel also studied the properties of light. He paid special attention to the photochemical effects and spectroscopic characters of solar radiation and electric light. He also devised a phosphoroscope, an instrument that allowed the intervals between the exposures to the source of light and observing the effects to be varied at will and must be measured accurately.

He also explored the diamagnetic and paramagnetic properties of substances. Becquerel also showed interest in the phenomena of electromechanical decomposition, which added to the evidence of Faraday’s law of electrolysis, which are relationships based on electrochemical researches.

The Discovery of the Photovoltaic Effect

Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect, which showed how electricity can be produced from sunlight. According to Becquerel, “Shining light on an electrode submerged in a conductive solution would create an electric current” but, despite the amount of research and development poured onto the discovery, photovoltaic power continued to be not so efficient. This lead to solar cells having no function at all but to measure light.

While experimenting in his father’s laboratory as a teenager, Becquerel created the world’s first photovoltaic cell. He placed silver chloride in an acidic solution and illuminated it while it was connected to platinum electrodes. The result generated voltage and current, making the photovoltaic effect known as the “Becquerel effect.”

A century later, an American engineer named Russell Ohl patented the world’s first modern solar cell, after the invention of the transistor.

People might have stuck to oil and fossil fuels as energy sources if it wasn’t for Edmond Becquerel’s discovery. The sun, aside from helping all life forms grow and generating light for the benefit of all, became one of mankind’s most powerful energy source—probably one that will last until the end of mankind’s lifetime.

Solar Energy Plants Around The World

Saving the earth is a will literally take a worldwide effort, meaning more and more countries are urging their people to do their part. One way ordinary people can contribute is through solar panel installation. In the Philippines, the sun never fails to shine, so maybe it’s time for our countrymen to also invest in clean energy. To show you just how much the people of earth are trying to save it, here are some solar energy plants around the world.

Solar Star Projects, California, USA

This is the biggest solar plant in the world and it’s in California. It produces an amazing 579 megawatts of power and it supplies that power to a staggering 255,000 homes and over 13 square kilometers big. The plant uses Oasis Power Plant Technology which means that the panels follow the sun to maximize the sunlight. It’s estimated that the plant displaces 570,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent to removing roughly around 108,000 cars from the road every year.

Cestas Solar Farm, Bordeaux, France

This solar farm located in Bordeaux, France, is the biggest solar plant in Europe and is producing 300 megawatts of power to supply about 300,000 homes. Chinese manufacturers supplied the plant with its solar panels. It was put up by Krinner, Schneider Electric, and Eiffage and was opened in October 2015, and is connected to the grid that provides electricity to the whole of France, Réseau de transport d’électricité.

Charanka Solar Park, Gujurat, India

21 companies worked hard to make this 345 megawatt solar plant a reality. It’s part of another solar plant that as a whole, they make an amazing 600 megawatts of electricity. It’s on a 20.2 square kilometer piece of land in the North of India in Gujurat. A solar park at Charanka which is on 5000 acres of land can produce up to 500 megawatts of electricity from solar and wind power.

Agua Caliente Solar, Arizona, USA

This solar plant sits in Arizona in the city of Yuma. It produces 290 megawatts of electricity that powers a 100,000 homes. The plant is owned by NRG Energy and MidAmerican solar, and is remotely operated by First Solar. The features of First Solar’s grid allow this to happen. The technology involved in the solar panels used and the operation of the plant led to the USA’s Department of Energy to grant them a loan of $967 million.

Golmud Solar Park, Qinghai, China

This Chinese solar plant which was built in 2009, produces 500 megawatts of power. It is still under construction and when finished, another 60 megawatts of power will be added to its capacity.

These huge solar plants all around the world proves that countries are serious about their oath to reduce greenhouse gasses, postpone climate change, and are well into the movement of saving the earth. The plants are scattered over huge patches of land, using technology we’ve never seen before, using the most of the most abundant and infinite thing on earth: sunlight. The amount of carbon dioxide that these plants displace might not be much yet, but if every country invests in clean energy, imagine the clean air available to every person, reducing not only the destruction of earth, but also the risk of diseases.

The Biggest Energy Consumers in Your Home

Each modern house is different, but what makes them similar is that they are considered home by its residents and they need electricity. Some people opt to save money when it comes to electric consumption and are happier with solar panel prices in the Philippines and using renewable source energy for their home.

That aside, have you ever looked at your electric bill and wondered which appliances consume the most energy? Listed below are every home’s biggest energy consumers.

Lighting

The house lights are diverse and distributed to each room. An estimated range lights consume per month is 100-150 kWh per hour. There are energy-saving bulbs and are even environmentally friendly to use, such as LEDs and CLFs. Remember to turn off the lights when a room is empty, except when it’s only going to be empty for a couple of minutes to save energy.

Refrigerator/Freezer

It is fairly unavoidable to unplug freezers or refrigerators because if you do, the food inside will spoil! The average energy range of this appliance is from 200-400 kWh per month. Refrigerators that are already more than 10 years old tend to consume more energy, so in the long run it’s better to buy a new one. New refrigerators nowadays have a power saving option recommended to be used during the nighttime.

Water heater

Water heaters are used in the showers, cleaning or ironing clothes, and washing the dishes. Studies in the U.S. show that they consumes about 12% of the overall energy used in a home. The average consumption per month is estimated around 400-600 kWh, which is even higher than the refrigerator!

Air-conditioning

Air-conditioning units are notorious for being consuming the most energy, with an average consumption of 400-800 kWh per month. An AC with inverter are the best electricity-saving AC units in the market, as the power they consume depends on the temperature of the incoming air as well as the level set in the thermostat. Setting the thermostat to 25 degree Celsius is highly recommended to save energy. Each degree you adjust will increase the cost!

The items on this list probably didn’t come as a shock, but it’s still a good reminder. Unplug appliances when they’re not in use (with the exception of the refrigerator of course). When an appliance is nearing replacement, do your research in advance and find out which units consume the least energy. You may even find alternatives that are solar-powered!

The Many Benefits of Utilizing Solar Energy

Soaring solar panel prices in the Philippines are not stopping companies from trying to harness the power of the sun. Solar energy is abundant in the Philippines, and it would be a waste not to take advantage of it. If you’re still not convinced that using solar energy is good for you, the people around you, and the environment, here are a few more arguments that will hopefully budge you.

Solar energy is a renewable source of energy.

This means it will never run out. It is available all around the world every single day. It is impossible to run out of solar energy, and as long as the sun shines, it is available for us to harness. We still have about 5 billion years before our sun dies, according to scientists, so that’s a lot of time!

Solar energy will reduce your electricity bills

Because you’re going to use the power generated by your installed solar power system during the day, you won’t be using the electricity from the grid and your bill will likely drop. However, how much you save will depend on how much power and heat you consume. If you’re connected to the grid and you’re consuming more than you’re generating, you’ll still be getting power from the grid. However, if you’re consuming less than you’re generating, the excess power is fed into the grid and you might receive payment for the amount of electricity. You might even receive more if you sell more of your excess electricity.

Solar panels have diverse applications

Solar panels, or photovoltaics, are what’s used to harvest the power of the sun to generate electricity, while solar thermal is what’s used to heat water. Other uses are to generate electricity for people who have no access to the national grid, or to treat and distill water in places where there isn’t much clean water, and even power the satellites that are in space. Recently, they’ve been integrating solar panels into the materials used to put up buildings. Some time ago, a company unveiled a kind of solar panel that is transparent that can be used for windows.

Solar panels do not emit pollution

Since you’re not burning anything while generating electricity from the sunlight that hits the solar panels, there is no pollution. This is very much unlike the other modes of electricity generation, such as gas and coal plants which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and nuclear plants which release waste into the environment.

Solar has low maintenance costs

These systems don’t necessarily need that much maintenance since there aren’t many moving parts. All you have to do is to clean them a few times once a year and make sure that they’re taking in as much sunlight as they can and no dust is reflecting the sunlight.

If we rely more on renewable energy sources, we can reduce the harmful gases that we’re releasing into the atmosphere and maybe even stop global warming. It’s time to go to the right direction and save mother earth!

Solar-Powered Cars vs. Gas-Powered Cars

Saving the environment and minimizing the effects of global warming remains a daunting task even today. More and more people have been turning to renewable energy, and sources such as geothermal, wind, and solar have seen a significant rise in usage. Even here in the Philippines – where solar panel prices remain viable – renewable energy has established itself as the solid go-to alternative. Solar especially, considering the Philippines is a tropical country with sunlight in spades.

However, solar panels are not solely used for home power. Nowadays, technologies are being developed so it can replace the role of gas in your cars and vehicles. In fact, solar-powered cars are being refined so that it may eventually compete with the cars of today. Those that are powered by fossil fuels, in particular.

Gasoline-Powered Cars

Gasoline is being used to power vast quantity of internal combustion engines throughout the world in various industries particularly the transport sector. Several grades of octane rating produce gasoline. It is known to contain benzene and other carcinogens.

Today, most cars are being powered by gasoline and petrol. Diesel is one of the most commonly used gasoline to power a vehicle, as designed by car manufacturers from across the world. Unfortunately, both these fuels are causing air pollution and directly being blamed for contributing to global warming and climate change. One specific negative cause of these emissions is smog, which can be seen in places that uses high amounts of fuel like China.

The need for a more environment-friendly car has been expressed due to the dangers being brought by the harmful effects of petrol and gasoline. Currently, several vehicles have been manufactured using alternative fuels like ethanol and natural gas in order to answer this need.

Solar-Powered Cars

Makers of solar cars combine the technology being used in the automotive, alternative energy, bicycle, and aerospace industries.

Furthermore, these vehicles highly depend on a solar array which utilizes photovoltaic cells to be able to convert the light coming from the sun into electricity.

There are different kinds of solar arrays which can be used on a car; they include horizontal, vertical, adjustable, integrated, trailer, and remote. An optimization between vehicle mass, aerodynamic resistance, power output, and practical considerations need to be considered in choosing the solar array geometry.

More is being done for the development of solar arrays in the future. For example, they are being made to be thinner and more flexible.

Other solar-powered cars are using gallium arsenide solar cells or silicon solar cells instead of solar arrays.

Examples of Solar-Powered Cars

Most solar-powered cars today have been built and invented for the purpose of various solar car races around the world; although, there are some of them which have been designed for public use.

Solar Spirit 3, Solar Spirit 3, PowerCore SunCruiser, SolarWorld GT, PowerCore SunCruiser, Kaiton II, OWL, Stella, Stella Lux, UltraCommuter, and Apollo Solar Car Team are only a few examples of the solar cars from all over the world today.

It is true that only a small part of this technology have been made available for public and commercial use but this is a mark of what is to come in the future. After all, solar is a much cheaper option compared to gasoline.

All About Solar Panels

In tropical countries like the Philippines, solar power is abundant. More and more Filipinos and businesses are turning to solar power usage because of the benefits it presents. Solar power is natural, sustainable, and requires minimum maintenance.

What are Solar Panels?

We all know that solar energy comes from the sun. Solar panels, or PV panels, are used to convert light from the sun into electricity that can be used to power electricity-reliant devices and infrastructure. Solar panels can also be used for a variety of applications. These include powering telecommunications equipment, power systems for remote areas, and source of electricity for residential and commercial areas.

Before the development of solar panels, solar energy was mainly used for the production of steam to drive machinery. In 1839, French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered thee photovoltaic effect, which was the operating principle of a solar cell. The photovoltaic effect allowed the conversion of sunlight into electricity. With Becquerel’s findings, Charles Fritts, an American inventor, created the first genuine solar cell by coating selenium sheets with a thin layer of gold. What we know today as the solar panel began with this simple invention.

Russel Ohl, another American inventor, patented the world’s first solar cell made of silicon in 1941. His invention led to the production of the first solar panel in 1954. Solar panels were then used in space satellites. It was in the 1970s when people began to experience the first solar panel in their lives—in the form of their calculator.

Today, solar panels are used as power sources for many applications. Yes, they are still being used in calculators but they are also being used to provide entire homes and commercial buildings.

How do Solar Panels Work?

Solar panels collect sunlight and convert that light into electricity. Solar panels are composed of several individual solar cells which are made of silicon, phosphorous and boron. Solar panels absorb the photons from the sun’s rays, initiating an electric current. This results into the energy from the photons hitting the solar panel’s surface, allowing the electrons to be released into the electric field generated by the solar cells. This entire process is known as the Photovoltaic Effect.

What Can People Get From Solar Panels?

Solar panels have proven themselves as practical ways of producing electricity. Off-grid living, which means living in a location that the main electric utility guild does not cater to, is being used by people who live in remote areas and/or in cabins. They don’t have to pay for the installation of electric utility poles just to connect to the nearest main grid. A solar electric system is arguably less expensive and can provide power for a long time if properly maintained.

Another thing that people can enjoy from solar panels is that the fact that they can enjoy the use of solar power. This type of energy is clean and renewable, making it ideal as an energy source especially since global warming is rampant. It is essential that mankind must do what it takes to reduce the degradation of the atmosphere from the greenhouse gases’ emissions.

These are some facts about solar panels. Indeed, we should be thankful for the invention of these devices as they allow people to harness energy without putting too much damage on Mother Nature.

On-Grid/Off-Grid Systems Suitable For Your Home

Many people have now made the choice to adopt solar energy in the Philippines due to the abundance of sunlight all over the country, making it an extremely viable choice when it comes down to it. Not only is it efficient, but using it also helps in the world’s efforts in mitigating the effects of climate change.

When adopting this kind of technology, though, keep in mind that it can come in three kinds: grid-tied, hybrid, and off-grid. Take your needs into consideration before choosing which one you’d rather go with.

Take a look at their differences in the article below:

Off-grid

Off grid systems are those that can stand alone. To be able to have electricity all the time, off grid solar systems should be connected to batteries that store the power, or in case of an emergency, a backup generator. In order to keep the system in good condition, battery banks that store the power harvested from the sun should be replaced every ten years. Aside from batteries, you are also going to need charge controllers, which will control the current of electricity going to the batteries and prevent them from overcharging. When the sun sets, you’ll be running on the power stored in the batteries.

Grid-tied

Grid-tied means that when you install your PV system, you use the electricity generated from the PV system in the day, but use the electricity from national grid at night. When your or any other homeowner’s PV system generates more electricity that you consume, some utility companies buy that electricity. Better that that let it go to waste, and better sell it than store it in batteries that you’ll have to replace every ten years.

One of the good things about being tied to the grid is that if your PV systems fail, you have back up and your house will immediately switch to consuming electricity from the national grid. This prevents any sudden interruption of power.

One of the other things you’ll need for this PV system is a solar inverter or grid-tie inverter. These regulate the current you receive from your solar panels by converting the direct current your solar panels generate into alternating current which is what electrical appliances utilize.

Hybrid

Hybrid means that you both have batteries to store your power in like off-grid systems, but you are also connected to the national grid. However, you don’t have a backup generator because you’re already connected to the national grid. If your PV system generates more than you consume, the power is stored in the batteries, or you can put it on the grid and sell it. You can also program your home to get off your PV system or the grid during off-peak hours.

You’re going to need most of the components for the off-grid and grid-tied for the hybrid except for the generator.

The type of system you want to install is ultimately up to you. So which kind of system do you think is perfect for your home? Either way, investing in green tech is never a bad idea.

4 Cool Solar Powered Gadgets

Solar power is known to provide cleaner and more sustainable electricity. Based on the increasing number of solar powered objects in the market, it is obvious that its popularity is growing. In fact, there are establishments that use solar panels in the Philippines and all over the world. It might be a good time for you to start using solar power in your house as well. Listed below are 4 devices that will help reduce your power bill and reliance on fossil fuels:

Solar Powered Flashlight

A solar powered flashlight is extremely helpful especially if you don’t have spare batteries nearby. All you need to do is charge the flashlight under the sun for a few hours—depending on the instruction of the product—and then you can use it the minute there is a power outage in your neighborhood. Truth be told, you may find having a solar powered flashlight better than a battery-powered one.

Solar Powered Charger

More and more people are discovering the perks of having a solar powered charger. Since it can be charged under the sun, you can simply leave it by the window sill or any sunny spot in your house. There are chargers that can store up to 5,000 mAh and most phone batteries are approximately 1,800 mAh. This means you can have 2 full charges from a single solar charge.

Solar Powered Backpack

There are a few companies who are making solar backpacks. Although they are rather costly, these backpacks come in simple colors, clean lines and an unobtrusive solar panel. They might not look too stylish but they do have a lot of perks. You can charge your phone, tablet, camera or any electronic device while simply walking around in the sun. They may look a little dorky but you can carry many things in these packs.

Solar Powered Cars

While it is not a gadget per se, these cars contain sports roof-top solar panels that concentrate solar power and provide hybrid plug-in benefits. The first solar powered car in the Philippines is called “Sinag”. It was inaugurated on January 27, 2007 at NBC Tent, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Solar powered cars are not commercially available but if the solar trend catches on, these vehicles may be ruling the highway before we know it.

Saving money is not the only goal of using solar power. It’s also about changing the world by supporting solar energy producers so it shows that solar is important to consumers as well.

Using solar power isn’t all about saving money. It’s also about changing the world by supporting solar energy producers and showing the government and power providers that solar is important to consumers. Some solar powered items may be expensive but that does not mean you can’t start powering your home with solar energy. If you have the devices above, you can charge your phone and gadgets, light up the dark, listen to music, and carry around your things with solar power. That is a great first step to a cleaner world.