We need to find another source of power, other than what we are using now. It is getting more expensive to use oil, gas and coal. Moreover, using these fossil fuels is a threat to our environment, with their emissions of polluting gases. Energy from the sun holds a lot of promise for our future. But using solar is still expensive, however, to be used for more consumer products. More funding is needed to research and hurry up the further improvement of our technology. We need to tap the heat of the sun as soon as possible because of the growing problems of using oil, gas and coal.
The traditional sources of energy like oil, gas and coal are almost gone. We have used up all most our mines and oil fields. Solar power is limitless. All we need to do is to harness it when the rays of the sun is its strongest, so that we can use solar power even when it is night time, or when it is raining or when the sun is covered by clouds.
Current technology uses photovoltaics, which are cells placed on panels. When positioned correctly, these solar panels harness the heat from the sun. To be efficient, however, there should be economies of scale. The size of these panels should be big enough, about 5 feet by12 feet. This big size can be affordable only to commercial businesses.
While there are now cars that run on the energy of the sun, the performance is still not good enough to attract many buyers. With little demand, there is also little incentive to invest in improving the technology. The cars need to be charged often. Finding a place to charge, while traveling from one place to another, is also a problem. No one wants to be stuck without car battery in the middle of the freeway.
Some homeowners who live in sunny places like Palm Springs or Florida, are able to afford panels in their homes. If they do not use up all the harnessed energy, they can sell the power back to the electric company. It is indeed amusing to see the electric meter actually going the reverse direction. If you’d like to see your meter run backward, just start shopping for solar panels for sale.
The rays from the sun is also clean. There will be no worries about greenhouse effect. If only industries would switch from using fossil fuel to using the sun, there will be a cleaner environment. But because the cost of installing these panels is still high, it is not attracting businesses to do the right thing. To encourage them, some states are offering incentives, such as rebates, to those that lower their gas emissions.
The traditional sources of energy is still more cost effective, if we do not consider the greenhouse effect. If they were to install alternative means of powering up their businesses, it would take a lot of funding and a slow return on their investments. However, in the long term, the benefit will be in terms of a cleaner environment for the future.
It is possible to have world run by solar power alone. But not right now. It will take years of research and political will. But we can speed it up by prioritizing this need, over the need of finding more oil, gas and coal.