WARMING TO NEW ENERGY
Global demand for all forms of energy is expected to increase by 54 per cent over the next twenty years, according to forecasts from the US Energy Information Administration. The EIA long-term energy forecast also predicts that world electricity demand will nearly double by 2025.
Coal, oil and natural gas are among the fossil fuels which provide most of the world’s energy.They release energy during burning, but also simultaneously release carbon dioxide into the air.These traditional energy resources won’t last forever and are not renewable and burning them leads to emissions which harm the environment, therefore there is a growing need to develop renewable energy sources such as wind, water, solar and geothermal.
Energy from the sun that reaches the surface of the earth is 6 000 times the amount of energy needed on earth a day.Solar energy has been around since ancient times, but as environmental concerns grow, so too is the popularity of solar power.
Traditional fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas are being replaced by renewable energy sources such as solar power, which is mainly used for heating water and electricity.
From futuristic office buildings and gigantic sports stadiums, to regular homes around the world, solar power is becoming an increasingly popular clean, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable energy source.For eg, the newly finished 55 000 seater stadium in Taiwan is the world’s first stadium to use solar energy technology to produce power.The 19-hectare stadium was built for the World Games in 2009 and will generate enough energy for its 3 300 lights and two gigantic TV screens through the 8 844 solar panels on its roof.
Now that is solar energy on an enormous scale.Even on a much smaller scale however, solar power can provide a workable and cost-effective alternative to conventional energy sources for household energy needs.
According to solar power experts, Solar my World in Perth, WA, installing solar electric (photovoltaic) panels to a domestic or commercial property will reduce electricity bills, add value to the property and reduce the carbon footprint.For Perth homeowners looking for solar power, there are two systems available, grid connect and off-grid.
Grid connect systems are predominantly installed in populated areas and supply solar power to the home through an inverter.And in the likely event of the solar system providing more energy than is required, the property owner may be able to ’sell’ the surplus back to the electricity grid if applicable.The other type is a standalone system which uses a battery bank for energy storage.This is used mainly in more remote areas where there is little or no access to conventional power supplies.
Solar power systems are versatile and can be designed for both AC and DC and can always be expanded to meet changing needs.
Energy is the largest single contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, and there is a growing call for people to reduce their C02 emissions and protect the environment.By generating power from the solar panels on the roof, the stadium in Kahosiung mentioned earlier will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 660 tons annually. By making a simple decision to install Perth solar power in our domestic locations, we could all have the energy to save the world.
