EarthWatch

Is Solar Power a Viable Alternative Source of Electrical Energy?

There are many lines of discussion on the question of alternative energy sources, and high on that list is a question of whether we could (or should) use Solar Power as a contributor to our energy solutions in today's state of technology.

Right now it is producing less than 2% of all residential needs world wide...but we tend to view it differently in America than others might, because we have it available for our use almost always. So we are generally spoiled by our use of energy, and we are able to consume energy at a remarkable rate...an excess in fact.

Not the same world wide...For instance, in the less developed world electrical power is not necessarily available 24/7. Consider that for many of the world's citizens electricity is still a luxury item. Radio, television, Air Conditioning, water pumps...all of the things that we take for granted are not available most of the time for most of the world's people.

So in that view, a little help from old Sol might be in order. Through the use of Solar energy we can provide dependable power in remote locations and in communities that have a need, but no source, through the use of Solar Power. And what about in regions hit by storm or flood damage...Katrina victims as an example. Solar options would have been good for them, wouldn't you think.

On top of that we can reduce our energy expenditures, for example a house in the United States fitted with PV technology can off-set its cost for residential electricity by upwards of 50% in most regions through reduced use of grid power, and in almost all markets they can return excess power to the grid and receive credit for their contribution.

Over the life of a system the costs can be dramatically reduced if not fully recovered, and the end user is providing a real solution to part...if not all of our energy problems. Consider this. IF there are 60Million households in the United States and each uses 2000KWh per month...that's 24000KWh per year...then we are consuming 1440000000000KWh per year in residential electricity...maybe more. What if we reduced that by 25%...and if it all came from fossil fuel based generators...would we be impacting the environment or not?

Solar ... is it a reasonable approach...yes it is, but only if our government takes it on and makes it work by supporting grants for development and system procurement and installation. And if we take it on it will reduce our use of oil and coal, increase the available power for the grid and help to make it a better planet for all of us.

Is there an argument against the use of Solar Power? If you have one, let's talk.

posted by Moon Shadow @ 10:57 AM