For the past several decades, there has been a growing awareness of the need for moving away from the dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels as energy sources, which have been in heavy use for more than a century. The key question has been that of finding renewable sources that could compete at least reasonably well with their fossil fuel counterparts. Although … Read More
Green Energy Options
Due to the non-sustainability of traditional fossil fuels, and the adverse environmental impacts incurred in obtaining these fuels and in using them for energy generation, the world is investing concerted effort and resources into increasing the use of renewable energy sources. Some of these, in particular hydropower, have been in use for many decades, while others are still maturing as … Read More
Impacts of Government Incentives on Solar Power Growth
The solar energy industry has to date been supported significantly by government incentives for solar power, led by Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) and tax credits. These incentives have been credited widely with having huge positive impacts in kick-starting the adoption of solar power globally. It has also been clear that whenever the future of these incentives has become uncertain, there have … Read More
Solar Systems Rapid Growth, Distribution and Variety
Solar systems rapid growth has been confirmed once again via the significant gains in 2016, not just in the total amount of solar systems installed, but also their distribution and variety across many types of installations around the world. Solar power systems are now being seen in increasingly diverse solar panel configurations, enabling solar installations on rooftops, in ground-mounted solar … Read More
Solar Systems Usage in Business
There is now a significant case to be made for the adoption of solar systems usage in business, with many businesses of all sizes, right up to multi-nationals already reaping sizeable benefits for years. In many cases, the financial case alone wins the day, especially once government subsidies are factored in, alongside depreciation and amortization of upfront costs. Once all … Read More
The Rise and Rise of Solar Panel Related Jobs
There is currently a boom underway for employment in the renewable energy sector worldwide, led by the U.S., where more than 769,000 people were employed in renewable energy in the US in 2015. These findings have just been published by the International Renewable Energy Agency in its latest Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review. In particular, this report and other … Read More
Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Cells and Solar Panels
The ongoing significant technical advances in solar cells and solar panels over the recent decades have been a key driver in the transformation of solar power into a major source of renewable energy, and a serious alternative to traditionally generated electricity. There are now a distinct set of advantages and disadvantages to using solar cells and solar panels as part … Read More
Solar System Typical and Minimum Site Requirements
Solar power is an exciting and rapidly growing alternative to traditional energy sources, which are not as clean and certainly not sustainable. However, before considering embarking on a potential solar installation, it is essential to ensure that the proposed system meets the minimum requirements, from legal, safety and environmental perspectives, starting in the planning phase. Although rigorous, these requirements do … Read More