As we talked about last week in Start the New Year Off Greener: part 2, solar energy is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Today, we are going into Start the New Year Off Greener: part 3, discussing solar energy.

Invest in solar energy-efficient

1. How it works

2. Solar energy facts

3. Net Metering

4. The 2 sides of the Solar Argument

5. What you can do

1. How Solar Energy Works

The fact that we can turn sunlight into electricity very easily using simple solar cells is amazing. It all starts with solar roof panels to collect sunlight. The panels turn the sunlight into electrons of DC power (direct current flowing in one direction) which is then converted to AC power (alternating current flows in both directions). There are special converts to power up your TV, computer, and anything else you typically plug into the wall. It’s a direct conversion through the electrical panel and doesn’t require any further processing and can also be saved for use on cloudy days. This sounds very technical but the system is fairly easy to use and common enough to get help if you need it.

It looks like this:

1. Solar Panels Collect the Sunlight

2. Sunlight is changed to Electricity

3. Electricity Flows to the Meter

4. Electricity is Used by the house or car

There are various types of solar energy panels that you can buy now. Most homeowners and business owners can get them as an actual roof on a home, or as panels added to the home or land to help produce electricity. The solar panel absorbs the sun’s rays and converts the light into electricity that can be used right away or stored. When sunlight strikes the solar panels, it causes an electrical current and provides energy to the electrons. This is sort of like in a silicon junction, the photon enters the junction and moves the electron up an energy level which allows it to move as an electrical current.

Believe it or not, the first solar panels were created more than 100 years ago and were used to help create steam engines. Now due to a discovery of the “photovoltaic effect” by Edmond Becquerel, we can convert sunlight into electricity directly to power electronics. After some perfecting by Russel Ohl, an inventor with Bell Laboratories, the production of solar panels began in 1954 for use on space stations but also in use by the 70s in calculators. Now solar panels supply power to entire buildings and homes.

Today’s panels absorb the sunlight, then turn it directly into usable electricity for any home. Usually, the area of a normal roof is more than enough to create plenty of electricity for a homeowner or business since it’s also storable for a “rainy” day. You’re unlikely to experience any breaks in power using solar in most areas. Considering Germany is the number one producer of solar energy it’s obvious that most areas of the Earth can use solar power efficiently. Germany is not really known for its sunny days.

Solar panel prices have been going down a lot in recent years and promise to keep doing so. Today, you can get an attractive solar panel roof for almost the same price as you can put a regular roof on your house making it much more accessible for the average family.

However, there are still some issues with local governments making it difficult or nearly impossible to set up a self-sustained solar-powered home. Many think this is for no other reason than the local power company does not want the competition. They see a future coming when they are no longer needed, and everyone can provide their own power cheaply, efficiently, and in an environmentally friendly way.

2. Solar Energy Facts

Using solar energy is not complicated. It works simply by collecting energy from the sun into batteries that turn the power into usable AC power for your entire home or business needs. This renewable source of energy is available in abundance all over the world except for very few areas.

1. Solar energy produces zero pollutants.

The process of collecting energy from the sun doesn’t produce any type of waste directly. Even though some say that the production of the solar panels themselves produces waste. Even with the production waste, using solar power is much better than the pollution created by fossil fuels, which also are not renewable. We do need to consider what to do with old solar panels as newer, more efficient panels are created. Here is where reuse and recycling come in. There must be ways found to re-make old solar panels into something that can be useful.

2. Germany is the number one implementer of solar energy.

The fact that Germany is the number one producer and implementer of solar energy. This shows the world that you don’t have to have an exceptionally large amount of sunshine to go solar. Some say this is too expensive to replicate but it’s the right thing to do to invest now before fossil fuels are truly gone.

3. Solar energy is the most plentiful energy source in the world.

In fact, there are over 173,000 terawatts of solar energy striking the earth on a continuous basis. According to Energy.gov’s numbers, that’s 10,000 times more than the earth needs. The issues arise when you consider the cost of installing solar systems and who should bear the cost. Even so, the USA is increasing its solar production at an amazing rate. (Energy.gov)

4. Solar energy is the cheapest energy source in the world.

Even with the cost of set up, it turns out that solar is really the cheapest energy source in the world. In China, solar power is cheaper than wind power. Partially the reason for this has to do with various governments deciding to invest in solar energy. But, it’s also a push by individuals to live in more sustainable ways and ever cheaper solar panel solutions being produced by companies like Tesla.com.

5. By 2017 there were over 2 million solar systems installed.

It took 40 years from the first solar panels that allowed for the production of AC energy to install one million businesses and homes with solar panels. But by the end of 2017, there were over two million installations. This means that the proliferation of solar, if not interrupted by government regulations, will skyrocket in the next 10 years. That is a lot of people choose to go solar and become more self-sufficient.

6. It takes 3 years to break even with energy costs once a solar system is installed in a house.

It can cost about 20,000 to install solar panels and the system for collection for the average homeowner. The break-even point has gone down to three years and is projected to increase exponentially as less expensive solar panel roofs are being created. Remember, after the break-even point, the rest is gravy. The solar energy system is basically installed once and enjoyed for life. There will always be maintenance required but that is true for everything from your watch to your car.

7. An Airplane can fly around the world on only solar power.

The Solar Impulse 2 is an aircraft equipped with more than 17,000 solar cells and has flown around the world with only solar power. It took 505 days to accomplish the task, but it did happen. You can read all about it in The Atlantic article from 2016.

8. Community Solar is becoming popular

Some communities are setting up solar systems that can sustain hundreds of homes in a community. This works for apartment and condo communities as well as any type of home that cannot support a solar panel installation. You can likely find a solar community outreach in your area.

9. Solar energy works all day and night 365 days a year 24 hours a day.

There is a lot of misinformation about how solar works. It’s true that you must have sunlight to create energy. But you don’t have to have it 24/7 because the system doesn’t just collect and convert, it also stores energy. This way you can still have service in the evening and on cloudy days.

These solar energy facts should make you consider the future of solar energy in your life. Solar is a great investment for individuals, communities, and governments that want to work toward a more sustainable energy source and get away from non-renewable sources like fossil fuels. It is true not everyone is open-minded enough to consider getting their own solar energy system but many people are going solar. The more solar that is used, the less non-renewable energy sources are used. This is good news for the environment and the future.

3. What is Net Metering?

Net Metering is basically getting paid for the solar you have that you do not use for yourself. In some areas of the world, people have been able to make an agreement with their utility company to get credit for extra electricity generated by their solar panels or wind turbines.

Individuals sell extra energy to the electric company to use for other people and give them credits to use against high usage times when their solar panels can’t keep up with production.

The capacity to use net metering differs by country, state, and province due to policies. The availability of net metering (NEM) is often driven by politics. The lobbying that happens to protect fossil fuel use is amazing and some areas have even stopped the ability to and incentives for using solar power. This is unconscionable considering the billions of dollars spent on subsidies for fossil fuels. The production and use of fossil fuels not only harm our environment but also are going to run out at some point as there is no way to make more natural fossil fuels. When this happens it will cause devastation the world over. The world needs to get on board with sustainable energy usage as soon as possible and wean off fossil fuels.

4. The two sides of the Solar Argument

As will all changes there are two sides to this argument:

1. The Sustainable Argument

People should not have to be dependent on a government or private utility to provide electricity if they provide their own solar panel or wind turbine system and upkeep. If they produce the extra power they should be able to get an offset to the cost of using the grid when they do need it.

2. The Utility Argument

Utility owners state that it costs them a lot of money to allow anyone to use the grid. Because most homeowners still need the grid to provide enough electricity that cost alone is enough to eliminate net metering benefits.

Due to many areas creating impossible regulations and laws, there are individuals who are avoiding the law by connecting solar panels to their homes regardless of the regulations. These people do not endanger anyone but the profits of the Utility companies and corporations. However, the utility companies say it will cause an increase in electricity costs for those who cannot afford to set up solar panels so it’s unfair to the other citizens.

Unfortunately, the sunniest states often have the most unreasonable rules and laws regarding being “off-grid” or even using solar panels and wind turbines at all. While less sunny states seem to be moving ahead with more favorable conditions for people to use solar rooftop panels and wind turbines.

5. What You Can Do

First, find out what your area allows when it comes to using net metering or even being totally off the grid. Start contacting your representatives to encourage them to vote in more favorable ways to improve sustainable and renewable energy forms for the Utilities and individuals. Encourage the utilities to transfer to renewable energy sources. If Utilities convert to renewable energy and get away from fossil fuels you get the same benefit to the environment that you would if every individual supplied their own power.

It all starts with one person doing it. Then others will see that it can be done and done well. Then you can get your local governments and utilities to try to do it. Eventually, lots of people and places will be solar or wind energized.

We hope this talk on how to Start Off the New Year Greener: part 3 has given you at least a few things to think about and consider for yourself. Please come back next week for Start Off the New Year Greener part 4.

Thank you for visiting and please come again for another edition of Out Standing in the Field.