4 Great Changes in 2021 that Will Transform the Solar Industry

As the earth is warming up and climate change is accelerating, people around the world are searching for renewable energy sources to stop these two issues from escalating. Emissions from fossil fuels such as coal and gas add significantly to the global environmental crisis, which is why so many people want power without any toxic by-products.

The effect of oil is frightening. Stanford University estimates that about 5% of the world’s overall footprint can be attributed to 9,000 oil fields worldwide. Fortunately, emerging renewable sources of energy continue to fix this issue.

Solar energy will balance the oil production carbon footprint

REUTERS An employee rides a quad bike during an inspection of a solar power station on the outskirts of Simferopol, March 25, 2014. Russia and the West sought to draw a provisional line under the Ukraine crisis on Tuesday after major industrialised nations warned Moscow of tougher economic sanctions if it goes beyond the seizure of Crimea. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko (UKRAINE – Tags: POLITICS ENERGY) – RTR3IK2V

Many suggestions exist, but solar energy is still one of the most common. The explanation is that solar power is relatively easy for most people to adopt compared to other energy sources like water or wind.

Almost everyone can install a solar panel on their homes or businesses to help reduce their power usage. But although solar energy is more feasible, it has some disadvantages, but the game changers in the solar industry are making these drawbacks smaller.

These game-changers are making solar tech much more convenient. Continue to learn about these updates, but if you want to find out when and if you can use them yourself, contact a business like Brooklyn Solar Works for more information.

Concentrated Solar Power

Getty Images/iStockphoto Solar panels, photovoltaic – alternative electricity source – selective focus, copy space

Concentrated solar power or CSP operates by directing solar energy heat. Then the heat is used to boil water and generates steam, of course; steam to propel an electricity-producing turbine that is attached to a generator. This is different from traditional solar panels which turn light into electricity through the use of photovoltaic cells. Solar panels are not an upgraded option for residential homes because CSP systems need a lot of lands, so they are not feasible on a residential basis.

CSP systems however offer a more effective and safer solution to conventional industrial energy systems. One downside to CSP is the fact that much sunshine is needed and is thus less effective on cloudy days than conventional solar panels. This inconvenience can be offset by the better storage space so that it can be used even though the sun does not shine.

Enhanced storage

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One of the main issues with solar power is the way to store adequate energy to use the technology at night. This is being modified by an advanced thermal battery developed by Curtin University. With United Sun Systems and ITP Thermal, the battery is being built, and the objective is to store and deliver energy 24 hours a day, which ensures that it can function at night and when heavy cloud cover is present.

This thermal battery will make solar energy more feasible not only in residential households but also in large industries like mining, which use a lot of electricity. Since these businesses usually produce a lot of emissions because they rely on fossil fuels, their change to solar may be positive overall for everyone thanks to the modern thermal battery.

Modern technologies for solar panels

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You have never heard of perovskites, but in solar panel technology, they might be the next big thing! Many solar panels usually use silicone, but when combined with perovskites – a form of a mineral, more solar light can be transformed into electricity. This means perovskites make solar panels even more powerful, meaning that solar plants can generate more energy with fewer panels, thus reducing costs. This makes solar panels more effective than ever before on a much wider scale.

The fact that they are more effective in the shade on gloomy days and even indoors further enhances the attraction of perovskite solar panels. More still is that perovskite solar panels can be made to be as lightweight as wallpaper, which decreases weight and improves their versatility. This suggests that perovskite solar panels could be potentially draped around full structures, thereby making the future of solar energy much lighter and much more realistic.

Solar technology became more feasible

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These are only some of the breakthroughs in solar energy, but there are more and more to come. It should be remembered that as solar technology continues to improve, it will certainly never be a one-size-fits-all approach to global energy supplies. It would be one of many, but these changes will be a big pillar in the energy future in many areas of the planet. The consequences of global warming hurt humanity more than the Earth. And this is our only planet.