Time to read: 6 minutes
December 27, 2022
Renewable energy has been around since the 1800’s and has become an important topic in the past decade. There are many reasons why people are switching to renewable energy sources for their homes, vehicles, and businesses. Environmental benefits, saving money, and lowering our reliance on foreign energy suppliers, to name a few. Especially since the recent Russia-Ukraine War, the entire global economy has felt the effects of the dependence on fossil fuel. This has caused many countries who rely on this source to invest in other forms of energy. In this article, we’ll be looking at how solar power stacks up when compared to other types of renewable energy sources.
Renewable Energy in Texas
Currently, the primary renewable energy options available in Texas are solar, wind, and nuclear. They contribute to more than a fifth of Texas’ energy consumption. Additionally, Texas is the leading energy producer and consumer in the nation. Even with the increased supply of energy sources, the demand is still rising. Hot summers and unpredictable winters have caused Texas businesses and residents to use more power, which in turn, can cause a strain on the grid. With that being said, it will be vital you know your opportunities and research the different alternative energy solutions available in your area.
Solar Energy
Solar power has been around since the 1860s. By studying electrodes and the effects of light, inventors saw the opportunity to manipulate these natural materials to produce energy. The actual invention of the solar panel came shortly after in 1884. Although their efficiency wasn’t ideal and the cost of goods was great at that time, significant improvements were made a half a decade later. Since then, there has been continual research that has improved its efficiency, cost, and appearance. This has enabled solar energy to be more affordable and desirable than ever. As advances in its technology rise, there will be more demand from consumers and support from government entities. So how does solar power stack up to its other renewable energy competitors?
Pros of Solar Energy & Back Up Battery Systems
- Accessible to every homeowner & Business
- Cheapest source of renewable energy
- Fixed energy cost
- Tax Benefits
- Stores unused energy
- Access to Solar energy all day
- Solid home investment
- Reliability in harsh weather conditions
- It’s environmentally friendly
Cons of Solar Powered Energy
- Not doing your homework and educating yourself on Solar Powered Systems prior to getting estimates.
- Choosing a Solar Company that doesn’t engineer to your home or businesses needs.
- Picking a Solar company that does not have tenure in the market for after installation customer support and warranty accountability.
Solar energy makes up 12% of renewable energy use and is expected to rapidly increase over the next 30 years. Further advances in technology aim to make it even more affordable and efficient. The demand for solar powered energy has already gone up and will continue to increase exponentially in the next decade. Now, let’s take a look at wind energy.
Wind Energy
Wind power has been around for thousands of years starting with river boats and windmills. Even wind-electric generators were used from 1800 to 1900. Once electric power lines were expanded over most of the country in the 1930, wind energy equipment declined. That was until the oil shortages in the 1970s created a new demand for alternative solutions. The following decades would continue to push this with more incentives and passing policies with a 19% increase from 1990 to 2021.
Pros of Wind Energy
- A high amount of electricity can be produced
- Environmentally cleaner than other renewable sources
- Excellent conversion efficiency
- Low installation costs
- Maintenance is simple and only occasionally necessary
Cons of Wind Energy:
- Create noise pollution
- Take up a lot of space
- Requires wind, which can be incredibly unreliable
- Lowers the value of homes
- Negative effects on the bird and bat population
It is safe to say, wind energy has a long way to go before it can be considered as an everyday energy source for most consumers. The cons of wind power make solar powered energy a better option for the average homeowner and business to get access to. Most residential and commercial areas do not want loud, large, and dangerous structures in the areas where they would be needed from most consumers. How will nuclear energy stack up?
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy development got its start in the making of the atomic bomb in the 1930s. In 1945,interest grew in using it for naval propulsion and as an alternate source for electricity. The United States started using nuclear energy commercially in 1960 and has had many upgrades in its development. Contrary to popular belief, nuclear energy globally over the last 2 decades has begun to make the move to Solar Powered Energy to reduce the need for so much contaminated water output. There are under a hundred nuclear reactors in the US today that power millions of homes, but scientists are hopeful the Solar Powered Energy breakthroughs will become more widely used in the future.
Pros of Nuclear Energy
- Not weather dependent
- Carbon-free electricity
- Minimal land footprint
- Doesn’t take up space
- Produces higher output
Cons of Nuclear Energy
- Uranium is non-renewable
- Uses an enormous amount of water
- Expensive cost to manufacture and install
- Nuclear waste
- History of nuclear meltdowns
- Bad public image
Nuclear power has long been a discussion amongst world leaders and politicians because of the dangers they pose. Even though it has been deemed safe by many, the cons outweigh the benefits compared to solar powered energy. Not to mention, nuclear energy would still require major maintenance and processes to ensure the safety and health of people and the planet. Billions of dollars would be required to manufacture the equipment and storage facilities for such technology.
Solar is Clearly the Winner
Solar powered energy is still the best renewable energy source for your home and business. It is no wonder why so many people are GOING SOLAR! More innovations are in progress to improve the ways solar powered energy will be used in the future to make it more affordable and efficient. With Texas leading the way in providing renewable energy sources, the time is now to start exploring and planning for you and your community.
IES Texas Solar is dedicated to solar education to inform our readers and lifelong solar community of customers about the many benefits and questions to ask about solar-powered energy. How do they do it?
- Choosing the right team members for each step along the way
- Before, During, and After customer support and service
- Accurate system design builds by our engineers
- Long-lasting relationships with quality equipment vendors
Whether you are starting to explore solar powered systems, adding to an existing system, or ready to start your solar journey, IES Texas Solar is here to answer your questions. Contact us today!
If you are considering switching to solar for your home or business, or if you have questions about your system, reach out to us by going to our website, iestxsolar.com, or by giving us a call at (855) 447-6527.
Sources:
Wind Power
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/wind/history-of-wind-power.php
https://www.edf.org/blog/2019/02/06/not-all-energy-storage-clean-it-might-even-increase-emissions?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=edf_none_upd_dmt&utm_medium=cpc&utm_id=1564676267&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-oqdBhDfARIsAO0TrGEdmOyb3O0993_GNwrGeKmdx7g1klxlTsuWEFbAPhJeSZS3IzC1cc4aAuuKEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Renewable energy
https://www.c2es.org/content/renewable-energy/
Nuclear
https://wiseinternational.org/nuclear-energy/whats-wrong-nuclear-power?gclid=Cj0KCQiA-oqdBhDfARIsAO0TrGFH-bsWRwlzQUr3MOaqXxmjpufHl9zKrV99INUUGs4TCc73pmZQmGIaAka2EALw_wcB
https://springpo werandgas.us/the-pros-cons-of-nuclear-energy-is-it-safe/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/12/11/fusion-nuclear-energy-breakthrough/
Solar Energy
http://energy.gov/articles/top-6-things-you-didnt-know-about-solar-energy
http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2011/energy-scale-part3-
http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/electricity_generation.cfm
