5 Benefits of Solar Energy

If there is one policy every first world nation can get behind, it is the movement away from fossil fuels and towards renewable, clean energy. While debates may rage about the viability of clean coal, everyone is in agreement that solar and wind technology will be at the forefront of this movement. Let’s take a look at just a few of the benefits of solar power technology and why it is clearly the energy of the future.

First and foremost, solar power technology is limitless. One of the industry buzzwords we have all been hearing more and more about lately is "peak oil", the belief that the world’s oil supplies are in decline and that we, as a civilization, are due to run out of fossil fuels sooner rather than later. When it comes to solar power technology, we won’t ever have to worry about hitting our peak. Even in traditionally rainy climates like the Pacific Northwest, solar power technology is flourishing, thanks to super sensitive solar panels that capture energy even during overcast days and more efficient batteries that can hold more charge for longer periods of time. It is safe to say that the old excuses that used to be used to marginalize solar power are now obsolete.

Speaking of antiquated myths about solar power, a company in California recently unveiled a solar panel that could sell for less than any other panel on Earth. Nanosolar recently exhibited a panel that puts solar energy on par with coal manufacturing plants on a per-kilowatt basis. One of the most enduring arguments against solar power technology has always been the cost. The world has been waiting decades for a truly cost effective solar panel and now, thankfully, we don’t have to wait any longer.

While more and more countries build nuclear plants to deal with the spiraling demand for energy, there doesn’t seem to be similar plans in place to deal with all of the toxic nuclear waste those plants will produce over their lifetimes. Solar power technology, on the other hand, is completely clean, with no residues, waste or byproducts of any kind. Until someone comes up with cold fusion, solar is far and away the most environmentally friendly energy source in the world.

Thanks to improving technology, solar is also extremely portable. There are rollable solar panels that can be unplugged and taken with you on a trip and there are even tiny solar panels that you can attach to your backpack and use to charge your mp3 player while you walk. This is one area in which solar has wind power beat.

Finally, solar power can create more energy than a single family needs. Just like wind, extra power from solar panels can be fed back into the power grid, providing clean, free energy to people throughout an entire community.

While other forms of power may offer a stopgap as we wean ourselves off of fossil fuels, the power of the future is clearly solar.

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