Solar energy and greenhouse gas emissions

The solar energy revolution is well underway. Global warming concerns are driving the increase in solar installations worldwide. Solar energy can be used with renewable solar technologies to replace conventional energy systems that consume fossil fuels. This is enormously helpful in reducing harmful emissions into the atmosphere and helps reduce greenhouse gases and global warming. Solar energy can be used indirectly as stored thermal energy or directly for generating electricity with solar photovoltaic panels. Thermal energy can then be used for supplying hot water, for space heating and cooling or for indirect electricity generation – as in concentrated solar power (CSP). An example of direct and indirect solar energy system is by comparing solar Photovoltaic panels (PV) and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technologies, in CSP vs PV.

Solar Energy is used in applications through different technological methods:

Solar water heater – solar heating elements: for heating of water for distribution of hot water in buildings, or for heating of water or other liquid for space heating in buildings. 

Solar Photovoltaic panels (PV panels) for generation of electricity through a direct solar energy system –These applications may range from small home solar panel systems to large utility scale systems (for the production of electricity at the community level).

Concentrated solar power (CSP) – for the generation of electricity on a  large scale. CSP is an indirect electricity generation process where solar energy is converted into thermal energy and is stored in thermal tanks. Thermal energy is then used to generate hot steam to drive a steam turbine and generate electricity.

Solar is the planet’s best chance to reverse global warming

Passive solar energy systems – for increasing the efficiency of the energy performance in buildings. Passive solar energy systems do not use any active or mechanical parts (as in the case of solar panels). They use thermal solar energy passively such as a thermal wall charged by solar radiation. Some other solar energy system applications include solar lighting (indoor and outdoor), supplying power to electrical devices at all sizes – e.g. from small calculators to large power boats, planes or cars. Another use of solar power is for cooking food; this can be accomplished by using special cooking pans designed to amplify solar heat for cooking food  – solar (heating) pans, etc.

There has never been a better time to install a solar energy system!

If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 20 years. 

For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.