July 13, 2023

Powering the Future: Solar Energy vs. Fossil Fuels

For ages, mankind has used fossil fuels as its main source of energy, but in recent years, the quest for greener and cleaner energy has led us to alternative sources, mainly solar energy. Still, renewable energy sources and and fossil fuels are currently world’s most vital energy resources.

Nonrenewable energy comes from fossil fuels, which were created from ancient plant and animal remains millions of years ago. Fossil fuels are energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas. They now make up the bulk of the world’s energy use. Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, have been the primary source of energy for centuries for most of the countries. They have powered the industrial revolution, transportation, and modern infrastructure. However, fossil fuels are non-renewable and finite resources which shows the fact that they will run out at one point a certain point of time. There are more things to worry about beyond this. The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which leads to climate change and air pollution.

Solar energy, on the other hand, is a renewable and clean source of energy. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, and the technology has rapidly advanced in recent years, making it more efficient and affordable. On the other hand, solar energy does not emit any greenhouse gases or pollutants and hence it is a much more friendly alternative to fossil fuels. Solar energy is preferred the most among all the renewable energy resources because of low maintenance cost requirements.

Solar power is sustainable since the sun is always shining and may be used again too. It doesn’t contribute to global warming or pollute the air. The energy from the sun can be used to convert sunlight into electrical energy and that electrical energy becomes similar to electricity generated from fossil fuels. Now, electricity generated from the sun can be used to run electrical appliances for self consumption, solar streetlights, solar water heaters, solar dryers, Solar power plants with storage, solar charging stations for electric vehicles and many other applications. Also as widely available, solar power can be harnessed from any place where the sun shines.

Solar energy systems have now become a viable option for households and businesses, as the cost of solar panels has decreased significantly in recent years. In addition, many governments are offering incentives and subsidies to encourage the use of solar energy, further reducing the cost. A noteworthy fact is with the time consumer awareness has also increased which is really helpful for the usage of solar energy.

Solar power has the potential to provide employment opportunities in many sectors like manufacturing, EPC services, solar applications etc. The solar sector is booming and employing people all around the globe nowadays. The use of solar power can also help the economy of the consumer as well as it really helps a nation to become energy independent. The increased per capita income, improved lifestyle, consumer awareness results in increased soalr adoption in tier 2-3 cities also nowadays.

Thus, solar power can positively affect both the environment and the economy because it is a clean, renewable energy source that is also affordable. Solar energy used to be more expensive than fossil fuels earlier, but now it has achieved parity in terms of price, and its environmental benefits are widely acknowledged. In terms of efficiency, still solar energy is way behind than fossil fuels but its environmental effect is commendable that’s why it is useful.

At Navitas Solar, a leading manufacturer of Solar Panels, we have experienced that with advancements in technologies, solar energy is also becoming more affordable and accessible. Therefore, solar energy is poised to become a more significant part of the global energy mix in the coming years. In a country like India where 300 sunny days are available in a year, it’s recommended to harness solar energy as much as possible. By harnessing sunlight, we can reduce our carbon footprint, become energy independent and fight against the climate change.