Solar generated 25% of US electricity in April: What this means for renewables

Continued growth in the solar sector is essential to climate change prevention.

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The eco-conscious movement recently swept through the nation, influencing purchases and production. Solar sales skyrocketed in 2020, improving America’s access to clean energy. An increase in renewable power generation supports government regulations and carbon neutrality goals.

President Biden established the Build Back Better plan and signed the Paris Agreement upon entering office. Both documents represent a national commitment to reducing carbon emissions. We can achieve Biden’s goals by supporting the solar industry’s growth.  

The Environmental Impact

Continued growth in the solar sector is essential to climate change prevention. It also aligns with the President’s efforts, establishing a sustainable national infrastructure and expanding clean energy employment. Renewable power sources limit environmental impacts by reducing the enhanced greenhouse effect.

When solar radiation reaches the atmosphere, it generates heat, warms the surface, reabsorbs excess energy and sends it to space. The process helps Earth maintain a life-sufficient temperature. As we pollute the environment with greenhouse gas emissions, the natural process changes.

Carbon dioxide, and equivalent pollutants, have a high sunlight-to-heat conversion rate. They additionally contain heat in the atmosphere for extended periods, rather than emitting it to space. The overproduction and entrapment of heat raise the global temperature over time.

Environmental engineers and scientists developed solar panels, challenging the energy sector’s ecological degradation. Panels contain cells that absorb sunlight, free electrons and produce an electrical circuit.

Unlike fossil fuel-derived energy, the green technology generates zero emissions in its production process. We can utilize the solar boom, decreasing our population generation and preserving the climate. The economic and social effects of the industry’s expansion may promote efficiency and reliability enhancements.

The Effect on Renewables

The renewable energy industry may utilize its increased profits and fund solar research. Current panel efficiency rates range between 15% and 20% on average. We can enhance our national access to clean power by improving the sunlight-to-electricity conversion process.

Additionally, the solar boom influenced Biden’s extension of the tax incentive. This year, the credit remained at 26% rather than dropping to 22%, like previously stated. The extension promoted more solar sales, further expanding the industry.

Renewable companies can utilize the sales increase and develop a clean electric grid. Biden established his ambitious energy goal in the Build Back Better plan, working towards new grid development. Researchers predict the necessary funding for the project would reach $500 billion.  

Solar companies may place a portion of their profit towards the electric grid’s development. Over time, we can expand the nation’s access to clean energy and reach carbon neutrality.

System Advancements

The increase in solar energy production also promoted system advancements. Researchers examine the reflective properties of various panel materials, sourcing efficiency improvements. They rely on a compact modular spectrometer for measuring light loss and wavelengths.

Engineers used recent technological advancements, developing floating solar arrays in Japan. Generating enough renewable energy to support universal demands required mass land use until now. The floating panels cover naturally high sun exposure regions without clear-cutting land.

They additionally preserve the aquatic life beneath them and prevent climate change-driven evaporation. The floating panels generate 102.5 megawatts of renewable power, able to fuel 35,000 houses. If we covered major bodies of water with solar systems in the U.S., we could quickly evolve our electric grid.

Generating an electric grid requires further renewable energy storage development. With optimal storage technology, we could source 100% of our electricity from solar and wind power. One California company placed excess funding into storage development.

The Vistra Moss Landing Energy Facility repurposed an old power plant for renewable electricity support. It has the largest lithium-ion battery storage system, holding up to 300 megawatts.

The facility both produced and contained clean energy, powering the local community. We can utilize this storage center as a model for electric grid development.  

Consumer Influence

Generating a carbon-neutral nation is challenging, and consumers can influence its progress. In America, we can vote with our dollars. Investing in a panel system or company may advance technology and improve efficiency.

Over time, if solar purchases remain high, we can expect our national energy reliance to shift away from fossil fuels towards renewable power. When we adopt a clean, electric grid, we shrink the national footprint and prevent climate change. 

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