Solar energy, abundant resources with minimal users

Solar energy is one of renewable energy sources that can be an alternative energy to replace fossil energy which in addition to contributing to environmental pollution, also has an impact on public health. Solar energy is obtained from sunlight and heat from sun that reaches earth. When you want to use it as electrical energy, sunlight must be collected and converted into electrical energy first.

Technology that can convert solar energy into electrical energy is called photovoltaic. Photovoltaic is a technology that is able to convert sunlight into electricity when sunlight hits a semiconductor material. Technology with this photovoltaic principle underlies solar panel systems that have been widely used for home or office scale.

In theory, solar energy that reaches earth can be a source of energy that is able to exceed global energy needs. However, currently only about 2-3% of solar energy is used as a source of global electrical energy. Application of electricity production technology from solar energy faces challenges on at least three factors, namely higher installation costs compared to fossil energy, capacity building which is still constrained by availability of materials, and sunlight which is difficult to predict because it depends on weather.

In Indonesia, use of solar energy is also still very minimal. The use of solar energy in Indonesia only reaches 0.05% of total potential. Though solar energy has many advantages over fossil energy. Electricity that comes from solar energy does not produce gas emissions that are harmful to the environment.

Solar energy is very appropriate to use in Indonesia, which is at the equator with sunlight throughout the year. Its easy installation and as needed and has a strong resistance that can reach 30 years is also a strong reason for the use of solar energy as a future power source.

Main cause of lack of use of solar energy is high cost of components and usually installation. However, at least using solar energy will further ease cost of government's monthly electricity bill. But you have advantage of still having electrical energy when electricity supply from government is interrupted.

Initial investment to install a solar power system at home is quite expensive, but after that there will be no more operating costs, only need to do maintenance, especially for the battery as a storage for electrical energy. Solar panels can be installed anywhere as long as there is sunlight. Solar panels on a household scale can be installed on roof of house or on vacant land. The most important thing is to be exposed to the sun during the day.

How about you? Interested in trying to use solar electricity? Or maybe you've started using solar electricity even if it's just a light or two in your yard.

Image source : American Public Power Association from Unsplash

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