Solar energy is growing in popularity all over the world, and for good reason. It’s a clean, sustainable source of power that can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the top solar trends in 2022. Keep reading to find out more!
The solar industry is a rapidly developing one
In 2010, the global installed solar capacity was roughly 3 gigawatts (GW). By 2030, it will be much more than that – about 900 GW.
This translates to around 1 in 9 people being able to install solar panels on their homes.
But this is just the beginning. What makes solar so appealing is its sheer abundance.
The sun is free, and we use fuel such as oil or natural gas to create energy. With the solar switch, however, all you need is the sun! And since it’s clean and renewable, there are no dirty emissions. You can read the solar switch review here.
Solar companies have recently begun making money by selling “renewable energy” directly to consumers. Plus, governments across the globe have started promoting solar usage because they understand how it can help reduce pollution and get people off-grid.
Some countries like Germany make up a majority of their electrical supply from solar power. India is also well on its way to having a 100% solar-powered country. By 2040, I estimate that we could easily see 50 million South Americans without access to electricity. This would save millions of lives and go a long way towards helping those affected by climate change.
The price of solar panels will continue to decline
Although we’ve made great progress, our dependence on oil is still very much an issue. Global warming has become one of its biggest threats, which means there are many incentives for going green and switching to renewable energy sources like wind or solar power.
While more and more people are taking charge and investing in clean technology, we can also make sure that the technologies being used are improving. I believe we’re about to see some breakthroughs related to solar cells and battery storage.
There have been a few bumps along the way, but here at CleanTechnica, we don’t let issues like this slow us down! A large part of my job is focusing on how companies can improve their practices and products to achieve better results.
I work with manufacturers to ensure they keep progressing and introduce no barriers to customers making the switch to using their devices.
I think we’ll start to see reductions in the cost of equipment as well as software designed to run it. There are already lots of tools available that can help you determine what size solar panel system would be best for your house. I look forward to seeing these things come up over the next decade while people are still feeling positive about the technology and the growth rate itself.
The solar boom will continue around the world
What was once considered an alternative energy source is becoming more popular than ever.
As people learn about the benefits of solar power, its use is spreading to new areas.
In the past few years, the solar switch has become a viable option for many individuals looking to reduce their impact on the environment.
However, costs have been climbing and taking closer inspection into recent developments. It seems that the solar boom we’re experiencing now will only increase in frequency as time goes on.
Many are asking themselves “How can I take advantage of this emerging technology?” Here are some trends that could help you out.
The solar industry is becoming more competitive
With the cost of installation coming down, more and more people are looking into buying solar panels to power their homes.
However, if you’re one of these individuals, some issues need to be considered before you buy your first batch of cells.
For starters, regardless of what kind of system you install, there are still significant costs involved with storing or distributing energy (for both your utility and yourself). Also, even with tax credits, installed solar systems can still be expensive.
Boosted solar power
An increase in global temperatures has caused the polar ice caps to melt, resulting in greater albedo, or reflection of sunlight, which reduces the amount of energy that reaches Earth’s surface.
However, clouds are another matter entirely – especially as they relate to electricity production. More open areas of cloud would mean more solar radiation reaching the earth for absorption
Cloud droplets act like glass beads in a foggy environment. When light passes through the air, it’s scattered by these tiny particles. Some of the scattered light makes its way back to your eye, but most are lost.
When enough of this scattered light creates a shadow, you see dark spots. A lot of this additional scattering is due to all those little droplets bouncing off of the water molecules in each spray of vapor when an aircraft represents overhead. What appears to be “cloud cover” isn’t necessarily darker than the sky; it just breaks up more easily.
Solar cells are becoming more efficient
When it comes to solar energy, we need efficiency. After all, if the process for generating electricity is inefficient, then that means less effective generation of power, which results in greater expense to your overall system. However, when your solar switch is efficiently working, it can generate power more quickly than you’re using it, allowing your grid to be cleaner and more efficient.
Some studies show that with appropriately sized systems, going from 15% efficiency to 20%, 25%, or 30% efficiency may mean enough extra electricity to justify the cost-effective installation of solar equipment. A lot depends on where you live and how much you use electric service.
But these numbers are significant enough to help reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to the clean air movement. Clean air is important because lung disease becomes increasingly prevalent as years go by. These diseases are primarily caused by smoking cigarettes. By having a few acres of land equipped with solar technology, you will significantly aid those efforts!
Solar materials are being developed
New solar cell compositions, coatings, and materials are emerging every year. Scientists are making improvements to existing technologies or coming up with new ways to make use of solar energy.
We have already seen some dramatic changes since 2011 when the solar switch first came onto the market. Since then, technology has continued to improve. By 2021, we can expect even more innovation to hit the market in terms of panel efficiency.
Although it is difficult to predict what will happen in the future, here’s a look at the top 10 trends that could fundamentally change how we produce electricity from sun rays starting in 2022.
These innovations could help reduce the cost of solar energy production, which is currently quite high. Or they could enhance its versatility, such as improving storage capabilities or making it less dependent upon wind power.
However, it must be noted that despite all these benefits, utility-scale solar energy still suffers from higher costs than traditional forms of energy production. It is also harder to implement into practice. Therefore, it may take much longer for small-scale solutions to reach rural areas than large-scale ones.
Here are all the exciting things scientists and engineers are working on right now for a better tomorrow packed into one short list.
Governments are putting more money into solar technology
With increased awareness of climate change, governments around the world are putting larger budgets toward research to fight against it. This overall trend is called “green funding” and starts with Germany’s federal government offering up to $2 billion over the next ten years for combating global warming.
Germany has committed billions of dollars to green energy development, including cars that run on water and electricity and tools that help people manage their risk from environmental disasters.
And in 2012, California passed the Energy Storage Initiative, which helps developers create battery storage systems at a competitive price. The state expects these technologies will become even more prevalent as grid reliability concerns and sustainability issues fuel the demand for improved power management.
In 2018, Australia announced a shift in focus toward renewable energies, marking the first time in history they have funded a project specifically designed to develop a fuel source.
Another notable movement to combat carbon emissions is the Paris Agreement signed by 114 countries in 2015. It sets goals for limiting greenhouse gas emissions worldwide through 2025.
PV prices are expected to decline further
The price of solar panels has been declining steadily over the past several years due to increased production volume. As panel manufacturers increase output, they reduce cost per unit as well as total manufacturing costs.
This brings down the overall cost of electricity generated by solar energy. A recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows that worldwide investment in renewable energy will outpace nuclear expansion for the first time in 2018.
It also predicts that although global investment in clean technology will rise last year, it will fall this year because of continuing uncertainty about tax breaks and tariffs on imported goods.
Taxes affect the economy, so if taxes decrease incentives to produce anything are reduced. This applies to both imports and exports. Raising tariffs means higher-priced products which put stress on the consumer.
However, all is not lost! There are a few things consumers can do to mitigate increasing costs. First, learn more about what you pay for and how to lower those bills. Second, support companies and groups dedicated to sustainability and climate change action. Third, purchase recycled products and donate to charity.
Finding ways to cut costs isn’t very fun, but it needs to be done to provide sustainable opportunities for growth.
