Author: matt

Solar farming has been the most recent addition to venture capitalists and mid-range investors worldwide as the demand for the novel ’solar cash crop’ surges around the world. In the United States, solar farming is gaining massive ground to lure landowners and businesspersons alike with its lucrative returns on investments, growing demand, and generous tax breaks. Summing up, opportunities in cheap and clean energy production would increase the productivity and profits manyfold and put an end to a global reliance on fossil fuels i.e., 85% for energy production and consumption.

Solar farming is a great alternative to rapidly depleting fossil fuels, which are record high in demand and costs as of 2022. Despite upfront costs and licensing discrepancies, solar farming is more profitable for countryside businesses, such as agricultural farming and many other fixed-land investments.

Types of Solar Farming

Solar panels are primarily categorized into mono- and polycrystalline solar cells. Both can be used for commercial as well as residential purposes with slight variations in efficiency output. In areas where sunlight is more intense, polycrystalline will deliver output as good as monocrystalline, which is more efficient in relatively colder terrains with lesser sunlight hours.

Photovoltaic panels for homes are normally mounted on rooftops, hence termed rooftop panels. These panels are installed on roofs with inclined slopes, such as homes, offices, or schools, and require sturdy bolted racking to hold panels together in intense winds and storms.

Additionally, ground-mounted paneling is a widely employed method for multivariate applications. Ground mounting is feasible for homes, offices, and industries, as well as for wide-scale solar farming purposes. They are less costly and incur minimal repairing costs, only if you have adequate land free of obstructions to install them. Large-scale solar farming is done by erecting panels on vast swathes of land through frame mounts, pole mounts, or on canopies.

Commercial Solar Farming

Commercial solar farming could either be community- or utility-scale. The utility-scale solar farms are large-scale and sell the energy produced to power distribution companies or directly to industrial consumers. The average production capacity of utility-scale farms ranges from 1MW to 1000MW and more. In contrast, community-based farming serves a limited population, mainly residential customers with power generation capacity between a few KWs to 5MW.

According to GTM Research in 2021, the average land required to farm solar energy is 6 – 8 acres per megawatt. The land requirements may vary accordingly with the panel types and applications of usage. Moreover, sufficient space must be left alone between the panels for hassle-free maintenance and replacement.

Average Costs Required for a Solar Farm

Solar farms only incur upfront costs which include PV panels, inverters, transmission cables, inverters, storage batteries, and land acquirement. For landowners, the average installation costs sum up to not more than $ 1 USD per watt. If you are leasing the land, the final costs would depend on local land prices, distance from consumers, and various other technicalities, including tax status, local energy prices, and terrain.

In the United States, multiple constituencies offer lucrative incentives to solar farmers with state-sponsored subsidized loans and insurance for renewable energy businesses. In the remaining states, renewable energy regulations are yet to be implemented. Moreover, rooftop solar systems for residential purposes are quite expensive compared with farmed solar energy, which is why consumers prefer grid-based reliable energy compared to standalone solar power. As of 2022, solar power amount to less than half the average production capacity per KWh compared to fossil fuels, which include coal, oil, and natural gas.

Market Cap

Solar farming is a rather novel power generation business with rapid extensions and investments abound, alongside ripe long-term benefits and mouthwatering return on investments. Plus, the maintenance costs are extremely low. An average solar farmer needs to find a PV panel and batteries supplier from China or wherever it will cost the lowest, then hunt for renewable energy loans, procure a suitable land on lease, and get going after the paperwork is completed.

The ROI of an average 5 – 10 MW solar plant is anywhere between 6 to 8 years, leaving behind 12 – 15 years in pure profits. On average, a 10MW solar farm would generate between $50,000 and $60,000 in profits per annum.

The producers can then sell this solar energy in the market to solar generation companies, distribution companies, and industries, as well as open wholesale markets via long-term or short-term distribution agreements.

Ground-mounted solar panels are in many ways better structured and more efficient than the predominant urban rooftop solar panels. Floor-mounted panels are generally put to use in rural and suburban settings where ground space is amply available for use. However, ground-mounted solar panels systems can be installed anywhere where there’s enough ground space to accommodate them; in the cities as well.

In practice, ground-mount solar systems are positioned on the ground instead of the rooftops and are comparatively well manageable and more efficient throughout their lifecycle. For their closeness to the ground, they incur slighter than usual power losses and can be used for multiple other purposes i.e., agriculture, layering water reservoirs to prevent evaporation, and for cattle farming as well.

In contrast, Rooftop solar panels offer limited capacity in power generation and available space for future extensions. Plus, rooftop PV panels are prone to lightning strikes more often than ground-mounted systems. Another great benefit lies in the ease of installation for ground-mounted panels, as they do not require extensive bolted racking which involves drilling multiple unnecessary holes on rooftops. If your backyard is spacious enough to lodge the spread-out panels, ground mounting is a much better solution.

Some pivotal benefits of ground-mounted panels include:

Efficiency

Ground-mounted solar panels are good at producing more power per square foot than rooftop PV cells. With equally similar power ratings, ground-mounted systems deliver power at around a 22% efficiency ratio to rooftop solar panels that have about 18-19% efficiency. In addition, ground-mounted panels are easier to automate and extend their energy production capacity because of the availability of space.

The efficiency of the solar energy system increases when there’s lesser resistance among the panel components. For rooftop panels, the heat island impact and concentrated heating from the rooftops and adjacent buildings make solar panels less efficient. Ground-mounted panels, however, are in closer proximity to the ground. The adequate air passage beneath the panels allows for consistent cooling throughout the day, keeping resistance phenomenon and losses at bay.

Bad Drilling! No More

Solar panels on rooftops require robust fastening to withstand strong wind currents and torrential rainfalls. Solar panels installed on floors require a little of it. Ground-mounted solar panels require four times slighter fastening than rooftop panels do. Also, if the racking is drilled at the wrong place on a rooftop, one must fill it in with concrete to prevent leakage later, incurring further damages. For a ground-mounted system, a wrongly drilled hole won’t be a problem at all. Leave it alone and it won’t seep in through the corridor.

Open to Extensions

With burgeoning energy prices, the ever-increasing demand for electricity, and global climatic change, your energy demand is likely to rise with time. Ground-mounted setup delivers room for extensions when it is required. Unlike limited space available on rooftops, backyard solar panels offer adequacy to add more panels when needed.

When installing the system in the backyard, leave some space open for further expansions in the future. This provides users the leverage to extend their production accordingly to the increased demand for electricity.

Easily Repaired and Replaced

Before thinking of a replacement strategy, make sure that your ground-mounted solar panels are placed at a perfect spot that is not shaded by trees and adjacent buildings. The best thing about floor-based panels is that they invite minimal repairing costs with effortless replacement when required.

Rooftop solar systems will require professional machinery to add or replace panels from high above the ground level. Whereas in floor-mounted systems, simply unbolt the panels and move them away or replace the damaged one with another, without or with minimal professional support.

Also, when rooftop panels are replaced in another location, all the drilled holes must be filled up to prevent leakages. In the ground-based installation, the drilled marks can be left alone.

The Price Factor

You’ve heard it a lot! The price factor is important when installing a standalone solar system in your backyard or on the rooftops. The upfront costs are higher in backyard panels if you are required to lay a concreted base below the system.

Else, they are highly profitable in the long term. The payback costs of ground-mounted panels are covered a year or two ahead of the expected return on investments for rooftop systems. Plus, the efficiency is a few percent higher than rooftop solar panels, which helps in harnessing more energy. With tracking systems added to the equation, these solar systems will add a lot more to your energy bucket with similar installed capacity.

Many governments worldwide, especially in the USA and Europe offer generous tax breaks and incentives if you are meeting the energy production goals set by the government. To get the best out of your solar setup, look up incentive schemes before installing your ground-mounted solar system.

Conclusion

Solar energy is the cleanest and possibly the cheapest source of energy in the 21^st century. With consistent improvements in technology and design alongside its growing market, consumers have been looking for ways to harness more solar energy with slighter one-time costs. Of all, ground-mounted solar panels are becoming the top-priority choices for agricultural and residential purposes as it incorporates minimal installation costs and provides more efficient power production compared with rooftop solar systems. Likewise, backyard solar panels offer versatile applications by trapping the sun rays to produce clean and green energy and shade the surface below to rear livestock and do agribusiness in the countryside.

Renewables are trendy and accessible to pretty much everyone; solar power is the best of them all. Solar panels coupled with ever-improving batteries and inverter systems are now counted as the cheapest and most efficient clean and green energy resource of the 21^st century. With a growing market and more people joining the green energy movement, solar backup generator technology has been put at the forefront to meet global energy demands free from soot-emitting fossil fuels.

What’s in it for a residential consumer? Well, the advantages of having a solar rooftop or ground-mounted system are abounding. The United States is championing the solar revolution with generous VAT and sales tax exemptions for both the sellers and end-users. For industries, governments worldwide are pulling off huge tax burdens with lucrative tax breaks, subsidies, and investment returns for the most efficient solar energy producers. In the past two decades, solar energy has touched 25% efficiency in power generation compared with 10 – 20% at most for fossil fuels i.e., oil, natural gas, or coal. More innovations are yet to be tested commercially. Of all, solar generators are the most recent portable solutions to power up almost anything with exceptional compactness and reliability.

What are Solar Generators

Solar generators are quiet and sophisticated when compared with their fossil-powered counterparts. Solar backup generators do not require alternators or a hefty combustion engine. Instead, they utilize solar power via removable panels, batteries, DC-AC inverters, charge controllers, and voltage regulators to deliver adequate energy to get going. Solar generators, as did gas generators deliver backup power when it’s needed most. The output power is measured in kilowatt-hours (or KWh), with specialized sockets and an output voltage that facilitates running necessary electrical appliances from light bulbs to laptops for hours.

Solar backup generators are extremely lightweight with a compact all-in-one design. Carry it anywhere, on a trip to the wilderness, when camping on the lake, or whenever you are out of conventional power. The benefits outcast whopping upfront costs, which are a couple of thousand dollars at least for a 1KWh backup generator (with or without solar panels sometimes). The battery selection is crucial when picking a solar backup generator. Here’s what you need to know before picking the best solar backup generator.

How Do Solar Backup Generators Work?

Solar generators work differently than traditional generators that run on gas or other biofuels. The following steps complete the process from trapping solar rays to converting them into workable AC power.

1. Solar energy is harnessed by silicone crystalline panels which cause those particles to charge electrostatically.
2. These charged particles pass through charge controllers to regulate incoming voltage and then store this controlled charge into batteries as DC voltage.
3. The DC voltage is then sent to the inverter which converts 12V DC to AC voltage and steps up converted AC voltage via integrated step-up transformers inside the inverter casing.
4. On the output end, the AC energy is utilized via power cords and AC outlets for multipurpose consumption.

How to Pick the Best Solar Backup Generator?

A solar generator is a soundless powerhouse comprising multiple parts in it. All these parts are compactly stored in a single housing to enable hassle-free transferability. For their small size and non-movable parts, solar generators do not require maintenance or parts replacements for years.

If you are a hop-around traveler, a small-sized small solar generator with a storage capacity of 1000 Wh is quite convenient to light up a good bulb for a few days. A 1000 Wh solar generator effortlessly charges multiple gadgets, such as smartphones, media players, flashlights, and laptops for an entire weekend.

For slightly heavyweight usage, medium-sized solar generators are the best replacements. They are a bit heftier than weekend-purpose small-sized solar backup generators. Weighing between 10kg to 40kg, the power storage capacity of their integrated batteries ranges from 1KWh to 2.5KWh. These generators work great for outdoor as well as indoor usage. A good mid-sized generator will luminate 3- 5 light bulbs or an entire RV equipment for a night. With larger panels together with swift charging capacity, a 2000Wh solar generator takes 7 – 9 hours to charge fully during the daytime.

Introduction

Tesla Inc. has always been a forerunner in risky businesses; speak of cryptocurrency or reusable space shuttles. With its genius boss and peoples’ love for his abilities, Tesla manages to win the hearts and pockets of consumers with their latest technology every now and then. The most recent ones have been Tesla solar roofs launched in 2019, which would test the company’s successful record of unveiling workable innovations and delivering customers with utmost ecstasy whilst using these technologies.

What is a Tesla Solar Roof?

Tesla Solar Roof V3 is the most recent update regarding the company’s ambitious solar generation projects. The latest V3 roof tiles have been bigger, sturdier, and more aesthetic than the previous two versions. According to Tesla, these solar roofs will blend in beautifully with any house alongside 24/7 outage protection through its Powerwall battery and software-integrated Tesla inverters. Also, Tesla’s tile warranty is 25 years, which means that the roofs will last for almost three decades.

The tiling aesthetics are carefully considered to blend in with residential buildings, according to Tesla’s official website. Before confirming an order, Tesla says they will perform 3D modeling to meet consumers’ custom design needs. The installation is offered by Tesla professionals in the quickest time possible.

Else, there are many other claims that may make you order Tesla solar roofs at this very moment. Let’s dig in deeper to find out what is in stores from Tesla Solar Tiles to residential consumers.

Tesla Solar Roof vs Solar Panels

Is it worth pre-ordering a $60,000-strong untested technology? The answer could swing either way. If you have been determining costs and output efficiency with a Tesla calculator, it’s a big YES. If you are a safe runner or a test-before-commit type, it could be MAYBE! or a flat NO. Given Tesla’s previous claims regarding future cars, rockets, or sometimes the dogecoins, Elon Musk would surely lift it up to Mars, believe it.

Is it worth it for an average American household? Maybe not. The introductory price is way too expensive, possibly unaffordable for pretty much anyone, unless you own a mansion with a good business, at least. Compared to that, solar panels are for everyone. Buy them readily, install them on a rooftop and get going. They are cheaper, though not as handsome as a Tesla solar tile, and are time-tested, though fragile and less efficient sometimes.

Practicality

Tesla roofs are designed for homes with a roof pitch ratio from 2:12 to 24:12, which is somewhere around 14 degrees in slope. The design ratio implies that Tesla is not for flat rooftops. However, solar panels are for everywhere, thanks to their racking system which helps them be placed anywhere. If in any way, Tesla comes up with flat paneling, it might damage internal wiring, cause leakages, and whatnot. Presently, solar panels score more in practicality analysis than innovative Tesla Solar Roofs.

Pricing

Tesla solar roofs cost unbelievably high. Given the probable efficiency rate these tiles would offer and ambiguities regarding their inclusion in the tax credit scheme, Tesla tiles will generate solar energy at $6 per watt. The price per watt (PPW) is whopping compared with equally rated solar panels. The solar panels with competitive price per watt would cost half the amount Tesla promises, which leaves us to the final argument, which is aesthetics.

Aesthetics

Tesla solar roofs score more in aesthetics than any solar panel manufacturer ever thinks of. The purpose-built solar tiles with custom-picked 3D designs are no match to analogous solar panel designs. With good looks come sturdiness, at least for Tesla. Also, Tesla solar tiles are reportedly the most robust solar panels that ever got laid on rooftops. These tiles are many times stronger and more beautiful than run-of-mill solar panels. If you are an aesthetic with an excess of $30,000, pre-book Tesla Solar Tiles now with a $1000 advance money. If you aren’t that appearance-savvy, stick with the solar panels.

Conclusion

Tesla solar tiles have had several delays regarding design, production, and launching issues. With more delays on cards, it is quite risky to pre-order without evidence of practicality. Still, Tesla Solar Panels are the future of better-integrated solar technology that won’t look ugly or a bit odd when installed on residential rooftops. With multivariance in coloring, design, and technology, Tesla Solar Panels are bound to succeed, definitely in the future if not this year.

Solar technology harnesses energy from sunbeams through its silicone-based crystalline wafers or panels. These silicon panels produce electrostatic charge which gets stored in batteries and then inverted to AC voltage to power home-based and industrial appliances i.e., bulbs, juicers, air conditioners, and heating units. Also, solar panels are reliable and more efficient than fuel-backed power sources for backup energy. In addition, solar power is available in unlimited capacity with the average lifetime of a residential-purpose system up to 25 years.

Solar systems work great for standalone power generation as well as for backup energy production. For homeowners, solar electricity is a clean solution with long-term returns on investments. Usually, the solar panels are wired to electricity mains at home as a backup energy source alongside an on-grid power system. On average, hybrid-mode solar systems save up to 60% on electricity bills for common households. The upfront system procurement costs are covered within 5 to 8 years with additional 10 – 15 years in pure profits.

Types of Solar Systems for Homes

For homeowners, solar systems can be installed on rooftops or on the ground. The ground-mounted solar systems are relatively easier to install, and their power generation capacity can be extended quite effortlessly compared with rooftop systems. However, they cover unnecessary space which may possibly be utilized elsewhere. Ground-mounted solar systems are more lucrative for solar farming and spacious farmhouses where space isn’t an issue. For urban flats and city homes, rooftops are the best choice to go for. Rooftop-mounted solar systems for homes may include additional costs in repairs and replacements than ground-based systems.

How Solar Panels Increase Home Value?

Solar panels have been an important influence on the American real estate price charts. An average American house with a 6KW solar system is likely to be sold for an additional $35,000. The value increases with larger properties that have heftier solar panels installed on them. Also, solar panels were found to increase the total worth of an average American house by 4 – 5% of its original price, according to a government study in 2020.

There are multiple other factors that also determine how much your house would cost if a solar system were installed on it. These circumstances include:

• The total output of the system and the size of the property. A small-sized flat would need between 2 – 3 KW solar system compared to a mansion-scale villa that would require anywhere between 6 – 12 KW solar system to meet ends. The home value and profit are thus directly proportional to the total kilowatts the solar system produces and the size of the property.
• Most state governments in the USA give tax breaks and free credits to efficient solar consumers. The state-sponsored incentives make a residential solar installation more worth it. But, in a few other states, tax breaks and subsidies do not bear many benefits. If your home is located in a subsidized locality, your house would be worth more than in a non-subsidized one. Do check first-hand whether your state provides tax-free grants on the property for installing solar panels.
• Solar prices also contribute a greater deal in determining the worth of a house with a solar system. If solar panels are cheaper and more accessible in your locality, the returns would be greater when added to the house’s net worth.
• Geography sucks! But for the deprived and destitute. If your home is located in a well-established sector, an integrated solar power unit would be far more valuable given the social sensibility and chic perceptions regarding renewables. A buyer with ample money would happily spill a few more guards to buy a carbon-neutral, tax-free house than a traditional one.

Conclusion

Homebuyers are more open to housing deals that include renewable backups. A house with a backup solar system will cut down about 50 – 70% in electricity bills alongside complete tax exemptions for a lifetime in the bulk of the states. For example, Arizona, Texas, Connecticut, and many other states in the USA exempt property taxes for homes with solar systems installed on them. The remaining states also tax-free homes with solar panels from 5 to 25 years. In addition, all American houses are qualified for the federal solar tax credit with low-interest and sometimes interest-free loans to encourage domestic users to install off-grid or integrated hybrid solar systems for their homes.

Commercial Solar panels have been the most sought-after alternative sources of energy, which are clean, cheap, and heavily incentivized with tax exemptions by various governments and organizations worldwide. With rising energy demands and lesser avenues to meet national demand and supply curves, governments worldwide have been encouraging citizens and industries to switch to cheap and readily available solar energy.

Fundamentally, solar panels are made with silicon wafers cascaded via electrical conductors and coupled with batteries to harness the ever-available solar rays into clean and green electricity. In scientific terms, the difference between residential and commercial solar panels is none. However, the cascading ratio, arrangement of PV cells, size, colour, and price tags may vary accordingly with the panel type.

Principally, there are only two key arrangements considered in photovoltaic solar panels at the production stage, and both of them work identically for commercial as well as residential consumers. The monocrystalline panels are made by cutting a single wafer cell into several blocks and are characterized by blackish material. Also, monocrystalline panels have greater efficiency than their counterparts, which are polycrystalline solar panels. These bluish panels are made by combining multiple silicon crystals and then moulded into panel casing. Polycrystalline panels are a little less efficient than monocrystalline solar panels because of impurities. Practically, mono-cells are 30% more efficient than polycrystalline cells, and hence, more costly.

Solar Panels vs. Residential Panels

Both the mono- and polycrystalline panels can be utilized for residential as well as commercial purposes. The primary difference between the two is size and aesthetics. Residential buildings have constricted roof spacings, and a bit tilted sometimes, which makes it harder to install hefty panels on those rooftops. In contrast, commercial buildings have spacious and typically flat rooftops, making it easier to accommodate bigger panels quite comfortably.

Aesthetics

The aesthetics have also been an important contributor towards choosing the panel type. Residential panels could only be bluish or plain black and both the combinations fit perfectly with residential buildings without ruining the surrounding prettiness. The commercial panels might be bluish, pitch black, silvery, or plain white, no rules barred. For commercial-purpose solar panels, the available space is generally larger, which allows for bigger panels to fit easily with the available space. Also, commercial panels are taller than their residential counterparts and harness more solar energy.

Dimensions

Residential solar panels are compact in size, measuring around 65 x 39 inches for a standard 72-cell single panel. Besides, there are many other panel types made for suburban rooftops, including 60-cell and 66-cell intermediate varieties according to the rooftop dimensions and energy requirements. Commercial panels have bigger dimensions, generally comprising 96-cell grading to produce more energy without increasing the number of PV units. The dimensions for commercial-purpose PV cells are normally around 78 x 39 inches.

Fitting Methods

The standard PV-cell installation is done with bolted racking method, which is applied by nearly all the solar panel installation companies worldwide. Bolted racking is convenient, easily accessible for servicing, and time-saving for installing PV cells on any surface. However, before installing the bolted racking, check if the building could sustain the method. Commercial buildings have flat surfaces, making installation easier and servicing hassle-free, whereas residential buildings often have slopy roofs or limited space to house panels immaculately. To get rid of this challenge, solar installation companies often employ penetrating racking to mount panels on houses.

Cost Breakdown

The panel-wise costs are always greater for a commercial setup. As commercial panels are bigger in size, they will always be expensive with their superior energy production capacity than the residential ones. Still, users usually make payments for panels’ cost per Watt they consume. Categorically, the cost factor does not make a difference if you are paying for estimated watts. A 3KW commercial panel will cost the same as for a residential one with similar specs.

Conclusion

Commercial and residential panels are interchangeable terms if the size is not an issue. For their bigger size, a standard 96-cell commercial solar panel produces 20% more energy than a 72-cell residential panel. In theory, both produce the same amount of energy per square foot with an equal efficiency ratio alongside other notable dynamics. The important difference between both panel types is the rooftop symmetry on which they are being installed and the incentives being offered by the government on each of the panel types. If the government is incentivizing residential panels with rebates and tax breaks, go for them. If it’s the other way round and looks don’t matter for you, go for commercial panels to secure the best deal.

The comparison of fossil fuels with renewables has been a hot debate for decades. Comparatively, renewables are newcomers compared with fossil fuels in energy production. Fossil fuels, however, have revolutionized the world with unprecedented briskness in the late 19^th and throughout the 20^th and 21^st centuries as well. In solar energy production, fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil have had a pivotal role with over 85% of the global share in commutation, production, and distribution of goods and services.

In contrast, renewables still contribute a slight proportion to global energy demands. Solar technology is the latest addition to renewables with a little more than 3% of the global energy mix as of 2019. It is expected to increase up to 10% by 2030, thanks to the tax reforms, nationwide subsidies on photovoltaic production and installation, and generous tax rebates offered for research and development and consumption of solar energy.

Future Projections of Solar vs Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are likely to remain the major sources of energy for the next few decades, at least. The sprawling demand for oil, gas, and coal is because of the fact that renewables such as solar and wind-powered energy are still evolving to grow into more efficient and cost-effective sources of energy compared with readily available cheap fossil fuels with efficient supply chains.

The exponential success of solar energy is because of its capacity to harness unlimited energy supply from the sun. Also, solar energy is getting cheaper and more efficient every year alongside the governments and worldwide organizations merrily encouraging citizens to shift to clean and green energy with tax breaks and soft loans.

At various international summits for climate change including Paris Conference and COP26, world leaders have pledged to cut carbon emissions to half or more by 2035 and promote renewable sources of energy, including solar to keep up with global power consumption. These plans also include subsidizing PV unit manufacturers and end consumers and incentivizing efficiency-oriented solar energy production alongside hydel and wind energy production to fill the gap between fossil fuels and renewable sources of energy.

Cost Analysis

Coal is the cheapest energy source with approximately $0.05/KWh average power output, followed by oil and natural gas. Meanwhile, solar energy would only cost about $0.03/KWh with its present-day efficiency rate of 18-20%. With more improvements in technology and innovations in the queue, the figure is likely to halve or lesser in the upcoming years.

Solar energy incorporates high one-time costs, including PV solar panels, batteries, inverters, cables, and installation racks, but the long-term benefits outweigh upfront costs by a wide range. Moreover, installing a rooftop or ground-mounted solar system would cut down energy costs by about 60 – 70% for an average residential consumer. If you own an electric car, the compounded savings would be enormous.

On the contrary, fossil fuel prices are on the hike since the pandemic and are still mounting amid the looming political crises in Eastern Europe and the Arab world, which are the largest producers and exporters of oil and natural gas worldwide.

Accessibility

Both solar and fossil fuels are accessible everywhere from the dead sea to the Himalayas and the farthest mountain ranges in Alaska. Still, the transportation costs of fossil fuels are highest as it requires reliable supply chains and an efficient network for uninterrupted trade, significantly raising costs for end-users. On the contrary, solar energy only requires one-time installation. Solar energy is available in unlimited supply for most hours of the day. In the long term, fossil fuels will become more costly when these reserves reach the depletion phase.

Conclusion

Fossil fuels were the primary drivers of an astonishing global economic expansion in the 20^th century and are continuing well into the 21^st century. Fossil fuels, apart from their massive carbon footprints, have been major components of revolutionary transformations around the globe. Amid the phenomenal changes fossil fuels contributed to humanity, these fuels have been major stimulants of ozone layer depletion, global warming, and decimation of natural habitats.

The alternatives such as solar power generation and e-technology are presently held as the future technology as the world transforms its energy needs from replenishable oil, natural gas, and coal reserves to non-depletable natural resources. Of them all, solar energy is the best alternative of all the renewable means and has the potential to tend to global needs from powering residential buildings to commercial power plants and automobiles.