CHAPTER ONE: SOLAR ENERGY 101

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Non-renewable energy sources are those that will eventually be depleted. Unlike renewable sources, like solar and wind power, we cannot produce more non-renewable sources, making them a finite resource. The most common non-renewable sources are fossil fuels: oil, natural gas, and coal. Burning these resources releases harmful chemicals into the atmosphere and is a leading cause of climate change. As we move towards a cleaner future, it is important to find alternative energy sources that are renewable and will not damage the environment.

Despite the efforts of many nations to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, the demand for energy continues to rise globally. In fact, according to the Global Energy & CO2 Status Report of 2019, global energy consumption grew by 2.3% in 2018, driven by a strong global economy and higher heating and cooling needs in many parts of the world thus double the average rate of growth since 2010. Consequently and according to the MAHB, the world’s oil reserves will run out by 2052, natural gas by 2060 and coal by 2090, as displayed in figure one.

The world is heavily reliant on these fossil fuels for energy, and their depletion would have severe consequences. The good news is that there are alternative sources of energy that can be used to power the world. These include solar, wind, and hydraulic power. These alternative sources of energy are renewable, meaning they will never run out and are also more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels. Switching to these alternative sources of energy is essential for the survival of the human race.  

The technology of solar panels and green energy has soared in recent decades reaching high levels of innovation and efficiency, but the idea of harnessing the sun’s energy is not new at all. In fact, there is an extensive history of solar energy dating back to the 7th century B.C. and still has enormous potential for growth in the future. 

History has shown us that the sun’s power has always been an important energy source to humankind; in fact, the sun’s power was once utilized by ancient civilizations, like those in Greece who used magnifying glasses to convert sunlight into fire for religious purposes and setting ships on fire. Nowadays though - with decades worth of progress made - we have developed modern technologies that can harness and convert sunlight into a usable form of heat and electricity, powering not only homes and businesses but many countries around the world as well. 

 Adding to that, solar has been on quite the expansionary trajectory over the last decade. According to the SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Association), solar has experienced an average annual growth rate of 33% - as seen in figure two – due to falling prices and increasing installation volumes across markets worldwide.