Difference Between Solar Car And Electric Car
Categorized under Auto,Technology | Difference Between Solar Car and Electric Car
Global energy policies are becoming more and more entangled with three key issues, that is, the reduction of polluting emissions, the use of renewable resources, and the increase in energy efficiency. In the following context, the development of the electric vehicles or solar-powered electric vehicles is considered one of the most important lines of action. Indeed, the use of solar energy for charging electric vehicles provides some key opportunities related to global usage of these vehicles and their advantages in terms of energy conversion efficiency, or their ability to reduce emissions of air pollutants. Thereby, electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles and solar-powered electric vehicles are interpreted as a potential gamechanger towards more sustainable mobility and energy models.
Advantages Of Natural Gas
Out of all the fossil fuels, natural gas is the cleanest. It emits fewer amounts of toxic chemicals such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, and compared to other non-renewable electricity sources, natural gas produces half the carbon dioxide as coal and about a third less than oil, making it the gas option with the least amount of emissions.6
Natural gas is a more popular option for electric providers and homeowners across America. The clean-burning properties of natural gas have contributed to an increase in natural gas use for the electricity generation, as well as transportation fuel for fleet vehicles in the United States.7 According to the U.S. Census, about 48% of all U.S. homes use natural gas for heating, while natural gas electricity is used in 37% of homes.8
So, what about solar energy?
Do Household Items Use Dc Or Ac
The short answer is, both. The U.S. electric grid and the power flowing into your home are AC. As a result, most plug-in home appliances refrigerators, electric ovens, microwaves, and so on run on AC power
Batteries, however, use direct current: they have a positive and negative terminal and current always flows in the same direction between those points from the positive to negative terminals when theyre being discharged.
Because batteries work with DC, many of the electronics you use like your laptop and cell phone run on DC, as well.
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So Which Should You Choose
To power your home, the clear choice is solar energy . From affordable prices to environmental benefits on every front, from production to use, solar energy remains the top winner. In some states, however, solar energy is not as easily accessible. If you are in a state that only provides non-renewable energy options, natural gas is the way to go.
But of course, if you have the option, definitely go solar. After all, the sun is free and unlimited!
What Are The Primary Differences Between Solar Power And Hydropower
The similarities between hydroelectricity and solar energy are rather fundamental. After the construction and installation of the necessary machinery, both use 100% renewable sources to create electricity with absolutely zero carbon emissions. Outside of very dramatic circumstances, the earth will never run out of the water and sunlight required for energy generation.
When it comes to their differences, three prominent ones stand out:
- Location
- How they work
- How they affect the planet
The first two differences are quite stark, while the third is a bit more nuanced than youd imagine.
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Advantages Of Solar Energy
First and foremost, its free. We receive a constant supply of energy from the sun no drilling, no extracting and no fracking required. And with an average annual growth rate of 50%, solar energy is experiencing a major surge in popularity for three reasons:
As the popularity for solar energy grows, solar energy prices become more affordable and accessible. The average price to install solar fell more than 70% between 2010 and 2017, and the cost of wind power plunged 66% between 2009 and 2016.9 As the nation progresses toward cleaner energy, costs will likely go down even more.
What Is Solar Energy
It is the radiant bright light from the sun that is used by certain technologies, such as solar panels, in order to convert it from heat energy to electricity. It is one of the essential renewable energies that could generate heat and electricity efficiently. Physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerels discovery of the PV effect in 1839 led to the discovery of solar energy as well.
Following this, heat rays are concentrated as a fluid, which in turn creates steam to drive a turbine and generate electricity. Moreover, solar energy is an eco-friendly resource, which only helps the environment, and doesnt cause any toxicity to nature. Having that said, it doesnt produce any type of pollution, it is clean and a carbon-free approach.
On the other hand, there are five types of solar energy that are classified based on the mode of conversion and type of energy, namely, passive solar energy, active solar energy, solar thermal energy, photovoltaic solar power, concentrating solar power. Solar energy is the best way to save money and store since it is highly reliable energy.
However, speaking of which, its efficiency during cloudy and winter days is the least. In addition to that, due to installments of solar panels, it requires much larger space and initial expenditure.
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What Is The Difference Between Power And Energy
We often see people getting confused as to the difference between power and energy. The difference is distinct and actually quite simple and easy to understand.
Think of it this way. If a dam is holding back a lake full of water, the power rating of the dam is the rating of the generator. The energy rating of the dam is based off of the power rating AND ALSO the amount of water in the lake. Energy is accumulative, power is only an instantaneous rating.
In another example we can take a car with 100 horsepower. This car has 100 horsepower, but that doesnt tell us how far it will go, or how much energy it holds. Basically, this is the fuel capacity of the car. If it can run at 100 horsepower for 1 hour, that is 100 horsepower-hours worth of energy. If it can run at 100 horsepower for 10 hours, that is 1000 horsepower-hours worth of energy.
In the solar industry, the solar panels and inverter is comparable to the engine of the car, or the generator of the water dam. The amount of sun that shines on the panels, and for how long the sun shines on the panel, determines how much energy the system produces. For this reason, a solar system installed in Arizona will produce far more energy than a solar system installed in Montana, even if the power rating of the solar systems are exactly the same.
Terminology
Below are a few examples of the units used when referring to power and energy in the solar industry:
What Are Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are coal, oil, and gas. They are deposits created by the decomposition of ancient plants and animals. In the past, these materials were a readily available resource that we used to fuel the industrial revolution and subsequent human development.
Coal, oil, and gas are materials that give off a lot of energy when we burn them. We still generate most of our electricity using these resources. But the problem is that they are non-renewable resources. When they are gone, theyre gone, and the bad news is they are going fast. It gets worse too, but Ill get onto that.
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What Does This Mean For The Costs Of Home Solar Versus Mains Electricity
all this talk of energy costs is interesting, but it doesnt speak directly to the energy savings you can make as a homeowner, so lets take a look at that.
At an individual level, we cant compare solar energy vs. fossil fuels. Instead, we need to look at what youll save on your mains electricity costs by installing a home solar system. You work that out by working out the payoff period as follows:
Pay off period = cost of the system rebates ÷ annual energy savings
The average payoff period of a home solar installation in the US is eight years.
The average life of a home solar system in the US is twenty-five years.
So the average US home solar system produces free electricity for seventeen years.
I think thats pretty unequivocal. Home solar systems save you money. They help you, and they help the environment so that you can feel good about yourself and your wallet at the same time.
Is Solar Power Cheaper Than Coal And Other Fossil Fuels
Comparing the cost of various energy sources is far from simple. Government subsidies play a major role in shaping the growth potential for a new power source, which means that making an apples to apples comparison of the costs of solar energy vs. fossil fuels side-by-side is a complicated task.
G20 vs the U.S.: the fossil fuel paradox
The nations of the Group of Twenty may have agreed to begin phasing out fossil fuels in 2009 due to its inefficient and polluting qualities, but not every G20 member is following through on its word. According to Oil Change Internationals report, while the G20 makes up more than 85% of global GDP, these top economies are spending $452 billion every year to subsidize fossil fuels.
Curious to know who is the largest contributor of fossil fuel subsidies in the world? The answer is right here at home. The United States has continued to subsidize fossil fuels at a higher rate than any other nation in the world, even under the environmentally progressive Obama Administration. With fossil fuel advocates already lined up for the incoming Trump Administration, the next era of American energy will likely continue on its same course of heavy fossil fuel subsidization.
How energy subsidies play the biggest role
When we compare the cost of solar energy vs. fossil fuels, we have to factor in the relative subsidies that are keeping costs low. In the case of solar power, the Investment Tax Credit currently covers 26 percent of any U.S. solar installation.
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Lower Or Zero Co2 Emissions And Pollution
Im sure youve heard that the world is heating up, and this is a very bad thing indeed. If we dont do anything about it, sea levels will rise, and extreme weather will change our way of life. Global warming is no longer a matter of debate its a widely accepted fact across the entirety of the worlds scientific community. Forecasts are grim, and finding ways to deal with the causes of global warming is one of the most significant issues facing humanity today
When we burn fossil fuels, they release carbon dioxide , which is one of the leading causes of global warming. So changing our primary sources of energy generation away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is one of the worlds main priorities.
But theres a long way to go, as the diagram above shows. Coal, oil, and natural gas still form the backbone of our energy industry. However, its encouraging to note the rapid growth of other renewables, including solar power in 2019, the annual year-on-year increase in renewable energy consumption was 13.8%.
Rapid progress is being made as the technology driving renewable energy sources proves rapidly, and solar power is at the leading edge of these technological advances.
Hang on, Ive heard that solar power also involves CO2 emissions?
Critics of renewable resources such as solar power point out that they cause CO2 emissions and use nonrenewable resources. And, guess what, its true.
How Do Photovoltaics Work
These individual units are comprised of semiconductor material with excitable electrons on their exposed upper surfaces. The upper part of a photovoltaic cell is negatively charged as it contains extra electrons, while the bottom is positively charged as it has missing electrons.
When sunlight touches a solar panel, electrons on its negatively charged surface are knocked loose and move across the cell towards the positively charged end, creating an electrical current. The electricity generated is a direct current that can then be directed to an inverter unit for conversion to a useful alternating current that can power various electrical appliances. Learn more about how photovoltaics work.
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Our Comparison Of Solar Power And Hydropower
Ultimately, both renewable energy methods benefit the planet because they dont create carbon emissions or any other environmental degradation. They are remarkably clean and efficient, often needing very little in the way of regular maintenance or repair.
Sure, were biased toward solar power, but we also believe that hydropower is a very successful way to create electricity that doesnt burn fossil fuels or pollute our atmosphere with hydrocarbons.
What Are We Doing To Bring More Solar Power Onto The Grid
National Grid ESO is preparing Britains electricity system to be able to run on purely zero-carbon electricity by 2025 ready to accommodate whatever quantity of renewable electricity, including solar power, is being generated.
In order to bring ever increasing amounts of renewable energy onto the grid, and keep costs down for customers, theyre working to overcome two intertwined challenges: ensuring that demand for power is balanced by electricity generated and updating the foundations of the electricity system. Electricity has historically relied on fossil fuels, so theyre designing new approaches and incorporating new technologies.
In a recent successful test, as part of the Power Potential project, the inverters at a solar plant were upgraded so that, on top of providing power during the sunshine of the day, the plant could also provide a use at night time, smoothing fluctuations in voltage and keep the grid stable.
Solar power also plays a role in providing frequency response, one of the balancing tools that the ESO uses to keep the electricity system in balance.
A recent trial saw a contract made up entirely of domestic users, allowing them to get paid to export their excess energy to the grid and help to balance supply and demand with cleaner, decentralised power at the same time.
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How Does Solar Power Work
Solar power works by converting energy from the sun into power. There are two forms of energy generated from the sun for our use electricity and heat.
Both are generated through the use of solar panels, which range in size from residential rooftops to solar farms stretching over acres of rural land.
Factors That Affect The Cost Of Regular Electricity
Regular electricity prices basically are a clear reflection of the cost to finance, build, operate, and maintain power plants as well as the complex system of power distribution lines. Electricity must be generated and transmitted through equipment that requires maintenance and fuel costs. Some for-profits utilities further include a financial return for shareholders and owners in their electricity prices. The cost of electricity is determined by various factors, some large, some small. The main factors that affect your costs for electricity include:
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What About Home Storage
Home storage batteries connected to solar use the same general model. DC batteries run power through an inverter to convert it to AC. AC batteries on the market simply have a built-in inverter that lets them convert DC directly into AC.
Understanding the differences between AC and DC is important in the solar industry. Not only is it essential to understanding how a solar array works and how its designed, this knowledge can also help you educate customers and ultimately build trust during the sales process.
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Step : The Cells Produce Electrical Current
Within each solar cell is a thin semiconductor wafer made from two layers of silicon. One layer is positively charged, and the other negatively charged, forming an electric field. When light energy from the sun strikes a photovoltaic solar cell, it energizes the cell and causes electrons to come loose from atoms within the semiconductor wafer. Those loose electrons are set into motion by the electric field surrounding the wafer, and this motion creates an electrical current.
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What Are Solar Cars
Solar cars are electric vehicles powered completely or partially by direct solar energy. Solar vehicles are a happy union of solar power and electric vehicles and the two technologies magnify the effects of each other because the batteries in EVs can store the clean energy produced by the solar panels. Solar cars use an array of photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into usable electric energy. Solar cell technology exhibits significant advantages over traditional fuel-based energy sources, such as free energy source, zero emission, no noise and versatility. One alternative is to construct solar powered charging stations in parking lots to produce electric power that goes into the electric power grid, and EVs can be powered by solar and wind energy. The solar power industry is one of the fastest growing industries in America. However, the future of using solar energy to power transport vehicles may still be a little hazy because of the practical difficulties involve in converting ordinary cars into solar cars.
Solar Power Cost Vs Regular Electricity Cost
In this age, people are almost entirely dependent on electricity. Electricity powers a majority of systems in residential and commercial settings. Solar power is a promising source of energy that has gained considerable popularity thanks to its cost-cutting ability and environmental-friendly characteristics. But with so many trendy investment opportunities coming up, sometimes it can be hard to determine if something is really going to help you save tons of money. When considering whether to use regular electricity or solar power, one of the main factors to take into account is the cost. This article shows how the cost of solar stacks against electricity and why theres an increasing acceptance of solar power systems.
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