Solar energy has many benefits that make it one of the most promising. Renewable, non-polluting and available throughout the planet, it contributes to sustainable development and the generation of employment in the areas where it is implemented.
SOLAR PLATES: A SOLUTION TO STOP AIR POLLUTION
It is this post we see measures, forecasts and limitations of what could be the most effective solution to combat pollution. Renewable energies are penetrating deeper and deeper into our society and generating new investments thanks to their contribution to improving the quality of the air we breathe.
The growth of Spanish cities in recent decades has made 70% of the population reside in them today. This growth has been accompanied since the 90s by a considerable growth in the CO2 emissions of our country. Not in vain, Spain is currently ranked 62 in countries with the worst pollution index in the world, ahead of Ireland, Portugal or even the United States and Canada. In this same ranking, countries such as Russia, Malta or England have higher rates of pollution than ours.
Currently, pollution is a serious public health problem that causes about 7 million premature deaths a year. It is also the cause of multiple diseases in the long term and a health cost of 3,600 million euros per year.
WHAT DOES THE EUROPEAN UNION PROPOSE?
One of the proposals of the EU is to progressively reduce the emissions of CO2 and other polluting gases until reaching total decarbonization by 2050. In this scenario, renewable energies, and especially solar energy, play a very important role.
The bet of Brussels is to substitute dirty energies such as coal and gas for clean energies that eliminate any polluting emissions. These transformations would not only be beneficial for health, but also for the economy, since renewables can lead to a reduction in energy production costs of up to 85%, which would be added to the savings in health costs mentioned above.
It is about using clean, abundant and inexhaustible resources to reduce the impact of the greenhouse effect and climate change.
SOLAR PLATES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST POLLUTION
A solar installation of 100Kw can prevent the emission of more than 2000 tons of CO2 in its 25 years of useful life.
The results are encouraging. In recent years, there has been a reduction of 3.3% in greenhouse gas emissions, a reduction that coincides with an increase of 42% during the period from 2005 to 2016 in the consumption of renewable energy.
In this increase, photovoltaic solar energy is in the lead, being the preferred option for those citizens who have made the transition to renewable energy. It is followed by wind energy and finally biomass, whose source are organic materials of different origin.
The increase in the use of renewable energies is due, to a large extent, to technological development, which has allowed a notable reduction in prices in this sector and an increase in investment in clean energy. It is expected that this trend will continue during 2020.
HOW DOES THE PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF AIR WE BREATHE?
Solar energy is a source of renewable energy at its best.
By using an inexhaustible source of energy such as the sun, photovoltaic equipment avoids the use of fossil fuels such as coal, oil or gas, which are responsible for the majority of emissions of harmful gases harmful to the atmosphere. In other words, solar energy does not directly improve air quality, but avoids using other types of sources that do.
We can avoid the use of polluting materials by changing them by solar panels that will provide us with the energy we need at a lower cost, in the long term, and improving not only the air quality, but also our quality of life.
– Current limitations on solar energy
Despite all the advances that have been achieved in recent years in the field of renewables, the reality is that there are still a number of technological limitations, especially with respect to existing methods of energy storage.
To explain this, let’s take solar energy as an example. It is impossible to have sunlight 24 hours a day, nor 365 days a year, so it is necessary to resort to a battery system that accumulates this energy for times when the solar panels do not produce energy. The problem is that these batteries are not yet adapted for the storage of large amounts of energy, so in some cases are insufficient to cover all electrical needs.
The quality of the air we breathe is one of the problems that most concern the UN. Not in vain, was the main theme of the World Environment Day, which was held on June 5 in Beijing (China).
The harsh reality is that, if we do not manage to significantly slow down pollution, climate change and the hole in the ozone layer, the consequences, according to experts, are the possible uninhabitability of the Earth by around 2050. An unfortunate future that we could avoid introducing renewable energies in our lives. The environment will thank you and our long-term pocket also.
Although these types of energies favor the improvement of environmental problems, renewables are not the only solution. It is necessary to start changing the domestic and individual habits, avoiding the use of plastic products or sprays that emit noxious gases, as well as raising awareness of the need to recycle and use private transport with moderation.
If you are concerned about the environment and want to contribute to its improvement, it is time for you to switch to photovoltaic self-consumption. In Energy Change we are specialists in photovoltaic solar energy. Ask us for a quote without commitment and advice on the project you have in mind. You can contact us through our website or in any of our branches throughout the Spanish territory.
