The sustainability of planet earth is dependent on the harmonious co-existence of human-kind with the earth. An electricity solution built on consumption of fossil fuels and other non-renewables, is a depletion model which is not sustainable. Are there many jurisdictions around the globe that are harnessing solar renewables in a robust way ? Which are the most notable of these ?
Solar energy can be used through two main technologies: photovoltaics and thermal power. Both of them need some back-up for providing energy 24 hours. Such a back-up can be based on fossil fuels, batteries or renewable energies (wind, biomass, etc.). I don`t know if there are territories fully (or majority) solar but some have important percentages of it. In Ecuador, there is the Galapagos province located in the Pacific Ocean where sustainable energy is an issue and there are some efforts to get the province free of fossil fuels in the short term. One of its islands is already depending exclusevely on solar (PV) and biofuels. The biggest islands are on that way too. For example, look at this link: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/08/business/renewable-energy-to-fill-galapagos-electricity-demand/#.VCwLy2ddWSo
Solar energy can be used through two main technologies: photovoltaics and thermal power. Both of them need some back-up for providing energy 24 hours. Such a back-up can be based on fossil fuels, batteries or renewable energies (wind, biomass, etc.). I don`t know if there are territories fully (or majority) solar but some have important percentages of it. In Ecuador, there is the Galapagos province located in the Pacific Ocean where sustainable energy is an issue and there are some efforts to get the province free of fossil fuels in the short term. One of its islands is already depending exclusevely on solar (PV) and biofuels. The biggest islands are on that way too. For example, look at this link: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/08/business/renewable-energy-to-fill-galapagos-electricity-demand/#.VCwLy2ddWSo
Dear Silburn,
All countries have plans to produce an appreciable amount of renewable energy from solar and wind that may reach more than twenty percent of their demand. Germany may be leading in photovoltaic and wind electricity generation. This country is also leading in manufacturing the generators themselves perhaps because Germany donot have OIL and at the same time an advanced land. May be the remote districts are supplied by solar and wind provided the existence of energy storage system to cover the interruption time of the sun and wind.
There are some basic problems that must be solved to secure the demand all the time. Not only that, the density of such renewable energy source is relatively low raising the cost of the generation from them.So the need of energy saving and low energy density are the two main problems.
Newly energy saving is partly overcomed by connecting the renewable energy generators to the electricity grid.This made the photovoltaic generators getting a cost approaching from the fuel.
Dear Silburn and colleagues,
One must consider that all types of energy generation, including solar energy, has some impact on the environment.
What is sought then it is an alternative and renewable source that minimizes aimpactos for power generation, both in its design and in its use.
Without doubt, the sun as a source of heat and electricity, is one of the best sources of energy, since there are several technologies available for your use.
For distributed generation, solar energy combined with wind energy in hybrid systems can be a good option.
In Brazil there are some government actions que Encourage the use of solar energy:
a. Solar Heating in "Program My home My life";
b. Solar Photovoltaic Energy in "Light for All Program";
c. Photovoltaic Solar Energy - SmartGrid (National Agency of Electric Energy (ANEEL) with Normative Resolution No. 482/2012).
Maybe a bit out of focus of the questioners thought::
Nearly all renewable power is coming from the sun ... wind is just a result of solar power, an indirect use of solar power ...
So, to be precise, do not just ask for "solar renewable energy sources" ... because the right answer straight to this question is:
"Yes, every region without the chance of using waterpower (tide and partly streams) in the ocean (waterpower from rivers from the mountains are also indirect solar power) or thermal heat of the ground is using energy sources from solar power."
Portugal has such a large scale photovoltaic installation in Serpa, 200km southeast of Lisbon. The 11MW solar power plant uses 52,000 hotovoltaic modules and cost around $75m.
Here is also the no. one largest photo-voltaic farm in the world. Solar Energy Generating Systems is currently the largest operational solar power plant in the world. It is located in the Mojave Desert of California, US. It has an installed capacity of 354MW and generates 662GWh of power annually. You can see how huge this is from the picture.
Dear SIlburn
yes there are, you can look at technology for isolated rural villages
Discrete cogeneration optimization with storage capacity decision support for dynamic hybrid solar combined heat and power systems in isolated rural villages
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303256411_Discrete_cogeneration_optimization_with_storage_capacity_decision_support_for_dynamic_hybrid_solar_combined_heat_and_power_systems_in_isolated_rural_villages
Article Discrete cogeneration optimization with storage capacity dec...
When comparing, for example, solar and atomic energy, many significant differences can be shown.
Solar energy is safer than nuclear energy. There are no environmentally hazardous radioactive waste in solar energy. In addition, solar power plants can be of any size, while nuclear power plants are usually very large investments and require huge financial outlays for the construction of a modern nuclear power plant.
But besides, many other energy technologies are being developed, energy innovations are being developed in the field of renewable energy sources, such as wind, water, or sea waves.
In addition, geothermal energy and the development of energy storage technologies. This is an important issue because the consumption of electricity is growing in many developing countries. In the future, electricity consumption may increase even more when electromobility starts to spread, ie electric cars will be produced and sold on a massive scale.
I invite you to the discussion
Questions:
Are there territories that utilise solar renewable energy sources as the only (or majority) solution for provisioning electricity to their publics ?
An interesting question. I wonder if there are already large regions of countries that are mainly powered by solar energy. Even more interesting is whether these ecological renewable energy-based projects are economical, how many years are the investments incurred in these investments paid back?
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