Solar Energy vs. Fossil Fuels

In all societies, electrical energy is required to meet the most basic of human needs. Lighting, safety, comfort, cooking, transportation, communications and the basic production that supports our economies all depend on electrical power. 39% of all energy consumed is used in the production of electricity. Electrical utilization is a significant part of a person’s environmental footprint.

The difference between renewable energy and the non-renewable energy (fossil fuels) isn’t as complicated as you may think. Renewable energy comes from natural resources that can be replenished during an average human lifetime and includes the following types of power:

• Solar
• Wind
• Hydro
• Geothermal
• Biomass

Fossil fuels, on the other hand, can take thousands—or even millions—of years to naturally replenish:

• Natural gas
• Coal
• Oil

These distinctions may seem cut-and-dried, but there are some grey areas. Natural gas is often labelled as “clean power” because it burns cleaner than coal. Folks may even believe that natural gas is a sustainable resource. Don’t be fooled. Natural gas is a fossil fuel that emits CO2 when burned. In the case of biomass, things also get a bit more complicated. Burning wood—the most common method of biomass energy generation—  than burning coal. That said, wood is classified as a renewable resource by a lot of scientists because trees can be replenished.

Solar Energy vs. Fossil Fuels

In terms of environmental impact, solar power is a much more optimal resource than fossil fuels. In terms of reliable application, coal and natural gas have the edge. The ultimate way to compare solar energy to fossil fuels is by cost, where solar has quickly caught up with its non-renewable counterparts.

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.

The pro/con list of solar energy vs. fossil fuels is likely no surprise to you. Fossil fuels offer the benefit of being a reliable resource that offers near-constant availability. Whether you want to go for a drive at 3 a.m. or 3 p.m., there is nothing you have to consider as a consumer other than if your gas tank is full. However, many people are already aware of the detriments of gas, oil and coal, including significant pollution and the reality that it is a scarce resource that will eventually run out.

The full list of fossil fuel “cons” is fairly well understood, save for one: the cost and detriment of creating its production plants. Simply put, the operating costs associated with producing fossil fuels dramatically outweighs the operating costs of producing solar energy.

Solar is easily installed on a rooftop surface or ground mount and harnesses an already-available resource (sunlight). By comparison, fossil fuel use requires the degradation of the earth as a means to a fuel’s production. Many people are unaware that fossil fuels do not just create greenhouse gas emissions – the process of drilling also degrades and erodes the ground and pollutes the water supply.

For more details: Soura Natural Energy Solutions Pvt Ltd.