Is Solar Power Renewable or Nonrenewable?
In our modern society, there are numerous aspects that heavily rely on energy sources in the form of combustible fuels and electricity. However, most experts believe that all fossil fuels, which are currently dominating the production of energy all over the world, are non-renewable resources as their extraction rate greatly exceeds their formation rate. This concern has triggered intense research in new technology which might capture and utilise energy from the most basic renewable source of power: the sun.
An inexhaustible energy source
Renewable energy comes from a natural process of self-replenishing. This energetic process is often seen as infinite as it is controlled by natural cycles and chemical reactions which might continue for millions of years. The natural world is full of energy sources of all forms, but many of them like ocean waves or lightning can’t be converted into electricity or transportation fuels required by our modern society. Thus, the primary challenge is to find out suitable natural sources of energy and develop the right technology to utilise them efficiently.
Proton power
The ultimate solar source of energy originates from nuclear fusion which occurs inside the sun’s core. This complicated process starts with 2 protons which fuse together and finishes with the release of a massive amount of energy, which travels across outer space to our planet through electromagnetic radiation. We can consider solar power as the most renewable source of energy as it doesn’t suffer any diminutions from human activities and can replenish naturally as long as our civilisation still needs energy.
Solar power origin
The energy released by the sun is significantly renewable, meaning that solar power, which often refers to the electricity produced by solar panels, is also renewable. However, it is true that the process of fusing protons inside the sun might not continue forever as it would cease when mass runs out. In absolute words, solar energy isn’t renewable because the sun would eventually lose its capability of supporting fusion, just like other stars. But it will take approximately 5 billion years for this process to happen, so we can say that solar energy is relatively renewable concerning human society as we can’t anticipate our energy needs in the future.
Renewable versus Nonrenewable
It is acceptable to consider solar power as a renewable source, but nearly all renewable sources partly depend on fossil fuels or non-renewable inputs. More specifically, sophisticated devices are required to convert sunlight into electricity. Most of these units are manufactured in facilities that are primarily powered by fossil fuels, then transported and set up with equipment powered by renewable energy sources. As a result, it is relatively difficult to say that solar energy, or any other forms of energy production, is purely renewable.
However, many experts still think that solar power has expanded and developed into the stage in which the necessary amount of renewable energy it produces is higher than the necessary amount of non-renewable energy for its installation and fabrication. More solar energy info and news on Twitter and https://mdbsolaradelaide.com.au.