Solar Power

With the cost of electricity continuing to climb, as well as considering the effects of burning fossil fuels on the environment, many are pushing for the expansion of solar power as an alternative to producing electricity. Additionally, non-renewable sources are claimed to being depleted at a rapid pace, and solar power offers another source of powering homes, factories and many other locations where extending the power grid may not be economically feasible.

For several years the use of solar power has been growing to provide electricity with low-power requirements, powering such devices as traffic signals in out of the way locations as well as offering portability for military uses. As the demand for electricity extends beyond the traditional area in which electric lines have not, and probably will not be extended, solar power can provide the needed source of power without the need for temporary service.

For some people living in remote areas, solar power is one of the alternatives to having electricity in areas shunned by utility companies as they may be seen as costing too much to supply power for only one customer. Gas or diesel powered generator can also used to produce electricity, but maintaining a constant supply of fuel is sometimes difficult as well as creating a dangerous storage situation.

Technology Available But Still Expensive

Solar power is now available for a multitude of applications, but the initial cost of installing a solar system remains high. Typically, technology costs plummet after the first few years of availability due to demand and increased competition. However, with solar power just beginning to become a viable energy source, competition is still low for developing and producing the components. Therefore, the current suppliers continue to recoup their research and development costs. As more companies get on board and more solar power components are tested and become desirable to the public, the costs will come down.

What some folks may not realize is that while installing solar power to many areas may be high, the return is also high without the need to pay an energy company to provide power to their home. Even using it to help reduce their electric costs can be a cost savings over its life span. Additionally, many incidental uses of solar power are now available for which this technology can show an almost instant savings in the cost of labor alone.

Several states are using solar power to provide electricity to school crossing lights and other types of isolated signal lights for which the cost to supply electricity through traditional means outweighs the initial installation costs. Since these signals are only used a few times throughout the day, the power used to charge the batteries is low, resulting in zero cost for electricity and minimal maintenance expense.