Solar tech New pieces in the energy puzzle

摘要

First let's look at the broad solar picture, and then zoom in on households. In 2011, human activity worldwide consumed approximately 515 exajoules of energy, excluding dietary needs'11. This is equivalent to the energy in 23 billion tonnes of chocolate! Australia receives at least 60 exajoules of solar energy in a single day-on the darkest day of winter121. With so much potential, particularly through the rest of the year, could the sun become a more substantial source of energy for us? I believe we can do much more with solar energy. In this article, I by no means wish to overemphasise the role of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology as the only solar technology. My intention is to inspire you to make a reasonable investment in solar PV as a worthy part of your future energy mix. Other ways to invest in solar include supporting Alinta Energy with their community-scale solar thermal power station proposed for Port Augusta, South Australia, or investing in a solar hot water system. A healthy mix of renewables could help stabilise the price of energy.