Summary Reader Response Draft 2
In the article, “What are Solar Light Panels and how do they work” from
Economic Times, Team ProductLine (2019) discussed that solar light panels are
utilized for residential and commercial lighting. Photovoltaic (PV) modules,
encompassing high-quality crystalline silicon solar cells, are used to create
solar light panels. With these PV cells, light energy from the sun can be
transformed into electrical energy to be utilized or stored. In terms of
features, solar light panels are extremely durable and will only degrade
gradually. According to the article, the adequacy of these panels decreases by
just 2% or less after one full year. Moreover, not only do solar panels reduce
the dependability on conventional power sources and fossil fuels, but they also
do not produce deleterious greenhouse gases. PV cells come in a variety of
shapes and sizes and can range in length from a few millimetres to several
inches. These cells are combined to create PV modules that can be up to a “few
feet wide and several feet long” as stated in the article (paragraph 7, 2019).
The article states the various applications of solar light panels. They can be
fixed into homes to reduce the cost of electricity and decrease the effects of
global warming. In the present day, they are used to power most traffic signs
and streetlights and in devices such as calculators and flashlights.
Solar energy can potentially play a
consequential role as one of the future’s essential sources of energy for homes,
streetlights, and devices. They can become the main source of energy without
harming or affecting the environment.
Solar panels are installed in homes to provide
electricity. According to Gomes (2022), switching to a solar power source could
be beneficial for homeowners in the long run. Not
only will electricity bills be reduced, but the emission of greenhouse gases
will also decline. The production of electricity from the panels derives from the
semiconductor materials used, which can convert sunlight instantly into
electricity. Since these panels come in numerous shapes and sizes, they can be
installed on home rooftops (Woodhouse et al., 2021). Having solar panels mounted
on rooftops is the most effective way as they are the most likely to be exposed
to sunlight. In a blackout, electricity from the solar panels could still be
generated throughout the house (Faundo, 2022). As far as electricity bills go,
Sembcorp (2022) reported that a landed property in Singapore using solar light
panels can save electricity costs up to SGD 60,000 after 25 years.
Another common way to implement the use
of solar panel systems is in street lighting. Solar-powered streetlights can constructively
“light the streets from dusk to dawn” (Bria Homes, p. 5, 2022) as they store as
much energy from the sun throughout the day. Rosales (2022) claims that using solar
power had been the most environmentally friendly method of lighting up streets,
roads, and facility buildings. Modern streetlights using solar panels are also reported
to be waterproof and weatherproof, allowing them to overcome different obstacles
while remaining functional. Solar panels installed on streetlights would mostly
require sunlight and would not produce any harmful gases.
Solar energy plays a vital part in our daily
lives as well. Apart from solar panels being installed in homes and streetlights,
they can also be used in the devices we possess. One of the devices that use
tiny solar cells is the calculator. Solar-powered calculators were invented and
used since the 1960s (Freedom Solar, 2023). These calculators have scaled-down
solar cells fixed onto them, hence using solar energy from the sun to power them.
An alternative use of solar energy is in watches. Solar-powered watches are long-lasting
as they do not require users to constantly change their batteries. In the
present day, solar watches are “becoming increasingly popular” (Freedom Solar, 2023).
The use of solar energy in such devices could be environmentally friendly as
they reduce the waste of other resources such as batteries.
Despite solar light panels having many
applications, there is a major reason they are not implemented as much as they
should be. That very reason happens to be the excessive cost of solar panels. According
to Solar AI Technologies (2022), the estimated price to install solar panels
for a terrace house would be SGD 18,000, while the price for a bungalow would
be SGD 36,000. On the bright side, researchers have been devising “new
technological advancements” (Zafar, p. 1, 2022) to drive the dependence on
solar energy, by reducing the costs of solar panels.
In conclusion, solar light panels can be
used efficiently for various applications while being environmentally sound. Apart
from making use of solar energy in homes and for streetlights, it can also be
used for devices such as calculators and watches. Although there could be a
high price to pay for installing solar panels, the countless benefits of using
solar energy outweigh the drawbacks. Ultimately,
this innovation has been improving in terms of efficiency and cost and could
possibly take over as one of our main sources of energy.
References
National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
(2021, October). Research and Development Priorities to Advance Solar
Photovoltaic Lifecycle Costs and Performance. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/80505.pdf
Gomes, C. (2022, January) Solar panels to power your home? Here’s
what you need to know. https://www.dbs.com/livemore/home-tips/solar-panels-for-home-what-you-need-to-know.html
Faundo, Y. (2022) Benefits
of Using Solar Powered Lights. https://www.bria.com.ph/articles/benefits-of-using-solar-powered-lights/
Bria Homes. (2022) Bria
Homes promotes renewable energy through solar-powered street lights in its
communities nationwide. https://www.bria.com.ph/articles/bria-homes-promotes-renewable-energy-through-solar-powered-street-lights-in-its-communities-nationwide/
Zafar, S. (2022, August) The Bright
Future of Solar Lighting. https://www.bioenergyconsult.com/future-of-solar-lights/
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