This article is made possible by the renewable energy policy experts at REN21.
What is solar energy?
Solar power, as the name tells us, is a technology that converts the sun’s light and heat into electricity or heat. It is the fastest growing energy source than any other, even wind. In fact, since 2010, solar energy prices have dropped by 93%, making it the cheapest & the most exciting energy option!
How does solar energy work?
Solar power is made in two ways:
The first is solar photovoltaic (PV), or popularly known as solar panels. If you’re wondering how do solar panels work, it’s actually quite simple: they use solar cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity. These are often installed on rooftops, or placed in fields as “solar farms”. Because of recent improvements in solar PV technology, most panels can generate power even on cloudy days, just at lower levels. To ensure energy supply at night, solar panels can be paired with batteries — which store energy for later use – or combined with other technologies such as wind power.
A small solar farm with solar panels set up by 350.org in Vermont, USA. Photo: 350.org
The second way is through concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) which is a bit more complex. It uses mirrors to focus the sun’s energy onto heat transfer liquid, which is then used to create steam and drive turbines to generate electricity. CSP is gaining recognition as a flexible renewable energy source, offering stored energy and nighttime power to complement solar PV and wind energy.
But for now, solar PVs remain the most popular solar technology, so why we should be choosing solar power over fossil fuels:
10 reasons why solar energy better than fossil fuels
Not only is solar energy better for our planet, it’s also good for us humans and our societies too:
- Low carbon emissions: Unlike burning fossil fuels, solar energy does not generate carbon emissions when being used. Producing solar panels does create some pollution during the manufacturing process but over a panel’s 25 to 30-year life, its total emissions are still 96% to 98% lower than coal power. In the future, we hope to see more improvements in technology and production processes, which will reduce the lifetime emissions of solar PVs even further.
- Helps nature & wildlife: Solar panels installed on buildings or other structures don’t harm nature unlike fossil fuel extraction & pollution that violently damage nature and wildlife, affecting communities’ resources and livelihoods. They can even help protect wildlife by providing shelter. For example, in Minnesota, United States, a solar farm used plants that attract pollinators to cool the land, stop soil erosion, and improve water storage. This is a great example of how renewable energy projects can – and should always! – be adapted to meet the needs of the environment and communities around them.
- Making the most of existing land: Solar panels can go on rooftops, car parks, roads, and even near power lines. They also work with hydropower and farming, like grazing animals or beekeeping. In cities, they can be added to buildings, streets, or vehicles, reducing land-use conflicts. Solar power plants can even revive damaged land. In Chernobyl, a 1 MW solar plant was built on land harmed by a nuclear disasters.
In 2024, 350 GROC helped power 65 homes in Domangburi, Ghana through solar panels. Photo: 350 GROC
- Good for water conservation: Floating solar panels or solar panels on water, or “floating PV” can be installed on lakes, rivers, seas, and reservoirs. These panels help lower water temperature, cut down evaporation, and provide shade that reduces algae growth.
- Creates quality jobs for everyone: As of 2022, more than 4,9 million people worked in the solar industry worldwide. In 2023, the solar industry created an estimated 2.2 million jobs, resulting in a total of 7.1 million jobs, mostly in construction and manufacturing. What’s even better is that 40% of these jobs were held by women. Jobs in solar make up about 35% of the 13. 7 million jobs in renewable energy globally. In fact, solar energy, like other renewable energy sources that are not centralized, offers flexible working conditions and better opportunities to women.
- Has potential to generate lots of electricity: According to some estimates, rooftop solar PV has a total energy generation potential of 27 petawatt-hours (or 27,000 terrawatts) per year. To put this in context, in 2024, the whole world needed around 30 petawatt-hours of electricity. Which means solar energy can alone provide us over 85% of the electricity we all need!
- Helps the local economy: A great example of how solar energy supports development is agri voltaics, a practice combining solar power and farming. It lets farmers use the same land for both growing crops or raising animals and generating solar energy. This helps protect farmland. Farmers can use the energy they produce on-site for things like food processing, water pumping, or refrigeration. They can also earn extra money by selling any electricity they don’t need, in places where legislation allows.
- Makes communities energy independent: Solar panels and batteries can be connected together across many local sites to form a “microgrid”. These local power grids can operate independently of the main grid – providing energy to many houses during blackouts, giving further energy independence to communities. This is not legally possible yet in all countries, but it’s a great idea for things we can fight for!
In 2017, Indigenous communities installed solar panels at Pine Ridge Reservation to gain energy independence in South Dakota, USA. Photo: Juliana Clifford
- Good for human health: Solar panels are super safe for us humans and in fact, they improve our health outcomes overall, by reducing our reliance on polluting fossil fuels. Here are some more reasons why solar panels are better for our health.
- Negligible wastage: While absolutely no technology is 100% clean, waste generated from no-longer-in-use solar panels is a drop in the ocean compared to fossil fuels and even plastic waste.
Some challenges with solar energy
Solar power is a great energy source, but there are challenges we must address so that the transition to renewable energy makes life better for everyone.
- Recycling panels: Did you know solar panels last about 30 years? Right now, only 10% are recycled. Without better recycling systems, old panels could end up as waste. By 2050, we could have 78 million tonnes of used panels! The good news is that almost all solar panel components are recyclable, with technologies and initiatives already existing to make it happen. To make recycling cheaper and more widespread, we need our governments to step in with strong policies, investments in recycling infrastructure, and economic incentives. We must also ensure that older, less efficient solar panels are not simply dumped in the Global South. Doing so risks repeating patterns of exploitation where substandard technologies are offloaded onto vulnerable regions.
- Land and water use: Large solar farms need a lot of land, which can impact communities. But solar panels can also coexist with farms, helping to grow crops and providing shade for livestock. Newer solar panels even use less water to stay clean, and tech like dust-repellent coatings is being developed to save even more.
- Protecting biodiversity: Some solar farms can affect nature by clearing vegetation or changing water flow. This can disrupt animals’ habitats. But with careful planning, we can place solar projects in ways that protect nature.
- Floating Solar needs strong materials to handle currents and waves and must avoid harming water ecosystems. For example, less sunlight under panels can hurt aquatic plants and animals. Research is ongoing to reduce these effects.
- Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) has immense potential but also challenges. It needs a lot of land and water — especially in dry areas, where water is already scarce. Using special cooling systems can save water but costs more. Wildlife and habitats can also be affected if projects aren’t carefully planned. On the bright side, CSP drastically cuts carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels. By tackling these issues smartly, CSP can be a game-changer for cleaner energy.
Overall, the data is clear – solar power holds great promise to transform our energy systems for the better. Like other renewable energy sources though, it’s important to consult and work with local communities before setting up solar panels and storage. This is so everyone can share the benefits of this cleaner energy technology.
By providing safer, cleaner and affordable energy to communities big and small, solar power can make lives better and empower people to take power generation into their own hands. It is a key building block for a world that prioritizes people, communities, and nature.
To learn more about solar energy and the exciting potential it holds:
More on solar energy and inspiring stories of communities gaining energy independence through solar power:
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