Solar Power Will Save the Day

The climate change talk is making people reconsider energy strategies and turn to other power sources and it looks like solar power will save the day, or the world.

• Countries in Africa are embracing renewable energy
• South Africa experienced 82 days of power cuts
• Nigeria will have the biggest photovoltaic solar farm in Africa

Many of you may wonder why the world hasn’t turn to other power sources early on. One answer is that in the past technology was not developed enough for the use of alternative energies, and oil extraction and natural gas extraction were easier solutions. Another answer is that oil and natural gas extractions are still a good choice as they are less expensive than other alternative power sources such as wind or solar power.

However, in light of recent talks on global warming, officials are starting to believe that regardless of the investment, alternative power sources technologies are worth the price. The energy they produce could cover in time the initial expenses. Moreover, this type of renewable energy has something the others don’t, which is it never ends. Both the wind and the sun are here to stay, hopefully forever, so there are no worries of these sources becoming scarce.

For example, in South Africa wind and solar power came to the rescue this year as the nation has been dealing with power cuts that left people in the dark for 82 days in the first part of the year. However the power cuts would have lasted longer if not for renewable energy. Wind and solar power acted as emergency generators for a few days to provide electricity to the nation.

In Nigeria, one of the countries with the biggest problems in electricity supply will finally get its issues fixed thanks to renewable energy. They signed an agreement with a company named Alten that’s in the business of solar power. The company will build there a photovoltaic farm that will probably be one of the largest on the African continent.

Besides the big solar farm, the Nigerian government is trying to make solar energy available for the common man. Not everyone can put a solar panel in their courtyard or on the roof, but at least they can replace lamps and candles with solar-energy powered devices that don’t use electricity or fire which makes them both more economic and less dangerous alternatives.

Hopefully, the other nations of the world will take the example of these African countries and try to replace traditional power sources with renewable energy. Despite the fact that it may seem more expensive in the beginning, on the long run, wind and solar power can really make a difference.

Image source: www.bing.com