For decades, solar energy advocates have been promising that inexpensive and clean energy from the sun is just around the corner. They have been promising it for so long that many no longer believe it. But new technological breakthroughs and a growing climate of emissions regulation are making the promise of solar energy become a reality.
Environmental awareness and the fear of climate change are pushing governments away from supporting other forms of energy production and subsidizing solar. Unfortunately, government policy changes too often for solar energy companies to feel secure about continued funding.
But technological changes are allowing some solar companies to be competitive in some parts of the United States with natural gas. It is mostly in the software that uses inexpensive video cameras to keep the reflecting mirrors pointing the sunlight where it can provide the most energy to the generator. Combined with the use of off-the-shelf components instead of expensive, custom pieces, these new generators are more efficient and less expensive than their predecessors.
And that is good news for consumers. Not only is more energy available, which should drop the price, but the technology used in these generators will probably percolate down into the consumer market, where you can get your own high-powered solar generator, or even build one yourself!
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Tags: clean energy, save money using solar energy, solar energy
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