As solar electricity cannot produce on demand like hydropower, fossil fuels, or nuclear power, flexibility will be necessary to balance supply and demand.
FREMONT, CA: Solar panels can catch the sun's energy and transform it into power almost everywhere, thanks to photovoltaic (PV) technology. These sophisticated solar cells are used in rooftop panels, open fields, streetlights, and carports. Carmakers are considering solar-powered automobiles because solar energy is so enticing. Despite limited winter days, solar energy will help reduce GHG emissions. It's one of the world's most abundant renewable sources. But it's no longer ignored.
Solar panels have been cheaper since the 1980s. Residential PV systems that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to build and operate 40 years ago now cost roughly the same as traditional electricity sources in Canada. Solar photovoltaic is one of the cheapest new energy sources, second only to wind. It can help decarbonize the electricity grid. Solar energy is cost-effective and clean. A solar PV system emits no GHGs during operation and is little over its lifetime. PV systems lower GHG emissions by 96 percent compared to coal-generated electricity. Adding additional solar energy to our grid cleans up our electricity and moves us closer to net zero.
Canadians put solar panels on their roofs to tap into solar energy, and other Canadians have done in the last 20 years. If the top is well-exposed to the sun and has little cover from surrounding buildings, that's a good start. A solar-powered home is an example. Those who can't install solar panels on their roof can participate in collaborative projects in Canada.
Solar energy's future is bright. This year marked a milestone for solar PV, and global grid-connected solar PV capacity hit one terawatt, six times Canada's total power production. Solar energy will supply 4 percent of worldwide electricity consumption in 2022. They review PV installations in Canada, study ways to integrate solar and wind technologies in northern and isolated regions, and look for innovative ways to bring large-scale solar energy to Canadian electrical grids.
Solar energy is only one part of net zero. Canada's large size and short winter days make it difficult. Solar electricity can't create on demand like hydropower, fossil fuels, or nuclear power. Flexibility will be crucial to balancing needs and output in the future.
