Solar Power Usage

How much is solar power used in a day, a week, a month, and a year? Would you guess that solar power is used very little? Would you believe that solar power might be used more in remote, undeveloped countries or in developed nations?

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California uses solar power to run its Ferris Wheel. The Ferris Wheel is 9 stories tall, can hold up to 120 people, and is powered by a $360,000 PV panel system on sunny days. On cloudy days, it depends on the power grid, but with sunshine, it runs on solar power. That’s an example of solar power usage in a rather unnecessary way.

But how much is solar power used in a day, a week, a month, and a year in necessary applications? Let’s look at it briefly.

Two Kinds of Solar Power Usage

Many times we tend to think of solar power as the power collected by photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops. That is one way of using solar power, but it is not the only way.

Solar power usage can be either active or passive.

1. Passive: This type of solar power usage is illustrated by leaving a car in hot sunshine for an hour or so - air conditioning off, windows and doors closed. The inside of the car will be well-heated by passive solar power - perhaps too well heated. Passive solar power can be collected in the same way by large windows, stone floors, concrete walls, and similar surfaces in a building. The power enters and heats the inside air. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, passive solar power buildings use 47 percent less conventional energy than other new buildings.

Passive solar power is used every day to dry clothing hung on lines around the world. It is used in many countries to dry meat, fruits, and vegetables. Near the author’s Montana home, it is used to dry the hides of deer and elk. Passive solar power usages are ancient and many.

2. Active: Solar panels are the most common form of active solar power usage. When you can’t heat water with passive solar power, you can heat it by running it through solar panels. It’s a good way to heat water in a large swimming pool or for a short shower. Solar panels also convert solar power into usable electricity. The electricity can power light bulbs, and electrical appliances in the home. Active solar power is used in tiny photovoltaic cells that power wristwatches and calculators without need for batteries. It keeps “help” phones along highways at full power, ready for emergency use. It powers highway signs and lights in remote areas. It powers water pumps for a rancher’s cattle, far from any electric grid. It is used on boats and ships at sea. It powers recreational vehicles. It recharges cell phones and GPS units for hikers. It powers laptop computers for scientists and researchers in the field. It heats a tent for a camper, or provides hot coffee.

In remote, undeveloped areas of our world, active solar power usage cooks meals in solar ovens. It purifies water in solar water purifiers. It heats water for a shower.

Conclusion

But how much is solar power used in a day, a week, a month, and a year? That would be impossible to calculate. Suffice it to say, that it is not used as much as it could be. We could make far better use of this free energy source.

Suppose we built every new building to maximize FREE passive solar power. As referenced above, those buildings would use 47 percent less conventional energy – with no solar panels on their roofs! Add solar panels and you increase the amount of free energy.

Although no one can say how much solar power is used in any given time period, it is probably more than even the experts would estimate - and far less than it could be.