Select the most likely energy source to replace societys dependence on fossil fuels and describe its advantages.

Solar Power : A Promising Energy Source to Replace Society 's Dependence on Fossil Fuels

Introduction

The further development of technological innovations to hone effectively and efficiently solar power as a large-scale source of energy can enable society to replace fossil fuels with solar power as a renewable alternative . Greenhouse gas emissions are primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels to convert these into energy to light homes and support manufacturing and other economic activities . The dependence of man on fossil fuels has resulted to the excessive emission of greenhouse

gases into the atmosphere creating a barrier that traps the sun 's heat causing global warming reflected not only in the continues rise in the earth 's temperature but also climate or weather anomalies (Scheer , 2002 . In addition , fossil fuels such as oil are non-renewable which means that the scarcity of this energy source raised its price that eventually redounded to individuals as power consumers (Faiman Raviv Rosenstreich , 2007 . Search for sustainable source of energy to replace fossil fuels resulted to the development of renewable energy sources . Solar power is a promising energy source , especially with developments in effective and efficient ways of collecting the sun 's power

Advantages of Solar Energy

One advantage of solar power is its potential as an inexhaustible source of energy (Scheer , 2002 . Unlike fossil fuels that take centuries to form , solar power can be accessed on a daily basis . Solar power is converted into energy by trapping the sun 's rays , containing light and heat , and using technology to convert these into energy with a similar capability as fossil fuels (Hepbasli , 2008 . Since the sun can be accessed daily , except for regions in the southern and northern hemisphere experiencing long periods without sunlight , most of the regions can tap into the sun 's power . The sun 's rays can also reach the earth even if it is raining or cloudy so that gloomy weather is not a limitation to accessibility . Due to continuous accessibility , solar power is a sustainable source of energy because it is not depleted

Another advantage of solar energy is its cost efficiency . Supply and accessibility relative to demand determines the cost or price of energy Compared to fossil fuels , the supply of solar power is basically limitless and technology has allowed greater accessibility to solar power . As such , in the long-term , solar power is less costly than fossil fuels . Innovations in devices or tools that collect solar power and convert these into energy continue with hybrid solar collectors found to have the highest efficiency and energy quality . This constitutes an improvement of the solar collectors and PV panels in terms of efficiency (Hepbasli , 2008 ) As advancements happen , more efficient devices would be developed and with the active role of governments in considering this as welfare issue could make the price affordable to industries and even to households (Faiman , Raviv Rosenstreich , 2007

Still another advantage of solar energy is its lesser adverse effects to the environment . Relative to fossil fuels , solar...