Clean Energy Authority

The whole project involving the construction of a new structure to support the solar panels costs much more than a rooftop system. For building the new structure you will need to apply for a building permit with the relevant authority depending on where you live. You just need to submit your building blueprints that show that your roof is structurally stable, and the wiring, as well as electrical systems, are up to code. A fortuitous benefit of a rooftop system is that it keeps your building well-insulated and provides protection to your roof against the rain, wind, snow, and harmful ultra-violet light.

However, fewer hours of sunlight in the winters offset the rise in efficiency, which means the winters produce as much energy as the summers do. You can change the panel angle with both these systems, and a steeper angle during winters can help maximize the sun rays, making it harder for the snow to accumulate. This characteristic of snow makes it good for your solar panels as it provides a virtually free cleaning service when the snow melts off your array. Due to the albedo effect, solar panels surrounded by snow can absorb up to two times the amount of light, resulting in an increase in the energy output of your solar panels.

In 2020, wind power generated over 300 terawatt-hours, or 7.29 percent of the total electrical energy in the country, surpassing hydroelectric power as the biggest source of renewable energy in the US. Wind power had the distinction of becoming the largest source of renewable energy in the country last year, overtaking hydroelectric power in the process. Wind energy production accounts for over 20 percent of the total electricity generated in these six states, collectively known as the Wind Belt of the United States: North Dakota, South Dakota, Maine, Kansas, Iowa, and Oklahoma. Companies across the country are buying a record quantity of wind energy as more corporations recognize the benefits of wind power in terms of its affordability, apart from being a reliable option that provides clean energy to power their businesses..

The latest research and development in the solar energy industry is taking place around the use of organic solar cells to construct thin, flexible solar power options. What sets organic energy apart from solar power is its ability to create power from any kind of light and not being dependent just on the sun. Making OPV, on the other hand, is a clean room process that requires much less energy and leaves behind a zero-carbon footprint. In Hempstead, New York, the company applied OPV film on the windows to capture sunlight, using its ORENgE system to convert it into power.