Solar energy is the energy we get from the sun rays. It is a sustainable form of energy and is more of a natural way than the usage of fossil fuels as they emit harmful effluents into the natural ecosystem and environment.
According to United Nations, sustainability is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Solar energy justifies this definition completely as the energy from the sun is infinite and its rate does not diminish its future availability.
Since solar energy is a renewable form of energy and is abundant in nature. It can fulfill the needs of the entire ecosystem, even if the population growth is immense and it continues to use more of energy.In early 2016 there was a 43% rise in solar installations, and by the second quarter U.S. had an installed capacity of 31.6 gigawatts enough to power 6.2 million homes reports the Solar Energy Industries Association. Fossil fuels on the contrary are limited in quantity and the geological time frame for its replenishment is high and they cause a wide amount of environmental pollution into the biodiversity. So it does not embody the principles of sustainability.
Solar is a safe alternative which can replace current fossil fuels like coal and gas for generation of electricity that produce air, water, and land pollution. World Wide Fund For Nature, also known as the World Wildlife Fund, notes that electricity generation from fossil fuels causes pollution of air leading to acid rain, damaged forest areas, and affected agricultural production leading to loss of billions of dollars worldwide.Since the sun is expected to continue shining for several billion years, calling solar energy a sustainable power supply is a pretty safe bet. Furthermore, forests are destroyed for mining raw materials like fossil or nuclear fuels. Switching to solar power is important to keep these habitats intact for the animals that live there as well as continue to keep the air clean. Thus, solar energy is definitely a path towards sustainability in the near future.
