The basic amenities of living are clothing, food and shelter. However, with the advancement in industries and machineries, petroleum and its products are extremely necessary for human existence as well. If we do not get an adequate supply of petroleum products, we might as well go back to the Stone Ages.

Apart from diesel, petrol and gas, petroleum provides raw materials for various pharmaceutical products, chemicals and fertilizers. Petroleum has been used for over 5000 years in an unrefined form. Over 60% of human energy requirements are met by oil and gas. The remaining 40 percent energy requirements are fulfilled by other sources such as sun, wind, coal and water.

In addition to this, the oil and gas industry has been a key influence on the global economy. Oil in its natural form can be found in the earth’s crust. It has to be extracted to manufacture various products. In order to carry out the extraction process, holes of different sizes from five to fifty inches are dug with the help of a drilling rig to take out crude oil with pressure techniques.

This extracted oil is then transferred to refineries for advanced processing. The oil wells are disposed of once productivity goes down. Hydraulic fracking techniques are employed to increase the extraction rate. However, this technique has been banned in a few countries and is under intense scrutiny in the US because of its potentially bad impact on the environment if it is not handled with safety and care.

It is important to know the origin of petroleum as it has become vital for the survival of mankind. Petroleum is formed from the remains of dead organisms and animals. It takes a long time for these organisms to get converted into petroleum. After this crude oil is formed, it gets converted to different forms.

Petrol is required for automobiles which keeps our life on the ‘move’. We cannot imagine living even one day without petrol, gas or diesel. However, due to advancements in technology and oil industry, its usage has become more that its availability. Governments of most countries have been trying to lay down various policies with other countries to supply enough petrol.

It has been observed that due to the increased demand, many countries are facing challenges to meet these requirements. These countries have employed techniques to save energy or increase alternative sources so that the next generation to come does not face scarcity.

‘Go Green’ is the slogan of many states in the US to substitute the usage of petroleum products. We all must take preventive measures to deal with the shortage of our energy sources.

The sun is an ample source of energy. Advanced technology has made it possible to convert light energy from the sun into electricity. This method of power generation is gaining popularity all over the world because there is no pollution and the source of the energy is renewable. To encourage more households and small businesses into using power from renewable sources of energy, the United Kingdom government is providing a lot of encouragement through rebates and feed-in-tariffs. Electricity that is generated from renewable sources and fed back to the national electricity grid will be paid for by the government.

Solar photovoltaic panels installed as part of the solar power system in your household can thus help to reduce the monthly energy charges. The incentives paid by the government vary according to the technology that is used. It is also important to note that any new solar power system installation should be designed and deployed by a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited installer to qualify for receiving the government’s incentives.

The solar power system for a household consists of the following components:
A solar photovoltaic cell converts light from the sun into electricity. Many such cells are joined to form panels. Solar panels of different wattage ratings are available in the market.These solar panels are connected to an inverter that converts the generated DC into alternating current.

The three types of photovoltaic solar panels that are available are mono-crystalline, multi-crystalline and amorphous. Though they are all made of silicon, the difference is in the treatment of silicon and the method used to create the solar cells.

If you have a 2kW photovoltaic installation on the roof of your household, it can be safely assumed that you will use half the amount of electricity generated and feed the other half to the national grid. The government pays you an amount for every kW/h fed into the grid and as a result the conventional electricity charges reduce because of the self generation.

With the help of the installer, it is important to choose a location, either on the roof or space on the ground, where there is unobstructed sunlight for a major part of the day. Only daylight is required to create the electricity, not sunshine. Less energy is generated when the roof or wall is covered with shadow. The maximum efficiency is obtained (in the UK) when solar panels are mounted on a roof that faces the south at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal.

It is important to choose solar panels of the highest quality for the household solar power system. Cheaper panels may cut down the set-up costs in the initial stage; however, such panels always run the risk of catching fire and may cause electrocution. The number of solar panels that need to be purchased for the household depends on factors such as the rating of the power system that is required, the load that is to be connected, the space that is available for mounting the panels and the amount of money that is willing to be spent by the household to set up the system. A solar panel of 1.5 kW rating usually occupies an area of around 12 square metres.

On completely setting up the solar power system, the MCS accredited installer will organize the paperwork that is required to receive all the benefits from the government feed-in-tariffs.

Texas has a large wind energy capacity. If ranked among the nations of the world it would rank sixth. But without new advances to overcome some of the major limitations of wind energy the state may be nearing the limit on how far it can go with wind.

Wind has an annoying tendency to not blow when we really want it to. One can make long-term assessments about the amount of electricity a wind installation will produce over time. But, that doesn’t help when it’s 105° in Houston in August and the wind in West Texas isn’t blowing.

Not surprisingly demand on the Texas electricity grid is highest during the summer months. Hot summer days in West Texas, the center of the Texas wind industry, tend to be windless. The wind does blow more at night. But by then the electricity isn’t needed as much.

One company has plans to help solve this dilemma by using compressed air and underground caverns in the Texas Panhandle. Rather than allow the electricity generation capacity of wind farms to be wasted overnight, the company, Chamisa Energy, will use that electricity to power machines that will pump the airtight caverns full of compressed air.

Once the caverns are filled with compressed air the energy of the wind has effectively been transformed into a different form that can be used later. When electricity demand goes up this compressed air can be used to provide needed electricity to the grid. The compressed air mixed with small amounts of natural gas can then be released to power generators which create electricity. This electricity is then fed to the grid during times when demand is high.

Texas ratepayers should welcome this project which once online should be the largest energy storage project in the state. Look for more companies to invest in projects to take advantage of this arbitrage opportunity between nighttime and daytime electricity rates. This makes it possible to buy electricity cheap when demand is low and profit by reselling it to the grid when it’s needed most.

The ultimate winner and all of this will be electricity consumers in Texas who could see cheap electricity rates as a result of a more efficient electricity grid. This allows the capacity of the grid to be expanded without need necessarily of building new power plants. This would also potentially lead to more short-term predictability in wholesale electricity rates by reducing the occurrence and severity of short term supply shortages.

For retail electricity providers in Texas lower wholesale price risk is a good thing. When they sell a fixed-rate electricity plan to consumers they are assuming the risk of wholesale price jumps. In other words retail consumers will ultimately benefit from lower wholesale price volatility just like they ultimately pay higher rates when wholesale price volatility is high.

As the deposits of oil and other non-renewable energy sources goes down and energy needs keep rising, the energy sector is looking for ways of generating renewable sources of energy and renewable energy is fast becoming a major market player.

The United Kingdom government is looking at ways to have renewable energy as a key part of its strategy to reduce over-reliance on overseas energy as well as reduce the impact of climate change.

The government is looking to generate 30 percent of its electricity from renewable sources a phenomenon that gives the opportunity for business people to invest in solar franchises.

By 2020 the government hopes to generate 15 per cent of its energy from renewable sources. This has created a huge market in energy franchises that is expected to grow in the coming years.

The United Kingdom alone is blessed with an abundance of solar energy and has even been ranked as the number two country in Europe after Germany in the availability of renewable energy sources as a result of its abundance in wind, wave and tidal energy.

These have however not been exploited fully but a solar market is fast opening estimated to be big business in a period of two years. Britain’s chancellors George Osborne when reading his budget speech emphasized the importance of solar energy by terming the renewable as a important component in Britain’s energy mix.

A study carried out by KPMG UK in 2011 found that Britain has the potential to be the top destination for renewable energy and that three quarters of dealmakers in the energy sector are willing to invest in it.

What do investors stand to gain by being part of the solar energy franchise?Since 2010 the deals in the renewable energy sector have been on an upward trend moving from 260 deals in 2009 to 446 deals in 2010 a 70 per cent increase. The trend continued into 2010 and is expected to be on a steady rise over the next decade. Renewable energy is tapped from natural recourses of which Britain boasts abundance in thus the sector stands to be profitable for those who take the bold step and get into solar energy franchising. Since 2004 the solar energy franchising industry has grown by 50 per cent every year and it is expected to be a $10-$15 million dollar industry by 2024. The demand for alternative sources of energy in homes has also gone up in the 21st century and yet the use of the energy accounts for only one percent of the market!

Verdict

The world is moving into alternative sources of energy and it is paramount that businessmen, especially those in the energy sector move with it. If you are in the energy business it is about time for you to own a renewable energy franchise if you want your business to remain relevant in the future. For those who want to expound their businesses a solar energy franchise will be a sure way for your business to grow. The market has very little competition currently making it an ideal business and putting you miles ahead when it floods.

Many people today are resorting to the use of green energy. One great example of such is the use of the solar panel. There are many different sizes and brands. However, it is evident that some of the best panels that are available in the market today tend to go at higher prices. This being the case, utmost care should be taken during the solar panel installation.

Engaging in a DIY project is always a good idea if you are on a tight budget. Nonetheless, there are many unsaid risks that accompany it. For instance, you might be good with a hammer and a nail on a level ground, but being up on the roof is risky. More so, you need to know that many companies have rules that accompany their warranties. As a matter of fact, there are companies that will cancel their warranty if you do not use an expert for the installation. To avoid these and more unforeseen risks, it is best to get the services of an experienced installer. Here are some few tips to help you get the right service provider.

Get Recommendations

This is always rule 101 whenever you are searching for a service provider. You can ask your friends and family for some recommendations. If you are not able to get recommendations from them then no need to worry, use the internet. Today, many service providers have their presence online. Go through different sites. You can mark a few that seem to have satisfactory information. While you are at it, read some of reviews. They should guide you to getting the right provider.

Check for Professional Accreditations

A good provider should have accreditations from the right bodies. For instance in the UK, Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is an independent body which carries out evaluations and certification of energy products and also installers. They have set rules, standards and regulations that govern the industry. These rules ensure that customers get good customer service and protection. You can always tell if a given installer is certified or not by checking their sites. Many Websites publish these accreditations on their sites. Even so, it is always best to double check. You can call the Scheme operator and enquire if the accreditations of a given provider are valid.

Post Installation Service

You need an installer that offers an after sale service. Good solar panel providers will keep a regular unpaid for checkups. While you are at it, ask if they provide a warranty or a guarantee. If they do, ask the time it takes for this to expire. Stay away from firms that do not offer either of the mentioned.

Cost

Many people seek a provider with the cheapest quotes. Though this might seem like a brilliant money saving idea, at most times cheap proves to be expensive. As you seek cheap providers, it is always imperative that you seek a balance. Always consider the services offered before the price. Identify the best installers before engaging in price comparisons.

Always ask your installer for advice on the best panels in the market. There are many different brands. Some are great others no so great. Nonetheless, an experienced installer will easily direct you to the best one for your home.