The future of energy is green, and the odds are good that solar power will play a huge part in that. Solar power is one of the most popular sources of renewable energy and with good reason. Every day the sun rains down energy on our little planet. With a little ingenuity and a lot of inventive technologies, we're on the verge of being able to turn that energy into the power we need to cleanly power our lives.

Where Are We Now?

If you have looked into buying solar panels you probably know that solar energy is already a booming industry, but so far it makes up a relatively tiny fraction of our current energy production. That number is expected to grow in the near future, but there are several obstacles that must be overcome.

Buyback

In the past people who install solar panels on their homes found that some days were very productive while other days were less productive, which meant that they still needed to be plugged into the national grid in order to ensure a steady supply of electricity. In some cases, they were able to sell power back to the grid, so they might earn money on days when they got a lot of sun, which could then go to pay the utility bill on days when there wasn't so much sun. This is a workaround that has worked in the past, but it doesn't really solve the problem.

Batteries

Batteries are an area that shows great potential. If every home had solar panels and a battery large enough to store the extra power, then there's potential for every individual house to become self-sustaining. Interestingly, improving battery technology is probably the next step for the solar industry to take.

Windows and Roofs

The main complaint with solar panels is that they're a bit unsightly. Not everyone likes the look of big angled panels on their roofs, which is why many solar entrepreneurs are researching alternatives. Currently, panels are far and away the most efficient way to get solar power, but it's possible that in the future solar roofs will look much like other roofing options. One day we may even be able to build solar panels that are transparent and can replace standard glass to turn every window into a solar panel. Solar cells embedded into paving could turn roads and parking lots into power sources.

Farms

It won't just be houses producing electricity with solar panels. Solar farms already exist and will likely continue to expand onto rooftops, parking lots and even onto the ocean with floating solar farms. We already have the technology to build these farms, the problem has always been a cost-effective way to move the power generated into the grid and into people's homes. Who knows what the future holds for solar farms. As batteries and other technologies improve, solar farms could become more profitable. There have even been plans to build solar farms in space, as you could potentially harvest even more solar energy outside the protective layer of earth's atmosphere. The trouble isn't really the technology or availability, it's moving that energy from place to place efficiently.

The more renewable sources of renewable energy we can cultivate as a nation and a planet, the more secure our energy future will be. Solar won't be the only source of renewable energy available to us. Hydroelectric power is one of the oldest forms of renewable energy, wind will likely play a very important role and in certain areas geothermal power has huge potential. That said, solar power is going to be an important key when unlocking the power of renewable energy.