
Yeti 1500x Portable Power Station
High wattage in a convenient size.
Written by Georgette Kilgore
Eco-Friendly Natural Products | February 3, 2022
Our planet definitely needs help to lower greenhouse gases, and since one of the biggest polluters is power production, finding alternative methods makes sense. But are solar generators the answer? You may be surprised to learn that while solar generators and panels do help lower emissions by some, they can’t eliminate them without help.
Solar generators have come a long way in the last 10-15 years, but if you’re serious about reducing your carbon footprint, there are some important things to know before purchasing that generator for your next camping trip or attaching solar panels to your roof.
We know that solar panels have been used successfully in many areas of the globe as a reliable, green energy source. So, how does that translate to home use through generators? And can you lower your carbon emissions using them alone? This article explores those questions and offers reviews on the top-performing generators of 2022.
High wattage in a convenient size.
Super lightweight with low cost.
Reasonable watts with a slightly heftier size.
Lower watts but much more affordable.
Perfect for campers and super lightweight.
Mega wattage for powering anything, not too heavy to transport easily.
Heavier, but convenient wheels make this easy to move.
Without going too deeply into the science, solar panels work on the same general principle as photosynthesis, but unlike plants, they convert sunlight into energy instead of synthesizing carbon dioxide, food, and water. Modern solar panels are about 20 percent efficient under standard conditions, though of course, many factors such as location, weather, and even temperature can affect this.
After the panels produce the energy, things get a bit tricky. Most of us need a reliable, steady source of electricity for gadgets and major appliances, so solar generators store the solar power they create and release it in a way that’s reliable and steady.
Solar panels provide relatively cheap and inexpensive energy. In fact, unlike fossil fuels that the US Energy Information Agency says provided over 60% of America’s utility-scale electricity generation in 2020,1 renewable energy production is still in its infancy. But, both the costs and efficiency of solar cells have been improving for years. As a result, the cost of solar power has dropped by a factor of 400 in the last 45 years… and residential solar panels produce about 18 times less carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) than coal.
However, home panels and the associated equipment they require can be expensive. As a long-term investment, solar will save you money eventually, and there are a number of federal incentives to support their installation in homes, but the up-front cost is heavy. But, that doesn’t mean that the price isn’t worth it for the environment… it is.
Opponents of solar panels are fond of pointing out that for people who live somewhere that only gets 20 sunny days per year, they won’t work. Also, they argue that the manufacture of the panels generates pollution. This is because some of the components of the panels and their associated batteries contain parts that cause pollution when mined or are difficult to dispose of once they’ve become obsolete.
Although those things are accurate, a good solar panel installation can last up to 40 years, and typical solar residential solar panels have a carbon footprint that’s about 18 times smaller than the carbon footprint of coal and about 10 times smaller than the footprint of natural gas, so they remain a viable option for reducing your ecological footprint.
America alone produced over 5 billion metric tons of CO2 to generate electricity in 2019,2 and the rest of the world produced another 28 billion metric tons. Alternative forms of energy can start to reduce those massive numbers. To determine the amount of your emissions you can use an ecological footprint calculator.
Knowing whether your home is a good candidate for solar installation is easy to find. Google, one of the first major companies to go completely carbon neutral in 2007, has a program called Project Sunroof, which allows you to enter your address and your average power bill (so they can calculate your savings) and the tool will tell you whether solar is feasible for your home.3
This is important to know, because most generators require solar panel installation.
“Best” is a fairly subjective word… but these generators really stand out for 2022.
Keep in mind that there are different types of generators and systems. For example, if you’re looking to get off the grid with your RV, you’ll want a portable system for camping. By comparison, if you want a backup generator in case the grid fails or has an issue, you’ll be looking for a heftier (and more expensive) home system.
Also, most of these generators – require solar panels. Remember to budget for the solar panels on specific models, and to check with your provider on installation best practices.
There are a lot of great generators on the market, and going solar can seriously decrease your carbon footprint, so it’s an AWESOME way to reduce your footprint. But the unavoidable truth is that even the greenest, most eco-friendly products generate some emissions when manufactured.
Fortunately, there’s a way to fully erase CO2 emissions, regardless of the system you choose… carbon offset providers step in to supplement the greenhouse gas reduction benefits that solar delivers. Going solar is an excellent way to help the planet, but carbon offset tree planting go just a bit farther. They erase the carbon footprint of production and deliver lasting benefits for the planet, helping to fight climate change and restore vital ecosystems and habitats that have been destroyed.
1U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2021, February). What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source? Retrieved May 22, 2021, from eia.gov: <https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3>
2U.S Department of the Interior. (n.d.). How much carbon dioxide does the United States and the World emit each year from energy sources? Retrieved May 22, 2021, from usgs.gov: <https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-much-carbon-dioxide-does-united-states-and-world-emit-each-year-energy-sources?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products>
3Google Project Sunroof. (n.d.). How Project Sunroof Works. Retrieved May 22, 2021, from Google.com: <https://www.google.com/get/sunroof>
4Amazon.com, Inc. (n.d.). Yeti 1500X Portable Power Station, 1516Wh Portable Lithium Battery Emergency Power Station, 2000W Portable AC Inverter Generator, Outdoor Portable Generator, Portable Solar Generator for Solar Panels. Retrieved May 22, 2021, from Amazon.com: <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FX3S5LF?>
5Amazon.com, Inc. (n.d.). Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1000, 1002Wh Solar Generator (Solar Panel Optional) with 3x110V/1000W AC Outlets, Solar Mobile Lithium Battery Pack for Outdoor RV/Van Camping, Emergency. Retrieved May 22, 2021, from Amazon.com: <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083KBKJ8Q/?>
6sunboxlabs. (n.d.). Sunboxlabs Battery. Retrieved May 22, 2021, from sunboxlabs.com: <https://sunboxlabs.com/>
7Amazon.com, Inc. (n.d.). EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station DELTA, UPS Power Supply 1260Wh Battery Pack with 6 1800W (3300W Surge) AC Outlets, Solar Battery Generator for Outdoor Camping RV. Retrieved May 22, 2021, from Amazon.com: <https://www.amazon.com/EF-ECOFLOW-Portable-Station-Generator/dp/B083FR3762/>
8Earthtech Products. (n.d.). Natures Generator Portable 1800-Watt Solar Generator – Gold Kit. Retrieved May 22, 2021, from Earthtechproducts.com: <https://www.earthtechproducts.com/genex-1800-watt-solar-generator-kit.html?>
9Image Source: Bluetti Power
10Image Source: ALLWEI Power
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