Last Updated on September 23, 2020
The world is changing. Maybe not at the pace that many of us would wish, but it is. And at this point, we all know that the future depends on renewable energies. After all, it is one of the few methods we have fully developed and deployed to obtain and use energy in a sustainable way.
Solar energy is undoubtedly the renewable energy that the general public is most familiar with since it has been commercially available for quite some time now. If you think about it, you probably still remember when it was unusual to see solar panels on rooftops of homes. Nowadays, that’s extremely common. For very good reasons.
In this article, we will tell you about five amazing benefits of solar power that might convince you to go solar. But first, let’s learn a little bit more about this renewable energy.
What is solar energy?
Not only does the sun make life possible on our planet, but it is also a powerful and neverending source of energy.
The light emitted by the sun and the resulting heat it generates can be captured and transformed into electricity and heat. Photovoltaic solar panels are the most common mechanism used to absorb and convert solar energy.
They transform sunlight directly into electricity through a process called the photovoltaic effect – in short, photovoltaic solar panels have materials that can absorb photons and liberate electrons, thus generating an electric current. There are three main uses of solar energy: residential, commercial, and utility.
To get a sense of solar energy’s potential, you should know that the Earth (its atmosphere, oceans, and land) absorbs about 3,850,000 exajoules of energy from the sun per year.
This means that if we could transform all solar energy absorbed by the planet for a little over an hour into electricity, it would be enough to power the entire world for one year.
It’s crazy! Unfortunately, the technology we have currently is not efficient enough to take advantage of all this potential. But if some technological advancements are made in this sector, solar energy will dominate the energy industry. The potential is virtually endless.
What are the benefits of solar power energy and solar panels?
1. It is environmentally friendly
This is perhaps the most important benefit of solar energy. In the last few decades, the environmental movement has grown considerably and managed to raise awareness of environmental problems such as climate change in such a way that nowadays it is constantly discussed in the political and social sphere.
As a result, world leaders are under increasing pressure to make the energy transition to renewable energies as soon as possible.
You can also make an individual effort to accelerate this change. So, if you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint, go ahead and invest in solar panels. They will generate clean, green energy, and you certainly won’t regret your decision.
A residential solar panel system will eliminate up to four tons of carbon emissions each year. You would have to plant more than 100 trees each year to eliminate the same carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
2. It can drastically reduce your electricity bill
You can argue that the cost of solar panels and its installation can pay your electricity bill for many months, sure. You’re right. But you have to remember that this is a long-term investment that may even pay itself off in the medium-term, depending on your average power consumption.
Moreover, it is worth mentioning that current solar panel installation costs are way down and nowhere near the price it was about ten years ago (they’re also way more efficient).
So, if you still think that you can’t afford a solar energy system, you should probably talk with an expert and ask for an estimate price. You’re in for a pleasant surprise.
You must also take into account that, by buying a solar energy system, you are protecting yourself against rising energy costs – in the past ten years, they have gone up by an average of 3% per year.
Assess your situation and make the necessary calculations. One thing is for sure: you won’t have to pay a small fortune to your energy supplier every single month.
3. It can make you some money
In some areas of the globe, it is possible to sell surplus energy generated by your solar panels back to the utility company.
The amount of money you receive from the surplus energy you sell is usually deducted from your final bill or given as a credit. Either way, your solar panels are making you some easy dollars.
4. It significantly increases the value of your house
That’s true. According to real estate experts, houses equipped with solar panels have a higher value and sell more quickly than others of similar typology but without a solar energy system. This tendency is expected to grow, which only confirms that this is a valuable investment.
5. It helps the local economy
The solar industry is growing at an incredible pace. Jobs in this sector are high paying and can’t be outsourced, so that you will be investing in your local economy and contributing to its growth. That’s another great reason to invest!
In addition to all the benefits above, it is also worth considering the current technological landscape.
The truth is that photovoltaic panels are increasingly efficient, and there are strong reasons to believe that in the near future, it will be possible to store sufficient solar energy to be used during the night – the period when people use electricity the most in their homes.
This can be said with some degree of confidence if we consider the efforts being made by battery manufacturers. Just like photovoltaic panels are becoming more and more efficient, so are batteries. There’s still some work to do, but Tesla’s Powerwall already proves that it is possible.
