Solar energy has been around for quite a while and solar power systems have proved a very popular choice for both residential and commercial use. Currently, there are over one million solar PV sites in the United Kingdom, and the country’s solar production capacity is around 13,563 Mega Watts, as reported by Statista. This article considers the benefits of going solar to fuel the conversion to green energy sources.
Cost-Effective Solution for Energy Requirements
Today’s solar systems have improved substantially from what they were 15 years ago. Back then, solar panels were far more costly and less effective. However, as a result of technological developments the systems have become substantially cheaper, more compact and more efficient, making them a far more attractive proposition.
Solar PV system requires a one time investment that will continue to pay you back for the rest of your life.
Protection Against Rising Energy Cost
The National Grid has a target of preparing Britain’s electricity system to be able to run on purely zero-carbon electricity by 2025. Zero-carbon explained. The government has also approved draft legislation to make the UK net zero by 2050. These objectives need to be achieved alongside a continual increase in power requirements. Meeting these challenges is likely to result in increased electricity prices.
By contrast, when a solar system is installed it provides a free and permanent energy source. Rising prices for electricity generated externally will therefore increase the amount saved from your own solar power system.
Helping the Environment.
The past few years have been shockingly disturbing from an environmental perspective. Across the world we have seen multiple wildfires, higher sea levels, dirty air and increasing noise pollution. We have also witnessed an increase in the frequency and severity of storms, as well as increasingly extreme heat and cold waves.
The climate today is not as we knew it twenty or even ten years ago. In 2020 the Earth’s temperature was around 0.98 degrees Celsius higher than the 20th century’s average. Energy use is considered to be the most significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions
These events have in turn triggered major changes in energy production as the world adapts to different options for energy production. Power for oil, natural gas, nuclear and coal is progressively being replaced by more eco friendly alternatives such as wind, biomass and solar. Whether or not you are an environmentalist, it’s clear that we all need to step up and take action where we can.
An interesting development of the Covid pandemic has been that lower production activity has reduced air pollution levels; air quality has improved drastically because of lower greenhouse gas emissions. We can work on further improving the condition by switching to alternative power sources – and solar power is a strong contender.
Moderating Temperature
Solar panels are mostly installed on the roof, which adds an extra layer of insulation. Solar panels passively shade your building, helping to reduce the heat gain into your attic. By creating a gap between the panel and the roof, an airflow is created that keeps both the panels and roof cooler. Despite Solar panel cells being dark blue or black, they are covered in glass and typically have an aluminium frame, both of which also reflect some sunlight away.
The end result is that If your house gets extremely warm during the summer, that extra level of insulation can help to regulate temperatures. Do solar panels keep your roof and attic cooler?
Creating Jobs for the Economy
All healthy economies need to create jobs and solar panel manufacturing, sales and installation are all labour-intensive processes.
In a report by Statista, the UK solar market industry has an annual turnover of around 1.83 billion GBP. According to an analysis by Solar Media Ltd, the UK solar industry has grown by 27% between 2019 and 2020, a measure of the importance of solar power generation in the UK. With such strong growth, the solar industry has the potential to create many more jobs and help to improve the economy.
Providing Energy Independence
There are two types of solar power systems. The first one is cheaper to install and enables the solar power generated during the day to be used instead of drawing power from the grid. However, you need to use electricity from the grid at night and early in the morning.
The second more expensive option requires either minimal power requirement from the grid or can potentially offer complete energy independence. The solar system includes one or more batteries that can store excess energy produced during the day. When the system stops producing electricity after the sun sets, you use the energy stored in the battery to meet your ongoing nighttime power requirements.
Including a battery system increases installation and maintenance costs, but it also encourages you to be more conscious of your electricity consumption – for example, this might prompt the use of more energy-efficient lighting fixtures and electrical appliances, which are beneficial both for you and the environment.
Increasing the Worth of Your Home
Green energy is becoming increasingly in demand and by installing solar, you can significantly improve the value of your home. According to research by Effectivehome.co.uk, homes with solar PV systems add an average of £30k to the value of a property.
Similarly, rental property owners and property managers are able to increase the rental value of their properties if they offer solar power systems and other energy-efficient installations.
Increasing Savings
Although it may sound like a contradictory statement, you need to invest to save. Solar power systems need to be viewed as a long-term investment. Many householders recover the cost of solar system installation within the first five to ten years through the amount saved on electricity bills.
If you are producing excess energy which can be sold to the grid, you can also earn from the investment, which is a major plus. The key here is to make sure you calculate how much energy your home requires and have a system that will produce a little more than enough so you never run out of electricity.
In summary
The major drawback of solar is the requirement to pay the initial installation cost. However, it should be viewed as an investment rather than a cost, since consistent long term savings will be delivered in the future.
Focus on the financial benefits as well as helping the environment as the motivation for switching to solar power. We can all play our part in moving to a renewable energy alternative – and going solar is the simplest way to do so.