Solar Power Facts From Solar Energy Experts

When considering solar power for a home, all the aspects need consideration. While a financially sound decision for homeowners, solar energy experts know that other facts, along with the ROI of solar, make photovoltaics a sound investment.  

Saving money may be one of the main reasons individuals and companies invest in solar. However, it isn’t the only outcome. 

Its growth has many positive side effects that we are just starting to realize. Together these factors make solar power a worthwhile investment for years to come. 

A Look at Solar Energy and Solar Power

Before taking a look at some of the facts behind this growing industry, let’s take a look at solar energy and solar power. While often used synonymously, they are not the same.

Solar energy comes from the solar radiation that the sun produces. Devices, such as solar panels, harness this energy and transform it into solar power. 

Together solar energy and solar power generate electricity that powers homes and businesses across the US. As solar energy experts, we know a thing or two about how solar power works and why people should invest in technology that harnesses it. 

Why Solar Energy is Important for the Future

Solar energy isn’t going anywhere any time soon, which makes it a great source of power. However, solar does have a  list of pros and cons to consider. 

The production of solar panels, while better than fossil fuels, has become a controversial con on this list. Thankfully, professionals in the solar industry continue to innovate. New production and recycling processes help increase the positive impact that solar will have on the future. 

In the meantime, the power produced by solar energy continues to grow. In 2019, growth in the United States reached two million installations.    

Benefits of Solar Energy

Below are some of the positive results of the push for solar over the past several years. These fast facts show how much solar has grown and the impact it has.

Power of the Sun

The sun has the potential to power the earth for the foreseeable future without any problems. The sun provides more power than the world uses in a year in one hour of sunlight. While solar technology may not capture all of this energy quite yet, the solar industry works tirelessly to increase technology efficiency and storage capacity.     

Cost of Climate Change

Climate change causes damage to homes and cities, which has cost taxpayers $350 billion over the ten years between 2008 and 2018. However, with the implementation of photovoltaics and other renewable energy forms, our contribution to climate change will reduce significantly.

Impact of Residential Solar

The carbon offset of residential solar depends on how much solar the home needs. Energy Sage states the offset of residential solar can be quite significant. A 5 KW system typically offsets 103 metric tons of CO2 in its lifetime. 

The Cost of Solar Power

The cost of solar panels has decreased over the years. Now incentivized-solar costs less than conventional energy. 

These price decreases have come from technological improvements over the years. However, the cost of solar has the potential to decrease even further with the implementation of revised solar permitting processes.