For several decades, solar energy has been hyped in many countries as an alternative power source. Progressively, however, solar is standing toe to toe with all the other traditional power sources as a cost-effective, viable option for electricity.
As soon as solar energy spurt onto the scene in the early 1980s, nobody was actually making an economic case for including it in the utility electric fleet of America. All the arguments in favor of solar was principally environmental. PV (Photovoltaic) panels generate energy even without carbon emissions and also without the continuous need for fuel. Since the year 1998, however, the overall cost of panels has significantly reduced by about 8% annually. Now, it’s reaching what is commonly referred to as ‘grid parity,’ which simply means that the electricity produced by Photovoltaic is actually cost-competitive on a per-kilowatt basis with electricity from coal or natural gas plants.
At the point of grid parity, activists and supporters of the technology can be able to use both environmental benefits and pure cost analysis to make the case. Not so long ago, the EPA finally released its Clean Power Plan, which is expected to actually define the environmental legacy of the entire Obama administration. The plan simply calls for a countrywide 30% reduction in carbon emissions by the year 2030. Whilst environmental benefits were surely part of the motivation behind the plan, possibility largely hinges on the general affordability of renewable energy technology.
Customarily, the electric utilities in the U.S are vertically unified monopolies. Vertical unified simply means that one company produces and the other one delivers a product to the consumers. However, solar energy, is now breaking that vertical model up. Whilst it does not really make sense for every individual to have their own coal plant, PV electricity offers every American the grand opportunity to produce their very own power. This has come to be commonly known as energy democratization. Currently, people have an exceptional level of choice. With this particular choice, many home-owners are literally crunching the numbers and waking up to the fact that an investment in their own electric production can seriously save those thousands of dollars over the life of the system.
It is not only individuals that are actually taking advantage of declining prices on their own rooftops. Most utility companies have also seen the writing on the wall and started to invest in large-scale solar systems. We now have so many solar power farms situated throughout the U.S. They are tactically constructed in areas with very high solar resources, for instance the Mojave Desert. As a matter of fact, the largest of these farms have a production capacity of more than 500 megawatts.
It is no secret that most countries are now increasingly aware of the economic advantages of producing electricity at home and the need for a clean energy future. Solar energy is actually coming into its own as the environmental and economic choice of the future.
But what are the useful benefits of solar energy?
Solar energy actually provides home owners numerous benefits over all the other traditional energy sources like coal and oil. It has considerably increased in popularity simply because of its ability to reduce energy costs after it is installed and is very friendly to the planet.
The following are five benefits home owners get after installing solar panels:
NON-POLLUTING
Well, we all now know that solar energy is a reliable, renewable and clean source of power which basically makes it an excellent alternative to using fossil fuels. All the traditional energy sources release nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, carbon dioxide, and most of the other harmful gases, which surely have a negative impact on our environment. Additionally, solar energy completely depends on the sun’s energy for power and hence eliminates the need to store radioactive waste or even transport the type of fuel.
REMOTE LOCATIONS
Since the solar energy installation does not really depend on running power lines or even similar hardware it’s absolutely possible to install this clean and renewable source of energy in the most remote areas. A cost saving advantage of this is the ability to utilize the solar energy in areas that would find it rather difficult or costly to install the underground or permanent overhead power lines. This unique and eco-friendly source of power is perfect for any area that actually gets a steady supply of direct sunlight.
LOW MAINTENANCE
Modern cells and solar panels have been manufactured to last and generally need minimal ongoing maintenance after being installed professionally. Whilst the cost to have solar energy installed is somewhat high, the future running expenses are nearly zero. In most instances, it can take up to 15 years to recover the initial investment simply because of the ability to transfer excess power to the energy providers and also lower energy cost.
RENEWABLE
You can be certain that installing the solar panels will offer you a long-term renewable source of energy that actually possess the potential to work in almost any location. One of the great reasons to install this kind of energy is the ability to not rely so much on other countries to help you meet electricity demands. Whilst the solar panels are not able to gather enough energy during the nighttime or even on cloudy days, they are intended to gather more than enough energy on a clear sunny day to fully meet all the needs.
INSTALLATION
Fitting the actual panels is normally an uncomplicated process and does not in any way include cords, power sources, or even wires. However, it can benefit to have a solar power inverter for individuals that prefer not to depend fully on battery power. Additionally, because the hardware is usually installed on the roof of the building or rather property, it is not essential to create an extra space on the grounds to hold this clean and efficient source of energy.
