There are a lot of advantages of solar energy – some of them are pretty obvious for everyone. While others are not on the surface usually and may be a bit surprising. Let’s learn all the reasons why the world really needs to go solar.
Solar energy is the easiest way to get renewable energy source. When it comes to wind energy, there can be good windy days and completely still days. Also winds are usually much stronger outside than in your neighborhood. Unlike the wind, the sun is there every day (not that bright in the winter though). Moreover, solar panels can be installed on your own house roof. That is what makes solar energy the best one.
However, even though solar farms and panels on the rooftops keep being installed all over the world now. The energy amount we are able to collect now is too insignificant. Just a fun fact – our planet each year consumes as much energy for all the needs as the sun provides in one day. Sure, we are not able to collect all the energy from the sun. But this fact shows us how huge the potential is.
Advantages of using solar energy
- It is renewable
To the most important advantages of solar energy belongs the fact that it is renewable. Unlike wind power or hydropower, the sun is always here. So we cannot really run out of it. Well, for the next 5 billion years at least, according to the scientists. Sure, there are areas where sun is less bright. And there are more cloudy days, but most of the planet is pretty sunny.
- Reduces CO2 emissions
Using fossil fuels to generate electricity is what got the mankind into the current difficult ecological situation. Climate change caused by greenhouse gases that are the by-products of burning fossil fuels is getting real nowadays even for those non-believers. Extreme weather conditions, drought in some parts of the world, floods in others, rising sea levels. There is not even one country that has not faced any of these extreme events yet. That is why reducing CO2 emissions is one of the greatest advantages of all renewable energy sources, including solar energy.
- Reduces respiratory and cardiovascular health issues
This advantage comes out of the previous one. But still it is so important, that we decided to give it special attention. Respiratory and cardio health issues are more widespread than ever and it is not a surprise. Along with natural reasons, these health conditions are also caused by certain air pollutants. For example, nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxide and some other ones. That is why using solar power instead of fossil fuels will not only save some money on electric bills. It will also help the future generations to be healthier than the current one is.
- Reduces electricity expenses
If you are generate electricity using solar panels on the rooftop of your house, your energy bills will reduce substantially. At night you will still have to take electricity from the grid. But if you change some of your habits, your electricity bills will drop even more. For instance, start doing dishes and laundry during the day time instead of the night. Moreover, if your solar panels are connected to the electrical grid, the surplus of the energy you do not use during the day will go to the grid. So you will be receiving extra payment for that amount. Even though the initial cost of buying and installing solar panel system is quite high. In a few years all the purchase cost will come back to you in low electricity bills. Moreover, extra payment for surplus energy you export to the grid.
- Reduces water usage
This one may be a bit confusing at first. Still it is one of the most significant advantages of solar energy. All manufacturing requires some water, even producing solar panels does. There is no doubt about that. However, all energy stations (except solar ones) also use vast amounts of water during getting electricity. For example, nuclear power stations, natural gas and coal-based energy plants require huge amounts of water for cooling purposes.
Hydropower dams work on water too. Unlike nuclear or natural gas stations, hydropower ones do not pollute water during the usage of it. However, damming water has a serious negative impact on the local ecosystem. In order to build a dam on a river, vast areas need to be flooded. If a dam stops operating and gets disassembled, water goes back to its usual riverbed turning those flooded areas into one hundred percent depleted lands that are not suitable for any kind of further use.
All the above does not sound good taking into account quite limited water resources that are becoming even more limited due to the climate change. That is why using solar energy reduces water usage globally.
- Low costs of maintenance
It may be surprising but solar systems are pretty easy to maintain. The only thing you have to do regularly (a couple times a year would be enough) is to clean them because dust accumulating on the panels will reduce the amount of sunlight being caught. Solar panels from reliable manufacturers will have a warranty for up to 25 years and many more years after the warranty expires. During the warranty period and after it the only thing that needs to be replaced every 5-10 years is the inverter. The inverter is that part that converts solar energy into electricity or heat (depending on the type of the solar system – photovoltaic or heat).