Did you know that the immense energy that the sun supplies to the earth for one hour is more than enough to cover the world’s energy requirements for a year? Without a doubt, the sun is a vital energy source, and while we can only collect a small fraction of it, harnessing this power through the installation of solar panels can significantly impact the globe.
Get onboard with utility bidder to take a look at some of the key advantages of using solar energy for power generation.
Renewable Energy Source
Solar energy will exist as long as the sun exists in the sky.
Diverse Applicability
Solar energy can be of a variety of uses. You can utilize photovoltaics to produce electricity or heat energy (solar thermal).
Lower Maintenance Costs
Solar energy panels, in general, do not necessitate a lot of maintenance requirements. Most reputable solar panel providers ensure a warranty of 20 to 25 years. If in doubt, you can always depend on professional cleaning agencies, which charge between £25 and £35 for this service.
There is also no breakdown of the solar panels since there is no movement of parts.
Your solar power system’s wires must be maintained to ensure maximum efficiency, apart from the inverter.
Advantages of Solar Energy
1. Renewable Energy Source
Among all the benefits of solar panels, the most important thing is that solar energy is a truly renewable energy source. It can be harnessed in all areas of the world and is available every day. We cannot run out of solar energy, unlike some of the other sources of energy.
Solar energy will be accessible as long as we have the sun, therefore sunlight will be available to us for at least 5 billion years when according to scientists the sun is going to die.
2. Reduces Electricity Bills
Since you will be meeting some of your energy needs with the electricity your solar system has generated, your energy bills will drop. How much you save on your bill will be dependent on the size of the solar system and your electricity or heat usage.
Moreover, not only will you be saving on the electricity bill, but there is also a possibility to receive payments for the surplus energy that you export back to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). If you generate more electricity than you use (considering that your solar panel system is connected to the grid).
3. Low Maintenance Costs
Solar energy systems generally don’t require a lot of maintenance. You only need to keep them relatively clean, so cleaning them a couple of times per year will do the job. If in doubt, you can always rely on specialised cleaning companies, which offer this service from around £25-£35.
Most reliable solar panel manufacturers offer 20-25 years warranty.
Also, as there are no moving parts, there is no wear and tear. The inverter is usually the only part that needs to be changed after 5-10 years because it is continuously working to convert solar energy into electricity and heat (solar PV vs. solar thermal). Apart from the inverter, the cables also need maintenance to ensure your solar power system runs at maximum efficiency.
So, after covering the initial cost of the solar system, you can expect very little spending on maintenance and repair work.
Disadvantages of Solar Energy
1. Cost
The initial cost of purchasing a solar system is fairly high. This includes paying for solar panels, inverter, batteries, wiring, and the installation. Nevertheless, solar technologies are constantly developing, so it is safe to assume that prices will go down in the future.
2. Weather-Dependent
Although solar energy can still be collected during cloudy and rainy days, the efficiency of the solar system drops. Solar panels are dependent on sunlight to effectively gather solar energy. Therefore, a few cloudy, rainy days can have a noticeable effect on the energy system. You should also take into account that solar energy cannot be collected during the night.
On the other hand, if you also require your water heating solution to work at night or during wintertime, thermodynamic panels are an alternative to consider.
