21 Surprising Benefits of Adopting Solar Energy

Do you know why electricity prices kept on increasing almost every year?

Well, our energy consumption mostly depends upon fossil fuels. It includes coal, oil, natural gas, etc.

And, with the increase in the prices of these resources, our electricity bill also increases.

But, is there any alternative to that?

Of course, yes!

Solar Energy is one of the best alternatives to fossil fuels. By adopting solar, we can combat rising energy prices.

But, rising energy prices are not the only problem that solar energy can solve. 

There are many other benefits of adopting solar energy as well.

And, in this post, I will share the 20+ benefits of solar energy that you should know.

Let’s start our discussion with a basic introduction to solar energy.

About Solar Energy

Everyday earth receives a huge amount of energy directly from the sun. This energy comes in the form of radiation.

And, the radiant energy we receive from the sun is called solar energy. 

This energy can be converted into heat or electricity with the help of solar panels.

The converted energy can be stored for later use with the help of various solar storage methods.

If you want to know more about solar energy, it’s working & storage methods, you can go through our previous posts.

Let’s have a look at some of the most surprising benefits of solar energy.

21 Surprising Benefits of Solar Energy

There can be numerous benefits of adopting solar energy. However, I have tried to explain the 21 best ones.

Here we go!

1. Solar Energy is Renewable

The fossil fuels that we use today are limited & non-renewable. It means they cannot be renewed.

However, solar energy is unlimited & renewable. It will last as long as the sun lasts.

So, we can say that there is an excess of solar energy & we do not have to worry about the end.

Other renewable sources of energy are wind, tides, geothermal heat, water, etc.

Related:

• Renewable vs Non-renewable Resources
• Top 10 Largest Solar Parks in the World

2. Easy Availability

Unlike oil, gas & coal, solar energy is easily available across the world.

All we need is the solar power system & we can generate it anywhere even at our own rooftop.

The only problem is that it is not available during the night. However, we have various energy storage methods that we can use to store it for the night.

3. Energy Independence

Solar energy can help an individual, organization or nation to become energy independent.

Today, we depend on the government for most of our energy needs. But, solar energy gives us the power to generate energy on our own.

All we need is a solar power system with proper sunlight & we are good to go.

4. Solar Energy is Cheap

The energy that we get from the sun is completely free. However, we have to pay for the devices we use to generate electricity from this energy.

Of course, there is a big investment at the start. But solar panels last more than 25 years.

If we diverge our investment over a time frame of 20 to 25 years, then solar energy seems to be a cheaper alternative.

And, yeah there might be a little maintenance cost for the battery & other devices. But, overall it is cheaper compared to traditional energy.

5. Wide Usage

Whether you use it to power your home or business, it can be used anywhere you want.

Even these days, solar panels are being used to light up roadside illuminators & to power satellites in space.

The only thing to worry about is you need a large number of panels in order to generate more electricity.

6. Environment Friendly

Solar panels release little to no harmful gases & thus do not cause air pollution.

On the other hand, the burning of fossil fuels releases a significant amount of harmful gases & chemicals.

Along with that, they do not require water to generate electricity. 

Thus, we can say that using solar energy not only helps to control air pollution but also saves water.

7. Increases Home Value

If you are using solar panels at your home, then it can increase your home value by 3 to 4%.

According to the research by Berkeley Labs, buyers in the US are willing to pay a $15,000 premium for homes with solar installation.

Thus, if you want, you can later sell your home at a much higher valuation.

8. Low Maintenance

Solar panels need lesser maintenance compared to the systems based on fossil fuels.

You just have to clean them periodically. They require cleaning of dirt during windy days & snow during snowfall.

If you are using batteries to store solar energy, then you might also need to change the distilled water used on a regular basis.

9. High ROI

Investing in solar power gives you a high return on investment in the long run.

The average cost of solar panels starts from $9000 & the average electricity bill is around $117 per month.

This is how you can get a big return on your long term investment.

10. Solar Energy can be Stored

Solar energy can be stored & used during night when there is no sunshine.

There are two types of solar storage methods:

i). for storing heat energy & 

ii) for storing electricity.

The solar water heater is an example of a storage device used for storing heat energy. On the other hand, batteries are used to store electricity.

11. Lesser use of Fossil Fuels

By using solar energy, we can limit the usage of fossil fuels to a great extent.

Limiting the use of fossil fuels can help in reducing pollution & greenhouse gases.

12. Health Benefits of Solar Energy

Burning of fossil fuels releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide & other greenhouse gases that are harmful to our health.

Some of the major health issues caused by burning fossil fuels involve cancer, heart problems & respiratory diseases.

According to WHO, over 7 million people die every year due to air pollution.

And, fossil fuels play a major role in air pollution which leads to critical diseases & even death.

Solar panels do not produce harmful gases & hence are one of the safest alternatives to fossil fuels.

By adopting solar energy, we not only reduce air pollution but also the diseases caused by it.

13. Tackle Rising Electricity Prices

Due to lesser supply & higher demand for fossil fuels, the electricity prices kept on increasing each year.

However, you can tackle these rising prices by making your own electricity.

Solar panels can help you do so. 

In this way, we can say that solar energy also helps you to stay away from rising inflation.

Related: How many Solar panels do I need to run an AC?

14. No Noise Production

You might have seen the traditional electricity generator. These generators produce so much sound causing noise pollution.

Unlike traditional electricity systems, solar panels do not produce noise.

15. Tax Benefits

Do you know, the government provides various subsidies & tax benefits for adopting solar power?

The Federal Solar Tax Credit provides somewhere between 24% to 26% of tax benefits for installing solar panels.

This is incredible. Isn’t it?

16. Selling Excess Solar Power

Along with using solar energy on your own, you can also sell excess power that you generate.

By signing the net metering agreement with your local power utility, you can sell excess power that you generate back to the grid.

17. Modular Nature

Solar panels are modular in nature. It means you can increase or decrease the amount of energy you want.

By adding extra solar panels, you can easily increase the energy output. In the same way, decreasing them reduces your output.

Please note that, with the increase in the number of panels, you might also need to increase the battery capacity.

18. Less Power Loss

In the traditional energy system, we use transmission lines to transfer electricity from one place to another.

The loss of power in these transmission lines is a big problem. 

However, if you are using an electricity generator at your home, then this problem might be limited to some extent.

Solar panels can help you save a lot of energy by halting the power loss.

19. Economic Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy plays an important role in the economic development of a country.

Increased demand for solar energy leads to an increase in manpower needed. Thus, more & more people get new jobs.

Also, as the country becomes energy independent, the GDP also increases which means higher economic growth.

20. Reduce Energy Imports

Fossil fuels can be found everywhere around the world. However, not all countries have the same amount of them.

Some countries do only have oil reserves while others may have natural gas or coal.

For example, the United States is the largest oil-producing country while China & India produce the most amount of coal.

Thus, all countries are dependent on each other for fossil fuels. 

Solar energy production can help them reduce energy imports & become self-dependent.

21. Sustainable Development

Last but not the least, Solar energy can also help a country in sustainable development.

It refers to the development that completes the present need without compromising the growth of the future generations.

By using fossil fuels, we are continuously compromising with what might be needed in the future.

Thus, solar energy also leads to the sustainable development of a country.

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Up to You!

I have tried my best to explain the major benefits that you can get by adopting solar energy.

Now, it’s up to you, whether you get benefited by using solar power or keep your dependency on fossil fuels.

You might also ask, “I don’t have enough money, so how can I go solar?”

Well, I have two answers to your question.

1. You can either take a loan from the government with minimal down payment & huge tax benefits.

 Or

2. You can start small by slowly replacing your electronic devices with solar-powered ones.

Either way, you will do a great job!

I hope you love my views on the benefits of solar energy. If you are looking for more such topics, make sure to subscribe to our email newsletter.

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