8 Benefits of Solar Energy
Solar energy is the key to a clean energy future. Every day, the sun gives off far more energy than we need to power everything on earth. Did you know that there are around 900,000 solar panels installed in British homes?
Read our list of 8 reasons why making the switch to Solar Energy makes perfect sense!
Going solar will help cut your carbon footprint
Solar energy produces no greenhouse gas emissions. The Energy Saving Trust says a typical home solar PV system could save around 1.3 to 1.6 tonnes of carbon per year, depending on where in the UK you live.
To give you a clearer idea of what these numbers mean, 1.3 tonnes of carbon emissions is equivalent to the amount of CO2 emissions that come from using 536 gallons of petrol. In fact, a standard solar PV system in the UK will avoid 39 tons of carbon dioxide over 30 years which is equivalent to growing 2,365 tree seedlings for 10 years.
Solar will help you save money on your energy bills
Installing solar panels on your property decreases your reliance on the National Grid, guaranteeing to lower your energy bills. Solar energy is now the cheapest electricity in history. In some cases, you can save as much as 70% off your annual energy bill. Essentially, you’re removing the supplier out of the equation, and with no one owning the sun (yet) you can’t pay tax on it.
It’s a lot better for your health
Did you know that over 8 million people around the world die due to breathing in polluted air? As we all know burning fossil fuels such as oil and coal, creates greenhouse gasses that are poisonous to inhale. On the contrary, solar energy is squeaky clean! It produces no harmful toxins and isn’t only great for the environment but it’s also good for our health.
Solar tech is advancing rapidly
As a result of the increase in demand and the advancement in solar technology, the prices of Solar PV have dropped globally by around 82% – and not only that, but they’re continuing to drop. This means solar has never been more affordable or accessible.
As an industry, it’s come a very long way. When the Government first brought in incentives for solar, it mostly focused on arrays of solar panels, however, battery storage has since advanced. Battery storage solutions now mean you can store the energy produced by your Solar panels during the day, to be used whenever your home demands it. This revolutionary bit of tech means you can essentially live off-grid, and be completely energy independent.
Your EPC rating will increase after installing solar panels
Solar PV is an amazing way to boost your home’s EPC rating. By installing solar panels your EPC rating will increase to a minimum of a D or above! Having a good EPC rating = more energy-efficient + lower bills.
Electric vehicles and solar energy go hand in hand
With the UK Government announcing a ban on new sales of petrol and diesel cars from 2030 (for the time being..), the switch towards electrical vehicles is inevitable. Thankfully solar energy and electric mobility go hand in hand. It, therefore, makes perfect sense to install a home EV charger, as it means you can charge your car at convenient hours. However, without solar panels – charging your car with today’s energy prices (April 2022) could be quite pricey! By charging your Electric car from your Solar PV system, you can save even more money, whilst further reducing your carbon footprint.
You can get paid for the energy you generate
In January 2020, the Government introduced the Smart Export Guarantee Scheme to pay households for installing Solar Panels. The SEG scheme essentially pays a household for the amount of energy they export back to the National Grid. This also means that you are essentially providing the grid and other households around the UK with renewable energy. How amazing?
In order to benefit from such a scheme, you must sign up for an export tariff. Each Export Tariff pays different rates for your generated Solar Energy. Examples of Export Tariffs, include Bulb which offers 5.38p per kWh, and Octopus Energy which has a fixed rate of 5.5p per kWh.
Installing solar PV reduces your dependence on the National Grid
When you install solar panels and battery storage, you are able to have an off-grid system = 0 reliance on the National Grid for energy and you become more self-sufficient. This also means you’ll be less affected when energy prices rise (and continue to rise) and you’ll also be protected against power outages as you’ll be able to use the electricity you’ve generated and stored.
It’s affordable and simple
Shifting to Solar Energy is a terrific way to do your part for the environment. Every single person who switches to green energy makes a massive difference. We specialise in installing renewable technologies like solar panels, get in touch with us today to see how much you could save with solar. Here’s a recent example of what we’ve done for Livv Housing Group when we installed 100 solar panels to help them decarbonise their head office in Liverpool – Livv Housing Case Study.
