Solar panels are already emerging as an excellent way to power your home reliably and inexpensively. In conjunction with other methods of green energy production such as wind power and hydropower, solar power could prove an essential resource if the Western vision of a preserving our energy supplies, and our planet. With impressive statistics suggesting that solar energy is more than viable if harnessed appropriately, the efficiency solar panels can only progress from here
A solar panel is a large photovoltaic cell which can be installed on the roof of a building so that its owner might convert sunlight into potential energy. This potential energy can be used to power heating, lighting, and a number of electrical appliances which are depended on by home-owners and business proprietors alike. If you are considering branching out into new ways to generate green power or even revenue, the switch to solar panels could be ideal.
The Potential of the Solar Panel
Recent statistics suggest that if we were able to realise the full potential of solar power, photovoltaic cells could produce up to 1kw of energy per square metre of land, which would be enough to power communities worldwide without the need for additional energy sources. Currently, although sunlight has been used to in a bid to fulfil our energy requirements since ancient times, a surge in the popularity of non-renewable energy means that it only accounts for a small proportion of the world's energy, but experts hypothesise that given the need for sustainable energy sources, the use of solar power will increase by forty per cent by 2040.
It is thought that a standard, 2kw solar panel system can produce ample energy to run a home, even when the weather seems dull. In fact, experts estimate that the amount of energy which reaches Earth every year would provide double the amount of potential energy that civilisation has, and could ever hope to gain from natural, non-renewable energy sources, illustrating the magnitude of the potential that the solar power industry could tap into in years to come.
What are the financial benefits of solar panel installation?
Domestic usage
While a domestic solar panel system will cost around £10,000 to install, at a time when the rising cost of energy is at the forefront of everybody's mind, installing a solar panel could not only power all of your lighting, heating and appliances efficiently, it could also save you significant amount on your gas and electricity bill.
Commercial usage
With the recent Green Deal legislation which has been passed by the UK government, businesses will soon be required to comply with strict laws which dictate that companies must be seen to run the majority their operations on renewable energy by 2020. If you own a business building, solar panel experts offer consultation services to assess whether your property would be eligible for a solar panel system. Solar panels are usually easy to install on single and two storey buildings, and would act as an overt but aesthetically pleasing testament to your company's dedication to a greener future, as well as saving you money.
Furthermore, those who produce excess solar energy have the opportunity to sell power back to the National Grid, meaning that you can actively contribute to the effort to solve the oncoming energy crisis while earning back the money you invested in the installation.
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