With temperatures rising and climate change being felt in every aspect of daily life, solar energy is a valuable asset to a more sustainable future. It’s clean, accessible, and helps you save big on electricity. But beyond the basics, there is so much more to solar energy than you realize.
So for all solar nerds out there, here are 6 fun facts about one of the most popular (and affordable!) renewable energy sources available to you.
`1. People First Used Solar Energy in the 7th Century
Yes, solar power is OLD.
The electricity-generating power of sunlight was discovered in 1839 by French scientist Edmond Becquerel. But way before that, during the 7th century, humans were using magnifying glasses to concentrate the sun’s rays and solar power to make fire.
2. Solar is the Most Abundant Energy Source on Earth
There are about 173,000 terawatts of solar energy hitting the earth consistently. As long as the sun keeps shining, there will always be solar energy.
3. Solar Energy is Used to Power Space Satellites
Yep, we use solar power in space!
Satellites in space orbit the earth and capture all sorts of data about the earth’s surface and atmosphere. To function properly, many of these rely on solar energy. Given that they are located closer to the sun, they successfully generate power with the solar panels they are built with. They also have batteries to store solar energy for later use if they ever move away from direct sunlight.
Any spacecraft located too far from the sun is covered too! For example, NASA’s Juno spacecraft is able to rely on solar thanks to its 30 foot solar arrays!
4. Solar is Good for Water Conservation
Since solar energy systems don’t require water to function (unlike fossil-fuel based methods), they help reduce reliance on water for power generation. Additionally, solar projects don’t require the extraction of water from natural sources, thus reducing potential waste and safeguarding ecosystems.
5. You Don’t Need to Own Panels to Enjoy the Perks of Solar Energy
Rooftop solar is suitable for homeowners or organizations with the means to invest in their own solar system.
But for low-to-medium income households or anybody who lacks the proper roof conditions for solar, community solar is the ideal option. A discounted subscription to a solar farm helps you save thousands in utility bills over the lifetime of the project. So you get access to clean energy AND guaranteed savings.
6. Yes, Rooftop Solar is an Investment but Solar Overall is Becoming More Affordable
Thanks to technological innovation over the years and the optimization of manufacturing processes, solar is becoming more affordable everyday. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the installation price of residential solar panels has lowered from around $8.70 per watt in 2010 to about $3.20 in 2023, that’s a 63% decrease!
As more and more people make the switch to solar, demand is increasing steadily leading to more competition amongst manufacturers and lower prices. Government tax credits and incentives are also helping to make solar energy more accessible and affordable for the population.
So are you ready to go solar? If yes, reach out to us for more information on community solar or rooftop solar solutions!
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Written By Alfreda Adote | Edited By Lauren McGregor