Renewable energy sources are certainly on the rise, but how much do you actually know about the benefits of switching to a more eco-friendly power source? Some of the main benefits include:
Environmental
Needless to say, the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, reduces our reliance on fossil fuels or nuclear energy. This, in turn, reduces the negative effects caused by the more traditional and less eco-friendly energy sources. For example, solar panels don’t require the use of any water in the process of energy production, in contrast to up to 60,000 gallons per MWh (mega-watt hour) for nuclear or fossil fuel plants. In 2016, the biggest greenhouse gas emitters in the UK were households, accounting for ¼ of the overall greenhouse gas emissions; this alone demonstrates the magnitude of the benefits to be reaped by switching to renewable sources of energy.
Wildlife
The aforementioned effects of fossil fuels also bleed out onto wildlife. The increased greenhouse gases are feeding into climate change, causing more natural disasters such as forest fires, desertification, and ocean acidification. Forest fires and desertification cause an eradication of habitat for a multitude of species, and ocean acidification has a similar affect by changing the PH levels of the water: 30-40% of the carbon dioxide created by humans is absorbed into the oceans disturbing the PH balance and endangering creatures with calcified structures. Mike Barrett, the executive director of science and conservation at WWF has stated that we are “We are sleepwalking towards the edge of a cliff” in terms of our treatment of our planet having adverse effects on wildlife.
Cost
Switching to a renewable energy source, such as solar panels, is an investment which can offer abundant savings in comparison to traditional energy sources. The Energy Saving Trusts estimates these savings to be around £85-£220 off your annual bill for a standard kilowatt peak system. You can determine your savings dependent on your system size and your electricity usage, for example, using more power in the day when the solar panels are generating energy, will result in less usage from the grid and therefore more savings. These savings do vary geographically, so for a more precise estimate be sure to search for your particular area. As well as this, there are multiple government incentives to switch to renewable energy. One example of this is the Feed in Tariff, which is money from the government for energy generated by renewable energy, regardless of use. This is currently at the rate of 3.86 pence per kilowatt hour. Another incentive offered by the government is the Export Tariff, which reimburses households for unused energy which you send back to the grid. The Export Tariff is currently at the rate of 5.24 pence per kilowatt hour. It is estimated that half of the energy generated will be exported back to the grid. Solar panels are also easy to maintain especially when coated with a high quality solar PV coating which is self-cleaning and improves performance.
Infinite Capacity
Unlike fossil fuels, the sun isn’t running out. We’ve been harnessing the suns energy for years by way of greenhouses and south facing windows and we’ve come a long way since the first solar cell was created in 1880, so it would be detrimental to our evolution to cease developing now, when we’re facing ever-increasing amounts environmental and economic woes. The future of energy is already at our fingertips.
