Benefits of Solar Energy
Aside from the tangible economic
reasons for purchasing a solar system, there are excellent intangible
benefits as well. Centralized power generation (including coal, liquid natural gas
(LNG), and nuclear-fired), is extremely inefficient, with power losses
of as much as 40% because of power line resistance and transformer losses
required to ship electricity from far-distant power plants to the end
consumer.
So why do we centralize most of our power? Mostly for historical reasons.
When electric power generation technology was first developed over 100
years ago, it was so complex for that time that it had to be centralized
to make it readily available. The government provided many subsidies
to oil companies and utilities to encourage and help develop the technology.
Today, the requirement that power be centralized has been greatly reduced
because we have reliable, cost-effective distributed technologies like
solar that can meet many power needs directly at the point of use. And
doing so is much more efficient than transmitting power via the grid.
Solar power provides many other benefits that enhance our quality of
life:
- Environment: For every megawatthour of solar electricity produced,
the Earth is spared over 1500 pounds of greenhouse gases like CO2, SO2,
and NOx. For the typical residential system (2.5kW), that works out to
almost 3 tons of greenhouse gas avoidance per year, or 90 tons over 30
years. Solar power is clean, plentiful, and fully renewable - nothing
is consumed to produce it and the power source is perpetually renewed.
- Economic Benefits: Because solar power reduces our dependence on the
grid, it also reduces the need to build new conventional power plants.
There are at least 5000 megawatts of untapped energy potential just on
the available space on existing roofs of houses and small businesses
in California. Turning even a small percentage of that potential into
solar power generation would reduce or eliminate our need to build new
power plants for many years to come.
- Complementary to Utility Power: Solar power correlates well with the
daily load patterns of utilities because the power is available when
it is needed most - during daylight hours when utilities are subject
to their peak loads.
- Low Operating Cost: Once installed, photovoltaic cells operate continuously
for decades with few ongoing operating costs. They generate electricity
through a wide range of temperature and light conditions.
- Reliable: With no moving parts and a warranted life
for PV panels of 20 to 25 years, solar PV systems are highly reliable
and require little routine maintenance.
Get Started Today—Realize
all of the immediate and long-lasting benefits of adding solar energy
to your home. Contact
REgrid Power and
feel confident you are selecting California's foremost Solar Electric
Systems provider. Our expert Solar Designers provide straightforward
and accurate site analysis at no-cost.
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