for a number of reasons: they're green, clean, and can have a hugely positive impact on energy expenditure for nearly everybody. Solar panels are being tipped as a 'clean technology’ (as well as a technology perfect for keeping the planet healthy) so they might be an investment worth thinking about. They can be deployed in locations across the world in order to generate massive amounts of electricity, or just installed to supplement existing energy supplies and reduce greenhouse emissions. Green energy is an industry that has been taking the world by storm over the past decade, and wholesale solar panels are a prime example of a green energy technology that can save the planet AND save people money. Let's look at how.The Science
Solar panels work very similarly to the leaves on a plant. Solar panels use a method called photovoltaics, they absorb light energy from the sun (or other light source) and convert it into electrical energy. This electrical energy, in the form of a current, can then provide power to appliances and devices, potentially cooking food, charging mobile phones, or even powering electric vehicles. Alternatively, energy from solar panels can be stored in batteries or capacitors – ideal for remote locations where constant power isn't always reliable. In some locations, solar panels are actually installed in order to provide energy BACK to the national grid, to be used elsewhere.
When solar panels generate energy, unlike other means of energy generation using fossil fuels, no fumes or emissions are given off: light energy is simply absorbed, and electricity is generated. It's as simple as that. In fact, solar panels can continue to do this for years without interference, as long as they're kept happy with a plentiful source of light, such as sunlight.
Protecting the Planet
In a national grid (where we get most of our power from: think energy companies) much of the energy comes from dirty, “carbon-rich”, polluting power stations such as coal-fired turbines. While these power stations are able to provide masses of electricity, they're not very environmental-friendly. Traditional power stations can pump out thousands of tons of CO2 and other greenhouse gases each year, damaging the Earth's atmosphere and, according to scientists across the globe, eventually leading to global climate change.
Solar panels generate sustainable energy: something we need to adopt on a large scale in order to keep the planet healthy. Traditional fuel-burning methods (like coal, gas, and oil) provide a lot of waste products and toxic emissions, whereas solar panels can be installed and left to generate guilt-free energy without contributing to climate change nearly as much. Solar panels are so environmentally friendly because they use a renewable source of energy, one which can never be exhausted and provides lots of energy already: the sun.
As more energy is generated from solar panels, less energy needs to be generated by traditional power stations, meaning less emissions and less impact on the environment. Solar panels are a sustainable source of efficient energy, not just green energy. Even when compared to alternative renewable energy technologies, such as wind turbines, solar panels emerge as the least wasteful way of generating electricity. Solar panels are also virtually silent and take up much less space than wind turbines, ultimately meaning a lesser impact on the environment they're installed in. Quieter technology means happier wildlife!
Solar Panels Saves Pennies (Lots and Lots of Them)
Ultimately, very few of us can afford to make the switch to renewable energy just on environmental factors alone. Fortunately, however, solar panels are a viable investment for the vast majority of people. As they provide a virtually constant source of energy for their lifetime, solar panels are a good way of saving money on energy costs, particularly in environments where lots of electricity is used regularly. Depending on the kind of environment they're placed in and the amount of energy required, solar architecture can pay for itself with the money it saves in a couple of years – a long, long time before you need to worry about replacing panels. For this reason, even local councils in England have started to install solar panels on property as a medium-term investment: one which is only going to be more lucrative as energy prices continue to soar through the roof.
For large business, it's not uncommon for tax breaks and rewards to exist for carbon-friendly behavior. Solar panels are an ideal way of reducing your organization's overall carbon footprint as saving money on energy bills. Carbon-friendly businesses can get access to a number of different incentives and in some countries, unused solar energy can be 'sold' back to the national grid in order to generate extra revenue.
Whether they're used as a way of combating climate change or installed in order to avoid rising energy prices, it's a good idea to buy wholesale solar panels as an investment this January.
About the Author
This article was written by Max Johnson Max is a student in London, studying climate and the atmosphere and he enjoys writing about renewable energy and technology.