Most of us are aware that solar energy is much more environmentally friendly than the traditional source of electricity. But what you might not know is that it offers various other benefits, too, making it ideal for any space.

Solar power is the key to a green future, and it should be utilised instead of burning the limited fossil fuels that we have.

In this blog, we will explain what solar energy is, how it works, and why you should go solar.

Solar energy is the kind of energy that is generated with the help of the light we receive from the sun, which is known as photovoltaic energy. The sun's warmth, solar thermal, can also be used for the production of heat. This energy comes from the sun, and thus, it is not likely to exhaust anytime soon. This energy and heat from the sun are trapped with mirrors and panels.

When used on a larger scale, solar collectors have the capability to generate power for over a thousand people. Think about all the non-renewable energy that can be saved when each of us starts using solar energy for our energy-related needs.

And this is the kind of energy we promote in Manitoulin island renewable energy.

How does solar energy work?

The following is a breakdown of the process through which solar energy work:

• The sunlight is absorbed with the help of solar panels.
• These panels have silicon material and conductors which convert the sunlight into Direct Current [DC] electricity.
• This DC electricity is then flown into the inverter.
• The inverter converts the Direct Current electricity into Alternate Current [AC] electricity.
• This Alternate Current electricity can be used directly for electric purposes.
• If you fail to use all of it [which is quite common], the additional electricity will go through the meter into the head power grid, which can be used by others.
• Moreover, if you require more energy than the energy your solar system produces, the electricity can be drawn from the main grid for your consumption. 

Why should you opt for solar energy?

Let us go over some reasons why you should go for solar energy instead of a traditional one.

Environment friendly

When we compare the carbon emissions of solar energy with standard energy, we can say that solar energy has far fewer carbon footprints. This is because the standard non-green sources of energy rely heavily on fossil fuels.

This means that the more people move towards this type of energy, the cleaner the air will be and the better our environment will be.

Lowers electricity bills

Suppose you are thinking about saving costs; what better way to do that other than solar power? Solar power may seem like a huge one-time investment, but when you think about it, in the long run, it is going to save you a lot of money with reduced electricity bills.

Sustainable

By using solar energy, we are not depleting the resources of the sun. The sun produces more than enough energy every day, which can be used efficiently to meet each and every individual's energy requirements. 173,000 terawatts of solar energy land on the earth constantly which is almost 10,000 times more than the total energy use of the world.

Moreover, it has been predicted that the sun is going to be around for over 5 billion years more. So, you do not need to worry about solar panels depleting the energy of the sun for generations to come.

Low maintenance

When you trust a reputed company to install and manage your solar panels, they will give you a long, extended warranty period. This warranty period could last for up to 25 years. And as for the maintenance, you only need to oversee one annual cleaning. Additionally, it is advised to replace solar PV and thermal parts every ten years.

The entire system does not have any moving metal parts that you need to grease every 6 months. Solar panels are robust and do not need many repairs over the years you use them.

All this considered, you can say that solar energy is completely low maintenance, and you would not be faced with huge repair bills in any condition.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are multiple benefits of going solar, the two most important ones being that solar power is environmentally friendly and it can lower your electricity bill by a whopping amount. When we go solar, we have almost a limitless source of energy in the form of the sun.

If we keep on using the same source of energy, fossil fuels will burn out sooner rather than later. On the other hand, the sun is expected to be around for another 5 billion years or so. So the choice is yours.