Among all the benefits of solar panels, the most important thing is that solar energy is a truly renewable energy source. It can be harnessed in all areas of the world and is available every day. 

We cannot run out of solar energy, unlike some of the other sources of energy. Solar energy will be accessible as long as we have the sun, therefore sunlight will be available to us for at least 5 billion years when according to scientists the sun is going to die.

Since you will be meeting some of your energy needs with the electricity your solar system has generated, your energy bills will drop. How much you save on your bill will be dependent on the size of the solar system and your electricity or heat usage. Moreover, not only will you be saving on the electricity bill, there is also a possibility to receive payments for the surplus energy that you export back to the grid. If you generate more electricity than you use (considering that your solar panel system is connected to the grid). 

Diverse Applications

Solar energy can be used for diverse purposes. You can generate electricity (photovoltaics) or heat (solar thermal). 

Solar energy can be used to produce electricity in areas without access to the energy grid, to distill water in regions with limited clean water supplies and to power satellites in space.

Solar energy can also be integrated into the materials used for buildings. Not long ago Sharp introduced transparent solar energy windows.

Solar energy systems generally don’t require a lot of maintenance. You only need to keep them relatively clean, so cleaning them a couple of times per year will do the job. If in doubt, you can always rely on specialized cleaning companies. Most reliable solar panel manufacturers offer 20-25 years warranty. Also, as there are no moving parts, there is no wear and tear. The inverter is usually the only part that needs to changed after 5-10 years because it is continuously working to convert solar energy into electricity and heat (solar PV vs. solar thermal). 

Apart from the inverter, the cables also need maintenance to ensure your solar power system runs at maximum efficiency. 

So, after covering the initial cost of the solar system, you can expect very little spending on maintenance and repair work.

Technology in the solar power industry is constantly advancing and improvements will intensify in the future. Innovations in quantum physics and nanotechnology can potentially increase the effectiveness of solar panels and double, or even triple, the electrical input of the solar power systems. The locations and uses of these panels are still uncertain. Environmental experts are debating if these panels will be used commercially or if they will be placed in the ocean or solar farms. There is still a lot of work to do with this technology, but solar panels have proved that they can adapt and keep up with technological changes of the future.  Though this technology is still in the works, take the first steps to cleaner energy and make the switch to solar today!

Call Diamond Energy Group to find out how to maximize your energy savings.

Clean and alternative energy sources have been a part of our environmental conversations for hundreds of years. With technology advancing so fast, the spotlight is now on the future of solar panels. How can solar panels adapt to changing technology?  The solar panel’s next challenge is to meet the growing demand for freshwater and new technology has been developed to aid global desalination efforts. Now, not only does the solar panel generate electricity, but they will be able to generate extra freshwater. The dual power of these panels makes them even more lucrative to an environment in need.  These advanced panels will be equipped with a device that harnesses heat produced by the solar panel that is then used to evaporate water in the distiller and purify the water. The implications of panels like this in a solar farm could produce tons of fresh water a day.