1. Solar power provides energy reliability. The rising and setting of the sun is extremely consistent. All across the world, we know exactly when it will rise and set every day of the year. While clouds may be a bit less predictable, we do also have fairly good seasonal and daily projections for the amount of sunlight that will be received in different locations. All in all, this makes solar power an extremely reliable source of energy.
2. Solar power provides energy security. On top of the above reliability benefit, no one can go and buy the sun or turn sunlight into a monopoly. Combined with the simplicity of solar panels, this also provides the notable solar power advantage of energy security, something the US military has pointed out for years, and a major reason why it is also putting a lot of its money into the development and installation of solar power systems.
3. Solar power provides energy independence. Similar to the energy security boost, solar power provides the great benefit of energy independence. Again, the “fuel” for solar panels cannot be bought or monopolized. It is free for all to use. Once you have solar panels on your roof, you have an essentially independent source of electricity that is all yours. This is important for individuals, but also for cities, counties, states, countries, and even companies.
4. Solar power creates jobs. For every Megawatt produced, solar creates 35-and-a-half jobs versus a half a job, or .5% of a job, for nuclear. Money invested in solar power also creates two to three times more jobs than money invested in coal or natural gas.
5. Solar power is more environmentally friendly. Electricity and water supply are inextricably linked. With the spotlight on the Western Cape and its water woes, every one of us should be starting to use water more sparingly to mitigate our own Day Zero. A single coal-fired power station can use up to 337 megalitres per HOUR for cooling. For every kW of solar or wind energy we install, we reduce the consumption of 400 litres of water. (Nuclear by contrast, uses 10% more water than a coal-fired power station!). The use of solar power also combats greenhouse gas emissions.
BONUS REASON: Solar power technology becomes more affordable every year. Right now, prices for new solar power projects are falling so fast that the cheapest prices from 2016 have become the ceiling price for solar today!
If solar is starting to make sense to you, let’s get the conversation started: write to [email protected], call 011 886 7874 or visit our offices at 2 Samantha Street, Strijdom Park, Randburg.
