Solar energy is energy that is produced by the sun. It is a renewable resource, which means it can be used, but not used up because it is naturally replaced. There are numerous benefits of using solar power to generate electricity. For detailed information on those benefits, check out the US Department of Energy’s (USDOE) Benefits of Residential Solar Electricity and Energy Sage’s Go Solar: Top 10 Benefits of Solar Energy pages.
Cost Savings
Financial returns and lower monthly utility bills are major incentives for going solar. The exact savings consumers may see with solar depends on the following:
- Electricity consumption
- Solar electric system size
- Whether a system is purchased or leased
- Direct hours of daily sunlight
- Size and angle of roof
- Local electricity rates
Solar Works Everywhere
The solar resource of the United States is enormous. In fact, just one hour of noontime summer sun is equal to the annual United States electricity demand. Most states in the United States have good-to-excellent solar resource. Even places with relatively low solar resources, such as the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, can experience cost savings and have similar solar resources to countries that have widely developed solar industries, like Germany.
Curious about South Carolina’s solar potential? The USDOE has data on annual and monthly potential on the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) Website.
Environmental
Each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of solar energy that is generated will substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions like CO2, as well as other dangerous pollutants such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Solar also reduces water consumption and withdrawal.