In this article we would like to find out how solar energy compares to other energy sources especially fossil fuels. Does switching to solar energy save money? Is a solar power plant reliable in generating electricity? Does solar energy have a positive effect on the environment? We provide the answers.
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Comparison of solar energy to fossil fuels
Comparison of solar energy to fossil fuels
What are the advantages of solar energy in comparison to fossil fuels? Cheaper? More environmentally friendly? More reliable? Find out!
Comparison of solar energy to fossil fuels
Is solar energy cheaper than fossil fuels?
There is no general yes or no to this question. Unfortunately there are cases where solar energy is not cheaper for the individual. Nevertheless, we have made the experience that it is worthwhile for most people to switch to solar energy. Because it is actually quite simple: You have to pay for the electricity you use anyway. So every month a certain amount of money goes to the electricity provider. Instead of paying this amount monthly to someone else (and the money is gone), you can also invest it in your own solar system. And thus invest in the value of your own building.
Furthermore, energy costs are rising. They have been rising for many years and they will continue to rise.
For solar, on the other hand, there are different tax benefits nationwide and different incentive programs depending on the state you live in.
Our renewable energy experts will be happy to help you if you would like to answer the question for yourself. Be it residential solar or commercial.
Is solar energy reliable?
An exciting question. After all, you don’t want to sit in the dark just because a cloud moves in front of the sun and the solar system cannot produce energy.
There was a time when concerns about the reliability of production were well-founded. Nowadays, however, solar panels cannot be compared to the early days of solar systems. They are much more effective. Studies show that the reliability of solar panels is excellent.
Whether a solar system is a reliable energy source for you depends on individual details. Do you want to install solar panels on your roof – which direction faces your roof? The more direct sunlight, the better, of course. But this does not mean that a roof that is not facing south is not suitable for a solar system. Alternatively, the system can be built on your property as a ground installation. This gives you more possibilities to align the panels in the best possible way. There are other components to consider. Is there a lot of shading on the property, for example from trees?
But hey, that’s why we have a lot of experts in our team, so you can find out exactly the answers to these questions: Does a solar system make sense to you? Where should you have your solar system installed?
And it doesn’t matter if you live in Los Angeles, California, Orlando, Florida or Upstate New York, solar makes sense and is reliable. We’d be happy to show you.
Which energy source is best for the environment?
Let’s look at different energy sources to answer this question. We will concentrate on some of the most common energy sources to give you an overview. Of course there are other energy sources.
Select one energy source to find out more.
Coal
Coal is certainly bad for the environment. Whether reliable and cheap or not, coal is definitely not a good, sustainable source of energy in terms of its impact on the environment. It emits large amounts of greenhouse gases. The environment is also affected by mining and burning, just to name a few aspects.
Hydropower
No emissions are produced during energy production and large amounts of energy can be generated. However, dams are repeatedly built where the environment, be it nature or local residents, depend on the normal flow of water. Here Hydropower intervenes in the natural habitat and has a negative effect on the environment.
Petroleum
Petroleum also has high CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the amount of petroleum available is limited.
Solar energy
No environmental pollution is produced during the production of energy. Of course, this does not apply in the same way to production. And of course this is also the case with the other energy sources mentioned in this list in different ways. However, in this article we are concentrating primarily on solar energy, which is why we are taking a closer look at it again here.
Of course, energy has to be generated to produce the solar panels first. Also different chemicals are used for the production. However, in the long run, the environmental impact is less severe than with some other energy sources mentioned before. This is why we are convinced that we are doing something good for the environment with solar energy.
Uranium
Energy generated in nuclear power plants does not produce greenhouse gas or CO2 emissions. However, there is still no perfect solution for the storage of nuclear waste that is regularly generated. We do not even want to start talking about the possible consequences if there is an accident in one of the nuclear power plants. So there is still room for improvement here!
Wind energy
No emissions. Has only a minor impact on the ecosystem – it depends on where it is built. But it does not make sense to install wind turbines everywhere. And of course not everyone can just put a wind turbine in their garden – it requires a larger area of land.
So, does solar energy make sense overall? Does it make more sense than fossil fuels? Does it make sense to switch to solar energy? We answer these questions with YES! How it looks like in the individual case financially and concerning the productivity – we will find out for you.