
The hidden benefits of solar sourced energy were clearly spelled out in a recent report by the Institute for Energy Innovation. The report was created in an effort to educate policy makers attempting to manage rapid changes taking place in the power grid.
The list below is an attempt to convey the report’s valuable information detailing the many hidden benefits of solar:
- Improved Reliability – when Hurricanes Irma and Maria destroyed the power lines on the island of Puerto Rico the vulnerability of a centralized grid was clearly evident.
- Reduced Demand – facilities or homes generating all or most of their electricity on location will use less energy from the grid. Any reduction in overall grid demand for electricity results in a reduced need for building additional expensive power generating plants.
- Less Wasted Energy – The U.S. Government estimates 5% of the energy generated for the national grid is lost during transmission.When electricity it generated on-site the waste is kept to a minimum. Less waste equals lower cost of electricity.
- Improved Resilience – resilience is the ability to recover quickly. When energy is produced in “distributed” locations, instead of at a single source, there is less vulnerability and an increased capacity to recover quickly.
- Predictable Energy Costs – If fuel prices increase the cost of electricity has to rise. Because solar does not require fuel, the resultant cost of the electricity is not subject to fluctuations and the resultant cost of energy is predictable throughout the life cycle of the equipment.
- Clean and Quiet Communities – because the operation of generating electricity from the sun doesn’t create smoke or the use of noisy machinery, the choice for solar is a proven advantage in communities concerned with health.
- Clean Jobs – solar is driving a dramatic growth in “green collar” jobs. These jobs require advanced skills and offer a premium wage due to their technical nature.
To read the complete article which was originally published on The Energy Alliance Group of Michigan’s blog, go HERE.
Source: Energy Alliance Group of Michigan