The cost saving benefits of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are clear for anyone who has a solar system installed on their home, but what about the environmental benefits of solar energy? Let’s look at five environmental benefits of installing solar panels in more detail.

Climate change is one of the major challenges facing the world in the 21st century. The term refers to long-term shifts in the weather and temperatures, and can be naturally caused, for example, by a large volcanic eruption.

However, over the past century, the driving factor in our planet’s changing climate has been due to the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and gas. Burning fossil fuels, which generates electricity, creates a blanket of greenhouse gases around Earth, trapping the sun’s heat inside.

Solar panels, as a clean, green energy source, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to produce electricity and can help slow the speed of climate change.

Solar panels work by harnessing the endless energy of the sun, producing clean electricity to power homes and businesses. As a renewable energy source, solar PV panels decrease or even remove entirely the need for fossil fuels to produce electricity.

One array of solar panels on a rooftop eliminates around 4 tonnes of carbon emissions per year, which is the equivalent of planting around 100 trees.

And as solar panels have a lifespan of up to 30 years and a payback period of around seven years, you can make this positive contribution to the environment for decades with very little maintenance required.

Solar panels can improve the air quality of our cities and towns by reducing our reliance on burning fossil fuels for electricity, but one often overlooked benefit is that they don’t require water to function.

Just a few components are needed in order for PV panels to work efficiently, and they don’t require any supply of water.

Other than occasional cleaning that is – as solar panels mounted on the rooftop of your home should be cleaned with water and biodegradable soap and a soft rag or sponge. Apart from cleaning, solar panels require very little maintenance.

As energy from the sun can be utilised by homes and businesses in almost any region on Earth, they can be used to provide power to remote locations.

They don’t require any damaging or costly infrastructure, and can be used on almost any home.  Even homes with roofs that are unsuitable can install ground mounted or pole mounted solar systems on their land. 

Solar panels also don’t need to be connected to the grid to work, meaning that even in the most remote locations on the planet, the sun’s energy can be used to generate electricity.

Solar panels are made up of a number of materials, and these materials can be recycled at the end of their lifespan.

This means that once your solar panels have served their purpose, providing you with free, green electricity over the decades, they don’t have to be discarded into a landfill.

Solar panel recycling companies collect used solar cells which are made up of semiconductor materials like silicon, and they are then reprocessed into new solar cells for products such as electronic devices.

There are numerous benefits to installing a solar PV system on your home or business, and the positive environmental impact is just one of many. Get a FREE quote for solar panels today by clicking below!