How Does Solar Energy Compare to Other Forms of Renewable Energy?

Solar Energy VS Other Forms of Renewable Energy

If you’re looking to reduce your household bills, minimise waste and live a more economical lifestyle, you might be considering solar panel installation. But how does solar energy compare to other forms of renewable energy? Is it the right option for you and what are the benefits of a photovoltaic (PV) system? Let’s find out.

Is solar energy better than other energy sources?

Solar energy is popular for many reasons. Firstly, it’s a renewable, clean source of electricity that’s not going to run out or negatively impact the environment. Solar panels absorb sunlight with photovoltaic cells and this generates DC energy. With the help of inverter technology, this is then converted to a usable alternating current (AC). Solar power is also scalable. This means it can be deployed on an industrial scale or used to power a single household. Solar panel experts know exactly how many solar panels are required to meet your energy demands.

There are, of course, many other types of renewable energy sources. So why is solar so much better than other energy sources? Here’s a quick comparison to other energy types:

Wind Energy – like solar, wind is an abundant and inexhaustible resource, providing electricity without burning any fuel or polluting the air. Wind turbines generate more than half of the UK’s electricity; however, domestic wind turbines require a lot of unobstructed space, making installation much trickier than solar panels. Wind turbines are also more expensive.

Hydro Energy – using the flow of water to generate electricity is a wonderful idea, but adequate water resources are necessary to provide enough power. Solar energy, on the other hand, is more widely available as even on cloudy days energy is absorbed by panels. This energy can also be stored in batteries for use after dark.

Geothermal Energy – heat derived from the ground creates a highly efficient and reliable energy source. However, it’s only available in regions with active geothermal activity such as those near the boundaries of the earth’s tectonic plates. The most active geothermal resources are usually found along major tectonic plate boundaries where most volcanoes are located. The average household can’t access geothermal energy and its benefits which is why solar panels are yet again one of the most popular forms of renewable energy.

Biomass Energy – Biomass is renewable organic material that comes from plants and animals. It can be used to power vehicles, but it is often more polluting than solar energy, which is a clean form of renewable energy.

Why is solar energy better than non renewable energy?

Generating renewable energy creates far lower emissions than burning fossil fuels and is therefore better for the environment. As previously mentioned, renewable energy sources such as wind energy and solar will not run out whereas fossil fuels like oil or gas will.

If you want to go green and reduce your carbon footprint, contact South East Solar and Electrical, reputable solar panel installers in Kent, for more information.