The demand for clean and sustainable energy is on the rise, especially in the light of climate change. As part of its commitment to sustainable energy, the state of Indiana placed a significant emphasis on solar energy after its Public Utility Commission approved a program that encouraged solar power. Specifically, the PUC passed a policy that allowed for community solar projects, in which citizens can own shares of a solar farm and receive discounted electricity.
In 2017, Indiana ranked 15th in the country for solar energy deployment, with over 10,400 non-residential solar energy installations. This was up from 17th place in 2016, but still well behind the national average of 63 installations per day.
Considering that Indiana is a state known for its abundant energy resources, this relatively low rate of solar energy adoption can perhaps be attributed to the comparatively high cost of generating electricity from solar power. However, this is likely to change in the near future as the technology continues to evolve and the cost of solar electricity decreases.
Solar Power Has Huge Potential
The popularity of solar energy in Indiana is evidenced by the state’s investment in the technology, which saw a 13% rise in 2016 alone. This is likely to continue as renewable energy sources, such as solar power, are set to play a bigger role in the state’s energy mix in the future.
With its favorable climate and abundant solar power, it’s not a huge surprise that Indiana has taken the lead in solar energy adoption. Furthermore, the majority of those installations are installed on homes and businesses, showing the need for solutions that can fit within this context.
Even more impressive is the fact that many of these solar energy systems are installed in remote parts of the state, far from major cities and electricity suppliers. This highlights the potential for solar energy to provide power to those who need it most, helping to alleviate the problem of energy inequality.
The Rise Of Home Energy Systems
The popularity of solar energy in Indiana is likely to continue as the cost of generating electricity decreases and the technology becomes more affordable, with the majority of those installations installed on homes and businesses. Home energy systems — or ‘sustainability solutions’, as they are often called — provide a viable, cost-effective alternative to conventional energy sources and are a great example of how the rise of solar energy can be beneficial for all involved.
These systems consume less energy, are a pleasure to use, and are virtually maintenance free. Most importantly, they provide the ability to generate electricity whenever and wherever needed. Given the many advantages of home energy systems, it’s not surprising that more and more people are looking towards them as a way of reducing their carbon footprint and conserving energy.
In fact, as technology continues to evolve, it is expected that more and more people will turn to home energy systems because they want a simple and reliable way to generate electricity, particularly in the wake of climate change.
How Does Solar Work?
One of the biggest questions surrounding the rise of solar energy in Indiana is how does it work? To put it simply, solar energy is the sun’s energy that has been converted to electricity.
Similar to wind power, the wind doesn’t always blow, and the sun doesn’t always shine, so having a power source that can be used whenever and wherever needed is incredibly valuable. This is why governments and organizations, including the United Nations, have placed such emphasis on developing and implementing solar energy policies.
The conversion process from the sun’s energy to electricity is highly efficient and does not require any significant initial investment. Moreover, the cost of equipment and installation is often covered by government grants and low-interest loans, making solar power even more affordable.
For these reasons, it’s not a huge surprise that Indiana has placed such an emphasis on solar energy. The state is not only aware of the benefits of solar energy but has also decided to take the initiative and implement policies that encourage its use.
Benefits Of Going Solar
Going solar is not only financially beneficial but also has a number of perks that can’t be ignored. First and foremost, installing solar power can significantly reduce your energy bills, with a recent study by the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) claiming that commercial consumers can reduce their energy bills by 23% and residential consumers by 13%.
Furthermore, the amount of energy that goes into manufacturing, transporting and selling traditional energy sources, such as fossil fuels and nuclear power, is significant. According to advocacy group Greenpeace, the energy consumed by the U.S. economy is estimated at 6.9 billion barrels of oil and 76.5 million metric tons of coal — approximately the same amount used in one year.
These figures don’t take into account the enormous damage that these sources of energy cause to the environment. In 2018 alone, the United States released some 29.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide — the main cause of climate change — into the atmosphere from fossil fuel combustion.
In comparison, solar energy creates zero emissions and is completely sustainable. This makes it a much more environmentally friendly and climate-savvy choice.
As the world’s leading climate scientists have repeatedly stressed, investing in and supporting initiatives that promote renewable energy use is essential if we want to tackle climate change effectively.