In 2017, solar energy came to the rescue of nearly 40,000 people living in the UK who were struggling with their energy bills. The sunshine that year was kind to us, providing us with some of the best solar days in a long time. On June 21st, Scotland went solar as part of its preparations for Brexit, with many businesses switching to renewable energy sources to reduce their energy costs. And, finally, the year ended with the UK government committing to making all new homes and some existing homes fully energy-self-sufficient.
Why Are More And More People Embracing Solar Energy?
The short answer: climate change. With fossil fuels causing mass extinctions and climate change accelerating, more and more people are turning to renewable energy sources to reduce their environmental impact. However, this wouldn’t be enough on its own. We also need to reduce our energy bills if we are to make a real difference. In both Scotland and the UK, the price of electricity is regularly increasing, which puts more financial pressure on households. This, in turn, puts more pressure on businesses, who are now having to find cheaper ways to power their operations.
In the last few years, we’ve seen an increase in climate change protests around the world. In December 2016, nearly 400,000 people took part in the People’s Climate March. Two years later, in December 2018, over a million people flooded the streets of London to demand urgent action on climate change. The UK government has recognised the growing support for climate action and has committed to pursuing a policy of zero emission homes by 2050 and zero offshore oil and gas drilling. In Scotland, the government has also committed to 100% renewable energy by 2045 and to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors of the economy.
The Future Of Solar Energy
While the recent upturn in renewable energy prices has undoubtedly been good for the environment, it’s not been good for the wallets of energy consumers. With more and more people turning to solar energy, competition is increasing, with some consumers investing in solar energy systems just to save a few pounds per day. And, due to the increasing demand, the price of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy systems has begun to drop. For example, one system installed six years ago would generate enough electricity for a household’s needs – today, you could buy this same system and have enough electricity to power your entire home.
But this is now only the case if you can afford to buy a system in the first place. Due to the increasing demand and decreasing prices, it’s predicted that electricity generated by solar energy will be cheaper than the energy we get from traditional sources by 2025.
The future of solar energy is undoubtedly bright, with many individuals and businesses putting their financial resources into renewable energy sources to help reduce the world’s reliance on fossil fuels. It’s a future that’s good for the environment and, ultimately, our wallets.