Building Energy Security with Solar Energy
By using more electricity generated by solar energy, the UK is building its energy security. The more alternative sources we use, like solar, wing, and water to generate electricity, the less we need to depend on foreign oil imports. In today’s turbulent political climate, we need this security to insure a constant supply of electricity well into the future.
We are also building energy security by depending more on solar energy because no one owns the sun. Sunlight is a free resource that will remain available for eons. Solar energy doesn’t emit harmful carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.
The initial costs of installing solar panels are significant but thanks to Feed-in tariffs, it’s possible to recoup the investment by selling the electricity generated. After the investment is recouped, solar energy is free, there is no charge for sunlight and solar panels last about 30 years. There is little or no maintenance with using solar energy generated by solar panels, they have no moving parts to break down.
Not every UK homeowner has the ability to generate solar energy, an unshaded southern facing rooftop is required. Many areas in the UK do not have enough direct sunshine to make solar energy an economically viable energy option but new technologies are being developed that will hopefully create new opportunities for us to build our energy security.