September is traditionally a good month to be thinking about cleaner sources of energy for our homes. Here, we’ll detail why solar panels are becoming a popular way for homeowners to do their bit for the environment.
Solar panels on your property do more than simply save you money – they are a serious personal contribution you make to protecting our planet and, closer to home, public health.
If you’re thinking about going green and doing your bit for the environment this month, you’re not alone. Two big days are marked around the world in September:
- 7th September is World Clean Air Day (otherwise known as the International Day of Clear Air for Blue Skies) – check out #WorldCleanAirDay
- 21st September is Zero Emissions Day, created to highlight the harm caused by CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions – see #ZeroEmissionsDay
Do these awareness days matter? You’re right; we should be caring about the environment all year round, but they do concentrate our minds. Ok, so you have our attention, what can we do?
Many of us recycle and some of us have switched to an electric vehicle. More and more of us have home appliances, such as fridges and washing machines, with ‘A’ energy efficiency ratings. What most of us haven’t done, however, is use our homes to catch the sun’s rays and generate our own energy.
More and more homeowners are going solar. More than 183,000 solar panel installations were carried out in the UK in 2023, according to the low-carbon certification organisation MCS.
And quite apart from their money-saving potential, solar panels, also known as photovoltaics (PV), have emerged as a crucial tool for governments, companies and us as individuals in the fight against climate change and air pollution. By using the power of the sun to generate electricity, solar panels help to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality where you live.
How Do Solar Panels Work?
Solar energy is a renewable energy source. Meaning the energy comes from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed.
Solar energy is the most abundant of all energy resources and, contrary to popular belief, can even be harnessed in cloudy weather. The rate at which solar energy is ‘intercepted by the Earth’ is about 10,000 times greater than the rate at which humankind consumes energy, say experts.
Solar technologies can deliver heat, cooling, natural lighting, electricity and fuels for a host of applications. So, how do they do all this?
- When the sun shines on a solar panel, solar energy is absorbed by individual PV cells in the panel. These cells are made from layers of semi-conducting material, most commonly silicon.
- The PV cells produce an electrical charge as they become energised by the sunlight.
- This electrical charge creates a direct current (DC) of electricity.
- The current passes through an inverter to turn it into alternating current (AC) electricity. This is the kind of current needed for household appliances.
The panels don’t need direct sunlight to work and, as mentioned, they can even work on cloudy days. It is true, however, that the stronger the sunshine, the more electricity your panels will generate.
Solar panel systems tend to be made up of between six and 12 panels, with each panel generating around 300 to 500W of energy in strong sunlight.
How Do Solar Panels Cut Emissions?
Looking at the bigger picture, solar technology helps to cut greenhouse gases by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Solar panels generate electricity without the need for fuels, such as coal, natural gas and oil.
By replacing fossil fuel power plants with solar energy, we significantly reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. This not only helps to mitigate climate change but also strengthens energy security and reduces our vulnerability to geopolitical shocks.
By increasing the number of domestic solar panels, homeowners with solar collectively are reducing the demand for imported energy too.
The average home uses around 3000 – 3500 kWh of electricity a year. Currently in 2024, roughly 40% of Britain’s electricity comes from renewable sources.
If homeowners have solar panels and a battery installed they massively reduce their reliance on grid supplied electricity. For one of our customers, Sue, their 3 bedroom home is in line with typical UK energy usage
By going solar with a battery, Sue now generates 91% of her electricity from renewable solar energy.
Now, imagine if just 20% of homeowners chose to install solar panels, that would generate roughly 20 terawatts of electricity. Ratcliffe Power station just over the Nottinghamshire border generates 2116 megawatts electricity annually. If just 20% of homes went solar that would generate 9436 times more electricity a year than one coal fired power station!
Solar Panels Are Good For Public Health
For many of us, the science of greenhouse gases, climate change and the ozone layer is difficult to relate to. It is, perhaps, easier to appreciate the impact of emissions on the air quality where we live, work and play and ultimately, on our health and wellbeing.
Air pollution is a major health and environmental problem. It can cause respiratory diseases, heart problems and premature death. The pollutants emitted by fossil fuel power plants, such as sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, contribute to air pollution and smog.
Solar panels combat this because they are a cleaner energy source. Solar energy is clean and renewable and does not produce harmful air pollutants. By transitioning to solar power, we can significantly reduce air pollution and improve air quality in our local communities. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a typical home solar panel system could save around one tonne of carbon per year, depending on where you live in the UK. That’s the equivalent, it says, of driving 3,600 miles, or from London to Bristol 30 times.
Our design software, OpenSolar includes the environmental benefits of each solar panel system we design in the proposal.
So, when you’re considering solar panels for your home, don’t only think about the money you will save. You will be helping to cut emissions and the resulting benefits for public health include:
- Reduced respiratory problems – cleaner air can lead to a reduction in respiratory problems, such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.
- Improved cardiovascular health – exposure to air pollution has been linked to increased risk of heart disease and stroke. By reducing air pollution, solar panels can contribute to improved cardiovascular health.
- Lower mortality rates – studies have shown that reducing air pollution can lead to lower mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions.
Air pollution is ‘the biggest environmental health risk of our time’, says the UN. ‘By tackling air pollution proactively, we can achieve transformative change and secure healthy air for all,’ it says.
As individuals, we can play our part in reducing air pollution in a number of ways, and these include by investing in solar panels for our home.
Conclusion
Solar panels play a vital role in reducing emissions and improving air quality. By transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar power, we can mitigate the impacts of climate change and create a healthier and more sustainable future for generations to come.
Talk to us today if you are interested in installing solar panels on your property.
