Solar energy facts you probably didn’t know yet

Solar power is rapidly gaining popularity, and for good reason. It is a great way to generate electricity, especially now that we are becoming more aware of the impact humans have had on our planet. Seeing solar panels on a roof somewhere is getting quite normal, but there are some things about this renewable resource that you probably didn’t know yet. Let’s have a look at these solar energy facts.

With more and more people turning to solar power to meet their energy needs, it’s important to understand some key facts about this technology. Here are 19 solar energy facts you probably didn’t know yet.

1. One hour of sunlight gives us enough energy for a whole year

The first solar energy fact is about the sheer power of the sun. Every hour of every day, enough sunlight reaches our planet to power all our electrical needs for an entire year. That’s right, in just one hour there is enough sunlight reaching Earth to cover the consumption of all of us for a full year. We’d need massive solar panels to absorb all that light and transfer it into electricity, but it just shows you that the potential is there. Going fully solar is definitely a possibility in our near future.

2. The cost of solar energy has fallen more than 99% since the late 70’s

In 1977, you could already get solar cells to generate electricity. These panels were extremely expensive though. You would have to pay more than $75 per watt generated. Today, you’ll pay a lot less. A watt will cost you around $0,20 now ($0.30 in 2015, see image below). That’s how far we’ve come. Solar energy has become so much cheaper in only 40 years (which sounds like a lot but it really isn’t).

3. Solar power is the cheapest energy source on the planet

Solar power through installation has gotten so cheap, in fact, that it is now the cheapest energy source on the planet. I bet you didn’t know that solar energy fact yet. Generating electricity using solar panels is cheaper than burning gas, coal, or diesel. Other renewable power sources aren’t even coming close to solar power, so if you want to go green and save some money while you’re at it, go solar!

4. You can go solar for only a couple of dollars

Speaking of being the cheapest power source, you can get portable solar chargers to give your mobile phone, laptop or even car battery much needed juice for a reasonably small amount of money. The X-DRAGON 70W solar charger costs $158.99 and generates enough power to charge 3 devices at the same time. You can even get a 20W solar panel for only $53,99. They’re both foldable so you can take them with you wherever you go. How about that for a solar energy fact?

5. The biggest producer of solar energy is China

One of the most surprising solar power facts is that China is the biggest producer of solar energy. In 2020, the Asian country produced 261 TWh of solar energy, compared to the US’s 96 TWh. China is also heavily investing in expanding the solar energy capacity. The goal is to have a capacity of 1300 GW in 2050 and be carbon neutral by 2060, quite impressive!

6. Solar energy saves us 75 million barrels of oil each year

We humans really need a lot of electricity, not only solar energy. Fact is, we still use a lot of fossil fuel for our electrical needs. But the people that have gone solar are already making an impact on the planet. Thanks to the solar installations we already have, we consume 75 million barrels of oil less, each year! That is amazing, and shows that it really is worth going solar. The change you can make to the environment, without having to go bankrupt, is truly large. And solar power is only getting cheaper.

7. The photovoltaic effect was discovered more than 180 years ago

We have definitely come a long way with our knowledge about solar power. The technology behind it is called the photovoltaic effect. It was discovered by Edmond Becquerel in 1839, when doing some experiments in his father’s lab. It took a while before it kicked off, but nowadays solar energy has become economically viable for companies and governments to invest large amounts of money in its further development.

8. Solar panels generate electricity on cloudy days as well

Another one of those solar energy facts is a real mythbuster. You don’t have to live in a perfect climate to benefit from solar power. Even on cloudy days, your solar panels generate electricity. Sure, on sunny days the production skyrockets, but on cloudy days your panels still have use. So there is no excuse not to go solar, no matter where you live.

9. The average efficiency of a solar panel is around 18%

Solar panels today have an average efficiency of 18%. This means that less than 1/5th of the sunlight that hits the surface of the panel gets converted into electricity. The average efficiency is going up, due to a lot of research we can see that the panels are getting better. There are panels out there that reach an efficiency of as much as 40%. The higher this number, the less panels we need to generate the power we consume.

10. The sun provides an unlimited supply of clean, renewable energy

When it comes to energy, the sun supplies more to Earth in one hour than humans need in a whole year. As a result, solar energy has surpassed all other energy sources as the world’s primary supply.

11. Solar panels have a 25 year lifespan

Solar panels are built to withstand the test of time. They are impervious to hurricane-force winds, hail, and sub-zero temperatures. Solar panels typically have a 25-year warranty, although their useful life span is much greater.

12. Costs for solar energy continue to decrease year

Over the past few years, the price of solar panels has dropped significantly. In fact, in only the last decade, the price of solar panels has plummeted by nearly 90%. The price of solar energy for homes and businesses will drop as a result.

13. The sun’s energy could provide global electricity

A National Renewable Energy Laboratory study found that if only 0.6% of land was covered with solar panels, the entire world could be powered by solar energy.

14. The efficiency of solar energy is higher than that of fossil fuels

As time goes by, solar panels get more efficient. Up to 24 percent of the sun’s energy may be converted into power by the most efficient solar panels available today. The efficiency of this method surpasses that of most fossil fuels.

15. Solar power is adaptable to any setting

Solar power is available worldwide. The use of solar panels to generate electricity is not limited to areas with ready connection to the grid.

16. The use of solar power helps cut down on pollution

By switching to solar power from fossil fuels, we can drastically cut our carbon footprint. Over its lifespan, a single solar panel can save as much as 10 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

17. The upkeep of solar energy is minimal

There is hardly any upkeep involved with solar panels. Since they are no moving parts, they are extremely reliable. To maintain them functioning well, you should only clean them on occasion.

18. Solar panels can boost your home’s value

Solar-powered homes sell faster and for a higher price. Home prices might increase by as much as 4% when solar panels are installed, according to research.

19. Putting money into solar is a safe bet

Putting money into solar power is a safe bet for the future. In contrast to the falling cost of solar power, the price of grid electricity is likely to climb in the near future. This indicates that solar energy investments can generate satisfactory returns.

20. Solar energy isn’t limited to your roof

Numerous innovative solar-powered devices are available for everyday use, including solar Bluetooth speakers, solar watches, solar lanterns, and solar outdoor lights. Check out our favourite solar devices in the list below.