Solar energy systems harvest the sun’s radiation for conversion into electricity or heat – which can be used as a potent energy source for a wide range of applications. When harvested and managed efficiently, solar energy represents a free and effectively unlimited source of industrial power, with none of the environmental hazards inherent in burning fossil fuels. In this article, we discuss the benefits of using solar energy in distributed power networks in the energy sector.
1) Lower Energy Bills And Operational Costs
Incorporating solar energy into your power systems to generate your own electricity means that you’ll be less reliant on your utility supplier. This gives you better control over your power sources and also reduces energy bills at a time when gas wholesale prices are high, and those funds can in-time be used to improve productivity elsewhere.
Transitioning to solar energy also yields lower operational costs, as less fuel is required to generate electricity in house, saving your project the added expense of sourcing a fuel supplier.
2) Reduced Environmental Impact
Solar energy has the least negative impact on our environment compared to any other energy source – especially fossil fuels. Unlike traditional power sources such as coal or natural gas, solar panels do not release harmful pollutants into the air or water when producing electricity, making solar power the most sustainable and eco-friendly of the renewable power options being explored by energy providers.
3) Government Support
The UK government currently offers a range of solar panel grants which can help make your green investment budget even more beneficial to your project outcomes. These grants are available to organisations in various sectors and can be used for several different projects, including installing solar panels or developing a ground-mounted array system. With these grants, you can reduce the cost of your installation and power system significantly, making it easier and more cost-effective to transition to renewable energy sources.
4) Peak Hours Production Capacity
Solar energy reaches its maximum production capacity during high demand hours in the UK, which is typically between 10am and 4pm during peak sunlight hours, when mains electricity demand is also highest (and for commercial users, more expensive). This makes solar energy an ideal source for meeting peak electricity needs as it reduces your reliance on expensive mains electricity. Additionally, this increased capacity can help reduce the strain on local grid networks during peak periods, which lowers overall electricity prices in the region by preventing overloading issues and blackouts caused by excessive demand on existing infrastructure networks.
5) Improves Grid Security
When operating a plant on solar energy, the grid is less likely to encounter blackouts in the event of an overload or as a result of natural/human caused disasters, lowering your operational risk and maximising uptime.
Solar Energy Benefits – Find Out More
Engineering Power Solutions offer specialist consultancy for all organisations looking to increase their usage of solar energy within their power systems, with tailored power system analysis to help you run your plant more smoothly and efficiently. Please get in touch using our contact form.
