Clean and renewable energy are in higher demand now than ever. With the looming threat of climate change, there is an increased desire to go green in a number of ways, and energy consumption is often cited as the biggest contributor to the problem of global warming. Solar power is winning the race of green energy, and there are a few key reasons for this trend that will likely continue to grow. Here’s what you need to know in order to do your part in embracing green energy solutions.

Solar Is Affordable

Solar power is inherently less consistent than combustible fuel sources, because it depends on the sun, which places a hard limit on the amount of power you can generate using solar panels. Solar energy is also less efficient than coal and other fossil fuels. However, solar power is much more affordable in the long term than any other energy source, meaning that solar is nothing if not a sound investment in your own financial future. While this is cost associated with solar panel and Tesla Powerwall installer processes that is by no means insubstantial, there are also savings to be had in terms of monthly electricity costs. Solar energy requires the installation of new infrastructure, but it also provides electricity for almost no cost thereafter. A battery like the Powerwall is all but necessary in order to make the most of the 12 hours or less of electricity generation you can get in a day, but it’s also relatively affordable when one considers the long term savings.

Solar Is Accessible

Solar energy is not only cheaper than other energy sources, but it’s also more readily available and easier to install than the runner up, wind energy. Wind turbines are massive, and they require a ton of land, meaning that your average individual not only can’t afford them, but also simply doesn’t have the space for them. Hydroelectric options are incredibly limited, as they require close proximity to a running body of water like a river. Solar panels, on the other hand, come in a variety of sizes and are often quite small, all things considered. This range of sizes offers unparalleled versatility, and it’s not uncommon to see solar panels occupying the roof of a home, for example. This also means that solar energy can be as modular as you want. You can install one panel at first, and then another later on if you like. Likewise, this modularity can enable more inventive solar arrays that can make the most of the space you have available to you.

Solar Is Evolving Quickly

Solar isn’t the most efficient or the most available clean and renewable energy source, but its other advantages mean that it’s the first choice for many individuals and organizations. This means that more money is being funneled into the solar power industry which, in turn, means that more research and development is being done for solar than other green energy sources. This has a few ramifications. For example, additional research means that the efficiency of solar energy is likely to increase much more rapidly than air and hydroelectric technology, and that means that the areas in which solar lags behind will continue to catch up with wind turbines. Specifically, the involvement of a well known company like Tesla in the field of solar energy drives marketability which causes further proliferation of solar panels. This in turn will continue to propel the upward trajectory of the advancement of solar technology for the foreseeable future.

Solar Is Predictable

Hydroelectricity is perhaps the most reliable form of green energy, but by its very nature it’s not available to the average person. Wind turbines can potentially be much more productive than solar on a given day, but it can also end up being woefully insufficient depending on varying wind conditions. Solar, on the other hand, all but guarantees approximately 12 hours a day of electrical generation, meaning that it easily trumps wind energy for reliability.

Solar energy isn’t a perfect technology, but its shortcomings are easily outweighed by its advantages. When it comes to ecologically responsible energy sources, solar is the clear choice at this juncture.