In Australia, solar energy is one of the most popular alternative energy options for residential and commercial properties. This is largely due to the abundance of sun that much of Australia is exposed to.

For the average homeowner, however, you may be wondering just beneficial solar energy actually is. In today's blog, we look at the benefits of solar energy, how effective it is in Australia, and what you need to keep in mind if you are considering it for your own home.

How beneficial is solar energy to the environment?

In terms of providing a much cleaner and renewable source of energy, solar is incredibly beneficial. It leaves no carbon footprint and, unlike other technologies such as nuclear, there are no by-products of solar energy that are harmful to the environment or us.

Of course, the key issue with solar energy is that it’s all reliant upon the amount of sun and insolation (solar radiation) any given place receives. With this requirement, Australia is a more ideal place for the success of solar energy than countries such as Canada and the UK where sun exposure and insolation are substantially reduced during the winter months.

That said, the earth receives more energy from the sun in one hour than what we use in the entire world over the course of a year. If solar energy could be harnessed in conjunction with other more environmentally friendly energies, then the benefits could be very notable, even with the 100-year lag that exists before the positive environmental outcomes would be felt.

Could solar energy be a feasible energy source on a global scale?

The short answer? Yes.

According to Energy Matters, it would only require 0.3% of the world’s land area to supply all of our electricity needs via solar power. This is still a notable chunk of area - about 446,820 square kilometres - but when interspersed throughout the world, it is achievable.

That said, not all countries would be able to rely solely upon solar energy. In addition to solar, they would also have to utilise other renewable energies, such as wind energy.

Would solar energy work in Australia?

Overall, Australia is an ideal country that could harness solar energy and get a lot in return for doing so. During the winter months, most of Australia receives in excess of 4kWh of insolation per square metre, which is believed to be plenty for solar energy.

Additionally, there is enough roof space in all of Australia to cater to all of the nation’s electricity needs via solar panels. So with the mixture of our ideal hot, dry climate and a strong averaging insolation amount, solar energy is a very feasible and useful energy form.

Would solar energy work for your home?

When deciding on solar energy for your home, much of it comes down to some key questions, including:

• Can solar panels be installed on the part of your roof most frequently exposed to the sun? - Frequent exposure is ideal
• Are your summers hot or mild? - Hotter summers are ideal
• Are your winters mild or cold? - Milder winters are ideal
• How long do you intend to live in your current home? - The longer you'll be living in your current home, the greater return on investment you'll get from installing solar panels
• Are you looking to be entirely dependent on solar or will you utilise a hybrid of solar and traditional energy? - Depending on where you live, solar-only energy may be a viable choice. In milder climates, however, you may still need to rely on a split of solar and traditional (electric/fossil fuel-based) energy sources

If you’re considering installing solar panels on your roof, remember that your roof must be in good condition. Repairing damaged solar panels as the result of a damaged roof can be an extremely costly exercise.

At Roo Roofing, we can assess the condition of your roof and restore or replace it in preparation for your solar panel installation. If you would like to find out more, do hesitate to call us on 1300 734 148.

* "Sunset, Brattvaag (Norway)" by User:Wilhelm Werner Winther - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.