The Sun has the power to meet – and exceed – the energy demands of modern life, while preserving the environment we all rely on; an environment that’s currently threatened by pollution, climate change, and the rapid consumption of precious natural resources.

While solar may not be able to solve all of the environmental challenges we face, it still has an enormous amount of potential in providing practical, cost saving energy solutions that protect the health of our planet. And that’s a pretty big start.

You may already know a few things about solar and the sun, but did you know that…

Solar is the planet’s cleanest, most abundant energy source

Enough solar energy hits the Earth in an hour to meet the entire planet’s energy needs for a year. Yes, you read that right – enough solar energy reaches the Earth in a single hour to power our energy needs for a full year. Given this fact alone, it’s easy to see the extraordinary potential solar has to solve many of planet’s energy and environmental challenges.

Solar is actually super affordable

Over sixty years ago the price of solar was astronomical, making it impractical for most applications outside of NASA. Today a combination of federal grants and generous tax incentives combined with the widespread use of solar technology have driven costs down, making solar surprisingly affordable. In many cases, solar is actually more cost-effective than traditional energy sources.

Solar still works in cold, snowy weather

Solar works wonderfully in cold weather, and can still generate power on chilly, overcast days. That’s because solar panels capture both visible and invisible light, such as infrared rays. Even on the grayest, rainiest days, light can still escape and land on solar panels. In addition, snow reflects a great deal of light which can actually help to improve photovoltaic performance.

Solar is one of Germany’s primary energy sources

Germany may seem like an unlikely hotspot for solar energy, yet it receives 85% of its electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric. Like many areas of the United States, Germany’s weather is typically overcast, yet it’s able to use solar as a clean, reliable, and affordable energy source.

Solar powered a flight around the world

Solar energy has been used to power cars, trains, and even the International Space Station – and planes might be next. In March 2016 Swiss pilot and clean energy advocate Bertrand Piccard, along with a team of other professional pilots, flew a solar-powered plane around the world with no additional or backup power or fuel source. The global flight was the first of its kind, and its successful completion highlighted the huge potential of solar energy.

When it comes to applications for solar energy, the sky is the limit. We’ve barely reached the tip of the iceberg in terms of solar energy applications, and the future of solar has never been brighter.

More questions? We’ve got answers.