In many parts of the world, a turn toward sustainability has taken storm. One such step toward sustainability has been solar energy, which takes light from the sun and converts it into either electrical or thermal energy that can power both your home and business. Not only is solar energy one of the most eco-friendly methods to generating commercial renewable energy, but it’s become increasingly popular in Ireland. It’s safe to say that this solar power trend has produced endless possibilities.

Ireland’s Shift Toward Renewable Energy As a Whole

Over the past several months, the accessibility for renewable energy shifted from a far-fetched dream to a modern-day reality. Several factors prompted this.

For starters, Ireland’s emissions rate was about 50% higher than the rest of Europe. These emissions release carbon and other harmful particles into the air we breathe. These can result in a variety of severe medical conditions, not limited to cancer as well as both neurological and cardiovascular issues.

Furthermore, Ireland’s rate of oil consumption increased by over nine million tons from 1994 to 2018. These numbers caused Ireland to rank as the second-lowest renewable energy generator per capita in Europe, only slightly performing better than Malta.

Over time, though, Ireland has made improvements. In terms of our emission rate, it has actually decreased about 53% from the early 1990s to 2016. While the shift toward renewable energy may have been slow to start, 63 businesses in Ireland were awarded solar project contracts over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, this is only the beginning of the tides beginning to turn.

Benefits of Solar Business in Ireland

Running a business comes with a number of operational costs. These costs include everything from hiring and retaining staff, to purchasing materials and machinery, to leasing and renting a space (or several) to conduct your day-to-day operations out of. One major factor plaguing businesses is the expensive cost of utilities – especially electricity. According to a 2016 study, electricity accounted for approximately 34% of business-related energy costs. 

Below, are the top benefits of solar business in Ireland:

  • It’s cost-effective – As a business, installing large panels will not only cut your electrical costs down tremendously but depending on your energy usage, you can even store excess energy as a battery backup in case of an emergency.
  • It’s low-maintenance – Not only are you going to save month to month on your energy bills, but you can save on maintenance costs, as well. Commercial Solar panels are incredibly low in maintenance. Without any moving parts, solar panels are not susceptible to normal wear and tears. Most solar panels will last anywhere between 20 to 30 years. The only kind of semi-regular maintenance is that you may need to replace batteries and the solar inverter every five to 10 years since both of those are the only things doing any sort of consistent work. The only other thing that may need to be replaced is the odd cable here and there, as needed.
  • You can access this energy anywhere –  As a renewable energy source, you’re able to harness energy just about anywhere as long as there’s some sunlight. Conditions don’t even need to be perfectly sunny for solar panels to work, either. While the more sun there is, the more efficient your system will be, as long as there’s some sort of sunlight, you’ll see it work. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be wary of a few clouds, as solar panels operate off of sunlight rather than the solar energy of the sun. 

The Future is Bright

For years, it was said that solar power just wasn’t something that would work in Ireland. Fortunately, that form of thinking has changed in recent years. One of the most helpful factors of this is the RESS-1 price point. While solar power was seen as pricey in the past, this new price point operates at €31 per megawatt-hour making it the cheapest form of electricity generation on the entire planet. Once RESS-2 is introduced, that price point will be even lower, and is estimated that it could be as low as €6 per megawatt-hour.

This ultimately means that switching to solar power will not only help you save on costs now but will help you even more so in the future. Solar power is only going to become more and more cost-effective as technology evolves and price points go down.

The switch to solar panels is also combined with the incredible technology of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. So what does that mean for you? This means that whatever excess energy your solar panels absorb can be stored in rechargeable batteries that can be used as a battery backup in case of emergency, meaning that your usage of electricity from the utility company will be minimal.

With these advancements in renewable resources, Ireland is making a lot of progress. Fortunately, for us, this means that the possibilities of how we can run and operate our homes and businesses have endless possibilities. When you’re ready to get started, our team of professionals is ready to assist you.

Contact Alternative Energy Ireland and Make the Switch to Solar Energy Today

For 15 years, we have been Ireland’s longest established renewable energy installers and have installed thousands of solar panel systems in businesses and homes across our island. Our team is passionate about what we do and how it protects the environment, which is why we will always deliver on our promise to reduce your company or home’s emissions. Our team will listen to your requirements, so you never have to worry about not being included in this installation process. At Commercial Alternative Energy Ireland, we want the use of solar energy to work for you, so our team is available via phone to answer any questions you have. Contact us at 01-4433996 to make the switch to solar energy today.