Welcome to the summer season solstice. Today is the longest day of the 12 months, and the purpose at which the solar reaches the best level within the sky. At 1:23 pm at present, the solar will climb to an altitude of 84 levels, reaching very almost immediately overhead. By distinction, in December, the solar’s peak altitude is as little as 37 p.c. This excessive solar angle is why it’s so essential to put on sunscreen in the course of the center of the day in summer season, however there’s a brighter aspect of the story.
You could have observed—it could be onerous to overlook, actually—that it has been scorching and sunny outdoors this summer season. While summers are usually not all the time like this, when excessive stress methods construct over the Southern plains states, we see days and days of sunshine. This helps make Texas one of many sunniest states within the nation, with a median of two,850 hours of sunshine a 12 months.
The excellent news is that we are able to really put that sunshine to make use of by gathering a few of it for solar energy, and it’s more and more simple to do that. In this submit, which is created by means of our partnership with Reliant, I wish to speak about a few of these methods you may put the Sun to give you the results you want.
Put the solar to work. (Reliant Energy)
Solar stats
As the state grows, so does its energy wants. And particularly throughout these hotter months, when the solar reaches the best level within the sky, solar energy helps to power our life-saving air-con items. Last summer season, solar energy supplied about 4 p.c of the state’s electrical energy wants, and which will almost double this summer season. Let’s begin with some primary details about solar power in Texas, sourced from the Solar Energy Industies Association:
- $16.6 billion: Total solar energy funding in Texas
- 1.7 million: Number of properties in Texas powered by solar energy
- 506: Number of solar energy firms in Texas
- 50 p.c: Decrease in worth of solar energy over the last decade
- 4 GW: Amount of latest solar energy capability to be put in within the subsequent 5 years
- 1: State rating in solar power era in 2021
Understanding solar: utility scale vs. residential
There are two major methods wherein the solar’s energy is collected: residential solar power and utility-scale solar farms. Residential solar is unfold round communities, made up of solar panels put in on roofs, or mounted on the bottom, and is usually related to the native utility distribution grid. Utility-scale means a centralized solar farm related to the grid that sells generated energy again to the native wholesale utility, moderately than end-use prospects.
Both technique of producing solar energy are serving to to gas development within the state. And relying upon your home, way of life, and price range both could be an possibility to your electrical energy wants.
Solar hows
There are a number of methods for electrical energy customers to get entangled with solar energy, and get monetary savings within the course of.
Without rooftop Panels
Support solar energy along with your present electrical energy plan. Reliant affords a simple possibility for purchasers to “Make It Solar” to help clear, renewable energy whereas preserving their present plan the very same. No panels required, you may reside in a home or house that you just personal or hire. Customers merely add “Make It Solar” to their most popular electrical energy plan for $9.99/month. Or for these enrolling in any Truly Free electrical energy plan, it’s an automated, free improve.
Enroll in a Plan Designed to Support Renewable Energy in Texas. Even with out the dedication of putting in panels, Reliant’s 100% Solar plan helps renewable energy and affords prospects a secure fastened charge. When you enroll, 100% of your electrical energy utilization shall be matched with solar renewable energy certificates, which offer one other income for solar power firms. These certificates signify that renewable energy equal to your utilization has been generated and despatched to the electrical grid—so that you’re not required to put in solar panels in your roof.
With rooftop panels
Make the Most of Your Panels’ Power
If you have already got solar panels, you may earn invoice credit to take advantage of your power. With the Reliant Solar Payback plan, you’ll obtain invoice credit as much as your month-to-month utilization when your solar panels generate extra energy and return it to the electrical grid.
Backup Power Solutions
Harnessing Solar During an Outage
Solar also can present peace-of-mind and function back-up power throughout an outage. Reliant’s sister firm Goal Zero affords a spread of solar-powered back-up power choices, starting from moveable and mountable panels to moveable chargers and mills. I used considered one of these to power some primary requirements, together with a number of laptops, in the course of the Valentine’s Day freeze of 2021.
As we make it by means of this notably sunny summer season, know that the solar helps create a cleaner, greener Texas. You can study extra about solar power and energy selections from Reliant at reliant.com/solar.
