The future is bright for U.S. solar!

As technologies advance, prices drop, and more people realize the benefits of making the switch, the future of solar in the U.S. gets brighter by the day. The industry is seeing growth patterns in the double-digits each and every year, but there is still room for more growth.

California is leading the solar charge, and is very fortunate to have weather that is conducive for optimal solar energy. It has also instilled a requirement for new homes to include solar panels. Many similar efforts are starting to expand beyond the Golden State, with Arizona a prime target for this initiative.

Currently in America, there are over 2 million homes with solar panels. That sounds like an impressive number, but considering there are about 90 million single-family homes, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Still, the U.S. is adding one million new solar-powered systems each year. It’s been an up-hill journey, but solar is becoming the preferred choice to power the homes of the future.

It’s the nation’s goal to transition to 70 percent renewable energy by 2050 to dispel the effects of climate change and stand as ground zero for the global energy transition. An increasing number of corporations, cities and countries are embracing emissions reduction targets and climate action plans to meet the goal of limiting the rise in global temperature.

As of 2018, over 100 cities across the globe report their energy production is from renewables is at least 70 percent, and more than 40 are currently operating on 100 percent renewable energy. Hundreds more have pledged to work towards the goal of energy generation that is 100 percent based on renewables. Acknowledging the impact of climate change, more companies have also committed to transitioning to 100 percent renewables and moving away from fossil fuels. Many of these corporations and municipalities were inspired to make these commitments after the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The combination of economics and global policy changes are the driving forces to the increase in the use of solar power. The use of non-renewable fossil fuels has lost favor due to it becoming more expensive, and renewables have become more affordable. Solar energy remains one of the best alternatives to fossil fuels.

Advancements in storage solutions, new technologies like perovskites,​ and more are thrusting the solar industry forward. Clean energy experts say that the federal government needs to continue investing in in different technologies even if they cannot be certain that a particular one will succeed. The global market is competitive and the United States needs to step up and not fall behind in research and development of these emerging technologies.

The rise in the use of solar energy has been dramatic, and the momentum to continue this trend to solar energy would appear unstoppable. Although policy makers are starting to embrace solar energy, we may not see the end of fossil fuels any time soon. But, it is a driving force to see that our energy sources are only getting cleaner…and the outlook is definitely looking sunny and bright! Tune into our blog next week, where we will deep-dive into a few solar trends and technologies to keep an eye on this year.

If you’re ready to go solar at your home or business, contact us today for your free, no-obligation quote! ​