Harnessing the sun’s power is a matter that began since the evolution of life on Earth, with plants and the photosynthesis process, or the role of the sun and the seasons in agriculture. We adopted the heliocentric vision of our solar system model but ancient civilizations revered the sun and understood its elemental role a long time ago.

The sun’s importance and our use for it aren’t new, but solar energy is going through a timely revival.

1. The difference in 2020 comes from the sharp decline in both the cost of production and installation of solar energy systems, rendering it more accessible to the general population. A report released in October 2020 by the International Energy Agency (IEA) confirms it is now the cheapest electricity in history. The World Energy Outlook 2020 report analyzes global energy systems and named solar the “new king of electricity”.

2. Solar energy is an inexhaustible resource; it is a natural renewable energy. The Earth offers finite resources and materials that we use and overuse until near exhaustion and ecological collapse to produce and consume more and more energy and goods, mainly based on the extraction of fossil fuels such as coal, and oil. But the sun has been shining for 4.6 billion years and is estimated to shine another 5 billion, according to NASA.

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3. Switching to solar energy is in line with the zero emission targets and policies to fight climate change. Using the sun to generate power does not emit carbon dioxide unlike fossil fuels; it is considered a clean energy and contributes to cleaner air and less green gases emissions.

4. The federal government does not track the numbers related to solar energy employment. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has measured its sharp and steady increase throughout the years, and estimates that solar installation will be the fastest-growing occupation in the nation over the next decade. Investing in solar and renewables creates jobs and stimulates a green economy.

5. Homeowners with solar installations may earn money and become energy independent. When more solar energy is produced than consumed, the electricity generated can be sent back to the grid and sold to power companies. Australia is the country with the most residential rooftop solar installations, with about one in four Australian homes equipped with solar panels. Although the main motivation may not be climate change, financial and economic growth can line up with environmental causes when managed in a sustainable way.