Solar energy, or energy derived from the sun, is available to everyone for free. The cost is incurred in obtaining the necessary equipment to harness that energy. Solar energy is usually obtained through the use of a solar panel, which can be quite costly. By looking for rebates or government solar energy incentive plans, you can get free solar energy — or something close to it. Many solar energy supporters also claim that the equipment’s initial cost is quickly offset by the energy savings it provides, effectively making the panels functionally free over time.
For centuries, humans have been trying to figure out how to harness and use the sun’s immense power. The most successful solar energy plans date back to the 1950s, when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States began using solar cells to power satellites orbiting the earth. The sun’s radiation was absorbed by these cells, which then converted it into energy.
The most common methods of storing and converting the sun’s energy are still cells and panels. Solar panels can power everything from calculators and small electronic devices to streetlights, city signs, houses, and even automobiles. Solar cells eliminate the need for batteries by generating electricity from sunlight. Each time the panels are exposed to sunlight, they re-charge, making them a truly renewable resource.
Of course, the energy is unrestricted. However, solar panels are often quite expensive, and the initial costs of using solar energy can be substantial. The majority of the costs are associated with technology development. Solar panels are complicated devices that absorb and restructure heat waves using semiconductors. It is usually easy to feel the sun’s power without any specialized tools, but it is nearly impossible to use without some way of converting that power into electricity. As a result, the concept of “free solar energy” appears to be a contradiction.
Looking for energy rebate programs in your area is one way to get free solar energy. Many governments offer discounts, rebates, or tax deductions to homeowners and businesses who use solar power for at least some of their electricity needs. The majority of these programs require you to buy the paneling equipment outright, but then reimburse you for it.
Some solar energy companies also give discounts to builders who commit to building new solar-powered structures, or to homeowners on the same block or in the same neighborhood who want to go solar at the same time. Bulk sales and installations save companies money, and solar energy contractors have to make fewer trips as a result.
Solar energy is becoming more popular, but it is still not widely used. Solar energy jobs in the research sector are growing by leaps and bounds as the technology required to facilitate power conversion evolves. Many industry insiders predict that the cost of solar panels will decrease over time, and they envision a future in which solar energy will be the default energy source in many communities. Free solar energy may become a more tangible reality if and when this time comes.