As an industry insider, its almost become cliché to hear that solar energy is an excellent investment. Because of this, it’s easy to take the triple bottom line for granted in conversations with colleagues. Let’s delve deeper into the concept that people, the planet, and profits are critical outcomes of solar investment.  

Solar energy is one of the most popular forms of renewable energy, and it’s easy to see why. Because of big investments, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems have become increasingly efficient and cheaper. The cost of solar PV has fallen by around 99% since 1977[i], making it an attractive option for those looking to invest in renewables.

As the country transitions away from traditional carbon-heavy power plants, more utilities are turning their attention to renewable electricity. As a result, Wind, Solar, and Energy Storage dominate the landscape accounting for most new power plant developments.

The explosive growth of renewables is helping utilities and people transition away from pollution-causing, carbon-heavy energy

As one of the fastest-growing industries, solar is also creating a well-educated, proud, and capable workforce. As a result, it was responsible for around 36,000 jobs in 2014[ii], and this number is only expected to grow as the industry expands. Solar jobs exist across the industry, including installation, manufacturing, project development, and project finance; Solar PV is a job-creating machine. In the US alone, there are now over 242,000 people employed in the solar industry[ii].

In terms of environmental outcomes, solar PV provides many benefits. Solar energy does not produce any harmful emissions or pollutants, for instance, making it a pure form of energy generation. Additionally, solar PV can help offset other forms of pollution – such as from petrol and diesel vehicles. Every megawatt-hour (MWh) of solar PV generated, offsets an estimated 0.75 tons of carbon dioxide.

Many jurisdictions can build solar plants and they require very little long-term maintenance. The lack of heavy emissions even allows solar to be situated in heavily urban environments. All you need is Sun!

Solar is also incredibly versatile

There are many reasons why people might choose to invest in solar PV. Solar creates jobs, improves environmental outcomes, and provides substantial financial returns for investors. Because of this, returns in solar have consistently outperformed other industries and helped us achieve aggressive decarbonization goals.

Solar is a relatively low-risk investment with high potential returns. So by investing in solar, investors can diversify away from wall street and hedge against traditional real estate investments. Solar has been one of the best-performing investments over the last decade.

It is a proven technology with a long track record of success. Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells have been around for over 50 years and were first used in space satellites. Solar panels have steadily become more efficient and less expensive as production volume increases.

With proven technology and a long track record of operation, solar is a great place to park your money. You can feel good about what your investment is doing for the planet.

by investing in solar and energy storage, investors can unlock the benefits of the triple bottom line:

• People – in the form of great paying solar jobs and a green-collar workforce.

• Planet – solar investors are betting that solar energy is the future, and carbon-intensive energy is the past.

• Profits – Solar has consistently returned great profits and will continue to be a bright spot in the market.

If you are an accredited investor and would like more information on how to invest in solar, SCHEDULE A CALL!