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At Advantages of solar energy for businesses go far beyond contributing to a cleaner planet. From savings on electricity bills to financial incentives, not to mention less exposure to fluctuations in energy prices, there is no shortage of reasons to start thinking about giving your company new energy.
Clean, inexhaustible and with enormous potential to be the energy of the future, solar energy can be used to produce electricity or to heat water.
Being a cleaner and renewable energy, it should be seen as a good solution for companies. Especially in a country like Portugal, where sunlight is so abundant.
What are the advantages of having solar energy in my company?
Saving is always a good argument, but it’s not the only reason to consider having solar energy in your business. Increased energy autonomy, sustainability and environmental responsibility are some factors to take into account.
1. Increase in energy autonomy
Solar energy represents an increase in energy autonomy that is reflected in a reduction in the electricity bill. By producing and consuming its own energy, your company reduces its exposure to price changes.
This lower energy dependence becomes even more important in contexts of some uncertainty regarding the evolution of prices, such as the one we live in.
2. Save on energy bills
Expenses with energy consumption weigh (and a lot) on companies’ budgets. If we take into account that they represent 15 to 40% of your fixed costs, it is even easier to see that a reduction in your energy bill equals enormous savings, whatever the size of the company.
The use of solar panels can represent an average reduction of 20% to 40% in energy costs, by reducing grid consumption. Thus, the option for solar energy becomes an obvious solution to reduce costs in a very visible way.
For the production of solar energy it is not necessary to have clear skies, it is enough that there is sunlight. Which means that a panel produces energy all year round, even on gray days. Portugal has a high number of hours of sunlight per year when compared to other countries, which allows a better use of this resource.
3. Fast return on investment
Whether installed on a large or small scale, the panels are very simple to maintain. And that is also economical, since the costs are very low and much smaller than the savings obtained.
The initial investment is quickly recoupable and as they have a long lifespan (about 25 years), you won’t have to worry about replacing the panels for a long time.
There are still solutions without any kind of initial investment, in which it is possible to enjoy the advantages of solar energy by paying a monthly fee that can be fixed or variable. In the latter case, the provision depends on the energy produced.
4. Environmentally friendly energy
Solar energy is clean energy. The capture is done by a set of photovoltaic panels that transform it into electrical energy. This process does not emit greenhouse gases and does not pollute the water or air.
As it is renewable and inexhaustible, using solar energy will not contribute to the depletion of natural resources.
It is, therefore, a way for your company to take an active part in decarbonization and the energy transition. And these are two pillars of global, European and national policies for the coming decades.
5. A sustainable company is a respectable company
A company is, nowadays, much more than a business. Social responsibility and the sustainable positioning of the organization are currently of great importance in the choice of consumers for its products and services.
On the other hand, the environmental sustainability of companies is starting to be taken into account, for example, in the assessment of risk in granting credit. A sustainable company may thus have easier access to financing from banks than one that does not meet these requirements.
One of the advantages of solar energy for companies is precisely this positive perception on the part of their customers, investors and partners.
Environmental concerns are really a factor in valuing companies. One of the proofs of this trend is the Dow Jones Sustainability index, which analyzes not only financial performance, but also its performance in environmental, social and economic terms.
How to take advantage of solar energy for companies?
Now that you know the main advantages of solar energy for your company, it’s time to look for the most suitable solution for your case.
In this process, it is important to have an experienced partner that can provide guarantees of trust and quality, such as EDP, which has already carried out projects of this kind in more than 2,400 companies in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Poland, Brazil and the USA.
Additionally, over the years there have been several programs to which companies can apply to obtain financial support with a view to improving energy efficiency and implementing renewable energies.
As this is one of the ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve carbon neutrality, it is important to be aware of the public incentives that are emerging, namely within the scope of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and Portugal 2030 .
In addition to public programs, companies can use private initiatives to promote energy efficiency.
Solar energy is one of the strongest bets for achieving the environmental goals set by 2030. Therefore, this is the right time to bring the energy of the future to your company.
