SOLAR ENERGY HAS REACHED A TIPPING POINT: CHOOSE THE RIGHT SOLAR INSTALLER
Updated December 13, 2024
By Morgan Pierce
In Ireland’s General Election, the Green Party took a drubbing. In the U.S., climate change sceptic Donald Trump won a decisive victory. In Azerbaijan, the U.N.s COP29 summit ended with a fizzle.
Does all this mean that the climate consensus is fraying? That global awareness of the need to protect our fragile environment is starting to lose its mojo? That the big countries have – in the words of Friends of the Earth – “given a big F U to those on the forefront of climate breakdown.”
I don’t think so.
Solar is a big part of why that negative thinking is wrong.
And in spite of the real worries caused by the Green Party’s demise, Trump’s rise, and the shilly-shallying of the international community, there remain reasons to be hopeful.
Among them may be – cue the vapours! – capitalism. Long a dirty word in environmental circles, some experts are now arguing that if capitalism broke the planet, it also has the power to fix it.
At a post COP29 conference of “climate tech” entrepreneurs in London, participants downplayed Donald Trump’s threats as more about “anti-woke” rhetoric than fundamentals. Green technologies – like EV manufacturing, renewable including solar energy – are growth industries. Job creation, energy independence and international competitiveness, the experts said, all weigh heavily in favour of keeping America in the green game. Trump, the man who likes to think he always backs winners, will want to stay in that game.
Another reason for optimism is a thing called “the tipping point”. Popularised in a 2002 book by American author Malcolm Gladwell, “the tipping point” refers to “that magic moment when ideas, trends or social behaviours cross a threshold, tip and spread like wildfire.”
Renewable energy has reached that point. And it is solar that is now leading the way.
“We project that solar will dominate the global energy mix by the middle of this century,” climate scientist Femke Nijsse of the University of Exeter wrote last year in a report published in the journal Nature. Nijsse and her colleagues concluded then that solar had reached the “irreversible tipping point” that would see it become the world’s main source of energy by 2050.
The kind of growth that Nijsse and others predict means that the switch to renewables has taken on an unstoppable momentum – with cheaper energy, security of supply, and lower levels of pollution all driving the transition inexorably forward.
That kind of momentum means there is money to be made. Solar installers, as in any other growth industry, will draw both the sharks and the cowboys, so here we’ll add a cautionary note for consumers.
Solar installers: Beware the sharks and cowboys
SolarSmart has been in the solar installation business in Ireland since 2020, and we’ve seen lots of characters come and go. Often, not without tears for unwary homeowners.
The keen interest that consumers have shown in solar has led to an ever more crowded and competitive solar installer market. Be assured, we’re not going anywhere – and our dedicated sales, installation and “after-sales” teams have a wealth of knowledge about what customers need (and, in some cases, what they can do without).
If you’ve begun to shop around for a solar installer, here are a few tips:
- Only use an installer registered with the SEAI. Among other things, that’s the only route to obtaining a solar energy grant
- Check out the company’s history. Ask how long they have been in the business, how many installations they have done?
- Ask whether the company will do the work themselves or subcontract it out. If they do subcontract, ask who will take overall responsibility for the job
- Ask whether the system they recommend is sized specifically for your home, family size, and energy usage
- Get references from other customers and/or check the company out on Trustpilot. (Here’s our own Trustpilot review – 4.9 out of 5 stars!)
- Ask about “after sales” service, repairs, and maintenance
- Ask about warranties for all the major components
- Get at least three detailed written quotations
- Compare each company’s responses on all the above to know which provider will be the right one for you.
We think that when potential customers have done their homework, they’ll understand why they are getting value for money with SolarSmart.
“Tipping point”. In the case of renewable energy, maybe it’s just a fancy way to express a communal bout of common-sense taking hold.
Why Choose Solar In Ireland?
Investing in a solar panel systems in Ireland can bring many benefits, including reduced energy bills, increased energy independence, and a reduced carbon footprint. If you are interested in installing a solar panel system in Ireland, it is also worth exploring the different grant options and green business loans available and seeking professional advice from one of our solar energy advisors.
Feel free to contact us for more information, we’re here to help.