Power of the sun

Over four billion years old and more than a million times bigger than Earth, the sun can reach temperatures higher than 15,000,000°C. The power of the sun has been harnessed for thousands of years, even now with today’s increased interest from homeowners in getting solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.

Here are our top facts about the power of the sun.

1. The UK recently enjoyed its sunniest March since 1929, with 166 hours of sunshine.¹ Spring 2020 was the UK's sunniest ever, with May 2020 delivering the most hours of sunshine of any calendar month since records began.² 

2. While excess sun can cause us problems, moderate exposure to sunlight offers health benefits. In spring and summer, sunshine is a source of vitamin D, which helps keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy and may even reduce the risk of Covid.³ Many people feel more positive on sunny days and others feel low during dark autumn and winter evenings. Scientists believe sunlight might improve our moods by increasing serotonin levels.⁴

3. The sun sends more than 170,000 terawatts of energy to Earth continually — many thousands of times more energy than humans can use.⁵

4. Solar energy has a long history. Ancient Roman and Greek architects used passive solar power to warm homes, positioning them to make the most of the sun's heat. Solar thermal systems used today still turn sunlight into heat, for example the solar hot water tanks often seen installed on roofs in sunny climes.

5. Today’s solar panels are getting more efficient every year. And solar PV doesn't need sunshine to work; daylight alone is enough, making modern solar an appealing option to power your home with renewable energy. There are over 900 solar farms in the UK's planning system today, including one that could provide energy for 100,000 homes.⁶

6. The sun's power to generate electricity is not limited to business. Powering your home with electricity from rooftop solar panels is the world's fastest growing renewable energy technology. Choosing to install solar panels on the roof of your home reduces your carbon footprint and minimises your reliance on fossil fuels as it gives you greater independence from the grid. And if your panels generate more electricity than you can use, you can use a battery to store it until you do need to use it, or export it onto the grid and earn money back through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).

While our ancient ancestors understood the immense power of the sun and sought to take advantage of it, the technology to help us to do this more effectively and efficiently continues to develop and evolve even today.

^{1. UK Met Office: New March sunshine records} 

^{2. UK Met Office: May 2020 becomes the sunniest calendar month on record}

^{3. NHS: Vitamin D} 

<sup>4. NHS: Treatment – Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology News: Shining brightly</sup>

^{6. The Guardian: Light…or blight?}