Solar Energy

Misconceptions About Solar Power

When there’s an abundance of information available on any particular topic such as solar power, facts are occasionally obscured by myths. The only way an educated decision about home solar power can be made is to dispel any misconceptions and focus only on the facts. Here are five commonly held misconceptions about the home solar power market:

1. Solar power can only be used in warmer climates.

Temperature has no effect on solar panels and the amount of power generated. Solar panels are in fact a little more efficient at energy production in cooler temperatures. The amount of sunlight that solar cells receive, which is termed as solar isolation, is the main factor. Accordingly, even northerly situated states and countries will receive enough sunlight for solar panels to work effectively. Currently, the world leader for solar photovoltaic energy is not a country reputed for particularly sunny skies, and that is Germany.

2. After installing solar panels a back-up generator is required.

The vast majority of homes that have solar power energy plants installed are connected to the electric grid. This allows for your home to be powered and any extra electricity to be fed back to the grid, which in effect actually turns your electric meter backwards.
However, even during the night or on very cloudy days, you can still rely on electricity being provided by your local provider, as long as you install a grid-tie solar system, grid-ties being the most commonly available systems.

3. Using solar power means you can’t use modern conveniences.

Again, because your home will always remain connected to your local solar energy power supplier, you can use modern home conveniences at will, no matter how extreme their power consumption, although most modern appliances are extremely power friendly with ever-better standards being introduced on a regular basis.

4. Because solar power is overly expensive, it’s not suitable for mass consumption.

Billions of dollars of solar power research and a large amount of technological progress over decades are now resulting in reliable production and greatly reduced pricing. Further, due to governmental (both federal and state) as well as utility company backing, programs are now available which are suited and affordable to almost any home owner or business. A home-based solar system can provide 26 to 29 years of pollution-free electricity before it’s necessary for a replacement installation.

5. The use of solar panels is environmentally unfriendly.

A report compiled by the National Renewable Energy Lab found that the energy used to produce solar photovoltaic panels is paid back within one to four years, dependent on the amount of solar isolation which is available within your area and the type of panel used.
Typically, solar panels last for 25 to 30 years, which means that net energy savings over and above other energy resources which are fossil-based is vast.
What’s more, at the end of a solar panel’s life, the installer may offer to recycle the components.