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Top Solar Power Myths
With so much information available on solar power, the real facts are sometimes confused by myth or misinformation. Here are the solar facts to to dispel those misconceptions, myths, excuses so that you can make an educated decision about solar. These are myths about solar power you shouldn’t believe.
Solar doesn't work at night or when it's not sunny.
This is not true. A solar panel battery system can store all the power your home needs, 24X7. Solar panels work on cloudy, rainy or snowy days.
Solar is too expensive.
Actually, solar power is likely less expensive that continuing to pay your utility company, every month, forever and ever.In fact, you'll enjoy a $0 or very low power bill for the 25 or 30 year life of the system. For example, if you spend $200 per month for electricity with a utility, then you will spend $81,979 over 25 years, including a low annual price inflation rate of 2.5%. No matter how you calculate it, you will save money with a $5,000 to $25,000 solar panel system. Forget the confusing and distracting cost per kilo-watt (kW) comparisons. Remember, you can pay the utility for 25 years, with annual price increases, or you can pay a lot less for solar power. You'll also get some great tax credits and cash rebates, and you will increase the value of your home.
Solar is only good in warm climates.
The average temperature in a climate region has a very modest effect on solar panels. In fact, solar panels are actually slightly more efficient at producing electricity in moderate temperatures. So even if you live in a colder climate that is further north, you still get enough sunlight that solar panels will work. Surprisingly, Germany, a northern country not generally known for sunny skies, is the world leader in solar photovoltaic energy with over 9,000 Megawatts. That’s almost enough to cover the roofs of 2 million U.S. houses! So next time you hear this myth feel free to point out that just because an area is cold or further north, that does not mean that solar panels won’t work well for you.
You still need fossil fuel energy as a backup even after you install solar panels.
Residential solar panels these days are almost always connected to the electric grid. The electricity generated by the solar panels powers your house and any extra electricity is fed back into the electric grid. This actually spins your electric meter backward! Most importantly, because your home remains connected to the electrical grid, you can continue to rely on electricity from your local utility at night or on cloudy days when the solar panels are not generating maximum power. So as long as you install the very common grid-tie solar systems, you do not need a fossil-fuel source as a backup.
Going solar means going without modern conveniences.
You don’t have to give up your modern conveniences to go solar. Your home will remain connected to the electrical grid and your solar panels will simply offset the amount of electricity you need from the grid. Thus, you have all the power you need night and day, don’t need batteries, and can enjoy all your current conveniences without paying for high electric bills. So, you’ll have a more comfortable home AND realize savings.
Solar power is not ready for mass consumption.
This has probably been one of the most harmful myths as it causes homeowners to wait to install solar. Decades of technological progress and billions of dollars of research have given us solar energy technology that is proven and reliable. Moreover, government and utility-backed programs are available today to make solar adoption very affordable for just about any homeowner or business. Just take a look at all the incentives and rebates available for homeowners from the government (both federal and state) and from your local electrical utility.
Making solar panels takes more energy than it could ever produce.
Completely false and an attempt at dis-information. Compare the energy cost to produce one gallon of gas or one pound of coal. A report by the National Renewable Energy Lab shows that solar photovoltaic panels actually payback the energy used to produce the panels in 1 to 2 years depending on the type of panel. Because solar panels last 30 years, PV systems could provide decades of pollution-free electricity for your home!
We need breakthroughs from the science laboratories to make solar work.
While improvements in efficiency or cost would be great, solar, which typically provides its energy when demand is high (read that electricity is most expensive) is actually at grid parity in many parts of the world when pricing markets are sensibly constructed. Focusing on breakthroughs reinforces a 'wait and see' attitude with the public, when in fact we can be building with what we have. Because it works!
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SOLAR PANELS
