Solar panels pros and cons are often debated. Some label it as too costly or ineffective.
Nonetheless, we see a surge in solar energy system installations in homes and businesses. This shows a growing shift away from fossil fuels.
Currently, solar panels are more efficient, affordable, and eco-friendly than in previous years. Furthermore, the federal tax credit continues till the end of 2022.
Yet, not every homeowner may benefit from going solar due to factors like geographic location, roof orientation, and electricity usage. Hence, many seek free consultations to assess if solar is suitable for them.
In most US regions, solar panels justify their installation and upkeep costs, offering a positive investment return and enhancing the environment. Despite the potential benefits of solar panel installation, some people remain skeptical.
If you’re among those deliberating the merits and drawbacks of solar panels, here’s what you need to understand.
The following are the pros and cons of solar panels.
In this post, we'll discuss:
Solar panels pros
- Solar panel costs have dropped tremendously in the past few years, making them much more affordable than before. This drop in price has led to an increase in solar usage around the world.
- Solar energy is free once solar panels are installed on your roof or solar farm, which makes it very appealing for those who want to save money on their electric bill each month.
- You can easily generate solar power during daylight hours, so there is never a range of time you cannot use solar power for electricity needs at your home or business, which means greater control over how much you spend on electricity bills every month.
- There are no moving parts, so without worrying about using up stored solar energy from days before if they have to shut down due to stormy weather.
- Solar panels don’t require any outside air source to make them function, which makes solar energy completely environmentally friendly.
- Solar panels can be used on a solar farm or solar roof with no worry of the solar arrays not working because of weather conditions since solar panels have no moving parts that could potentially break down during high winds or storms. This allows solar farms to stay open even when there is inclement weather.
- The cost of solar panels continues to drop as technology improves, making them accessible for people who would like solar panels to be extremely reliable and durable.
Solar panels cons
- Solar panel costs have dropped, but solar installations are still expensive. This is why solar panels may not make financial sense for some regions of the country and homes.
- In most cases, solar panels come with a warranty, but solar installation can be exhausting work, which means you will need to pay someone to install solar panels on your roof or solar farm if you choose this route.
- Although solar power produces zero emissions in operation, solar cells require a lot of energy in their construction process, which is often done in an environmentally unfriendly way.
- Some areas have poor solar conditions that prevent the generation of solar energy from being cost-effective when compared to other methods, such as natural gas solar power panels.
- Solar farm solar panels are not as aesthetically pleasing to look at when compared to solar panel systems on a roof.
- In most cases, solar installation is very time-consuming and exhausting. This means that if you do not want to do it by yourself, you will need to pay someone to install solar panels on your roof or solar farm if you choose this route.
- Solar panels can’t generate solar power when there is no sunlight. This means they do not provide immediate savings compared to other methods of generating solar energy, such as investing in a solar generator for home use that powers appliances with stored solar energy from the sun during days with cloudy, rainy weather where solar panels would not be able to generate enough electricity for your home.
Why do I need to install solar panels?
Not all places in the United States can be serviced by the power grid. Some off-grid housing locations in the country may choose solar power as a means of cutting costs and powering their homes. This is also true for those who are living in their RVs.
While solar panels are indeed expensive to install, they can save you a lot of money in the long run. Why? Because solar energy is free. If you have the cash to spend for the technology which converts sunlight to energy such as panels, charge controllers, batteries, wires, etc., it might be best to pay upfront.
Is solar power worth it?
Depends on your specific situation! You have to know that not all places in the United States receive sunlight all year long. If you live in places where sunlight is always available, you can achieve the energy independence that you dream of. However, if you are located where hurricanes and heavy snowstorms affect your energy source, solar energy might become a burden to you.
Installing a photovoltaic array is certainly not as cost-effective as it used to be. This is why many people are weighing the benefits of solar power now. Solar costs more than regular power in almost all states at current prices because other forms of electricity generation are cheaper right now. But depending on how much electricity you use monthly, PV energy could save you hundreds of dollars a year.
If PV cells are popular, why is it not widely used?
This one has a complex answer, and unfortunately, not all people fully understand the PV energy pros and cons.
Up until recently, the price of every solar panel system product was high. By then, many households have already connected to the grid. In addition, connecting to the grid is relatively easier and cheaper for them compared to installing solar arrays.
But people are now beginning to see the advantages of solar energy. They can now experience the convenience of energy independence without straining their funds in the process. Also, add the fact that the adverse global warming effects are becoming the trigger for people to choose clean energy over fossil fuels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really save money if I installed PV panels?
Yes!
For PV panels to work, you need solar cells, inverters, solar charge controllers, solar batteries (or other power storage systems like wind or water turbines,) and lots of wiring to hook everything together.
This can get very expensive, depending on the size of your solar panel array. The good news is that solar panels themselves are accounting for a smaller percentage of the cost due to recent advances in solar cell technology.
Furthermore, there are still some great incentives out there, so be sure to shop around before committing yourself to installing PV panels on your roof or PV farm if this interests you. You could save thousands per year by switching over to solar energy, which would easily pay for itself within 10 years using these solar panel pros and cons methods.
There are many brands of PV panels in the market these days. You may want to consider getting quotes from more than one company before committing yourself to installing large banks of solar energy if this interests you.
How long do solar panels last?
Depending on the position where you install it and the level of maintenance that you do, solar panels can go up to 25 years. You have to remember that the PV cells inside solar panels will gradually lose their solar output over time. After a few years, you might need to replace solar panels.
Can solar panels power my whole house?
Of course! Solar power is the best way to go green, and it can help you save money, too!
One common misconception about PV systems is that they only produce energy for certain devices. While this may be true with off-grid installations or grid-tied ones, nothing could be farther from the truth when we’re talking about how much electricity your entire house uses each month (which goes up exponentially due to other factors).
For example – if one were offsetting 10% of their monthly usage, then all aspects would get an extra hour/day’s worth of light every single day without having anything else changed outside those numbers either being plugged into wall sockets, etc… Imagine what 100% solar energy can save you!
I have an electric car. Can I use my panels to recharge my batteries?
Of course you can!
These days, electric cars may be charged simply by being plugged into a socket at your home. If you take this way and want to recharge your car using the power of the sun, all you have to do is install a grid-connected solar system.
It’s possible to power your whole house with solar energy and connect to the grid by using this technique. You won’t necessarily be generating energy from the sun and charging it into your car. Instead, you’ll just be offsetting a portion of your power consumption with photovoltaic energy.
If you want to recharge your car at night, the power will be coming from the electric company. If you have a large enough solar power system, it should have supplied power to the electric company during the day.
Investing in a solar car charger is another option. Some of these, in fact, have built-in panels that will generate the power for you.
Solar power home systems include photovoltaic panels and batteries, as well as connectors to charge your electric automobile. They’re more uncommon than grid-connected battery storage units, but it’s feasible to charge your car straight with solar energy by utilizing them.
Can I still experience power outages even if I’m hooked to solar power?
Yes, especially if you chose the grid-tie option. Unless you have a generator for home use that operates on solar energy, in some cases you could still experience power outages during days when there is cloudy, rainy, or snowy weather.
How long does it take to install a PV panel array?
It can take several days, depending on the size of your panel array and whether or not the company installing them has other jobs scheduled when they come out to your house or property.
In most cases, PV installation is very time-consuming and exhausting work, which means you will need to hire someone else to install PV panels on your roof if this interests you, so keep this in mind when you compare solar panel installation costs.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, solar panels generate clean energy and aid homeowners in reducing their electricity expenditures. However, photovoltaic (PV) panels are not currently the most cost-effective solution. Hence, it might be financially prudent to hold off on such a major purchase until the prices of solar panels decrease further.
Consider solar energy as an investment – one that holds potential not just for today but also for the future. It’s akin to planting a seed today for a tree that will bear fruit in the coming years. The initial costs may seem steep, but the long-term benefits can far outweigh these expenses.
The use of solar panels reflects a commitment to sustainable living, reducing our carbon footprint, and contributing to a healthier planet. Additionally, as technology advances, the efficiency and productivity of solar panels increase, making them even more valuable.
From a financial perspective, waiting for solar panel prices to drop could be a wise move. However, it’s important to remember that every day we use traditional energy sources, we’re spending money that we could potentially save with solar. Plus, the longer we wait, the longer we delay reaping the environmental benefits of solar power.
In conclusion, while solar panels may require a significant upfront investment, they offer substantial long-term benefits. Therefore, it’s crucial to weigh the immediate costs against the potential savings and environmental impact when considering this investment.
