Is Solar Panels Electricity Worth Trying?
According to the Energy Information Administration in 2006 around 86 percent of this planet's primary energy production was powered by fossil fuels. This fact alone showed us that despite of the advanced technology we are using in this modern era we are still depending on the non-renewable energy that took millions of years to form. Our nature provides renewable energy resources like geothermal, solar and wind but their contribution was less than 1 percent only.
What makes people reluctantly switch to the green energy, especially the solar energy? To answer this question first we have to compare the pros vs. cons of the solar application itself.
It is a fact that solar energy is free, we won't need to worry about its availability because it can be found in most of places around the globe. Let us start with this pro.
Solar panels also produce electricity quietly because there are no moving parts involved in the energy conversion process. When there is no fossil fuels burned there will be zero pollution emitted as well. Think of how much we can save money and at the same time keep our earth green.
Another good point to consider is you can get credit from your utility company if the solar panels produce electricity more than the amount that your household needs. This will be a win-win solution: any excess electricity will be taken by the grid making the meter spin backwards so you get credit from it and if the solar generator can't fully supply the electricity then you can always get it from the grid. Most of you have probably heard about this net metering policy.
Now that we have seen the pros let us talk about the cons. Amongst the cons one biggest issue you will find is the initial cost needed. Yes the solar energy is free but you will have to purchase the solar kits namely photovoltaic panels, solar inverter, solar regulator and batteries should you prefer an off-grid option. There are also some other accessories needed. All of these parts cost you a lot of money. The electricity will pay back the initial cost after years of installation.
The other drawback of the system is the performance. Solar panels will generate maximum output in full sun. The performance will be reduced by clouds or during winter. Because the panels are mounted outdoors the glass cover is exposed to dirt and pollutants accumulation as well. You have to periodically check and clean it when needed to have better sunlight absorption. The solar panels also need some space, the bigger watt you need the more space they will occupy your land. The best place to mount them is your roof so please look for this possibility.
If you choose off-grid application and use batteries to store the electricity, please note that junked solar batteries will contaminate our environment badly if not properly handled because they are highly toxic. Due to this reason you have to follow your local regulation for batteries disposal.
We all want to replace the fossil fuels based power generators but unless a better and highly efficient solar panel technology is found we can't really expect solar generators to fully phase them out now. However we know that many improvements have been made so far and better technology plus mass production will lower the production cost so more people can have the system installed. While today it looks that solar panels electricity is not a perfect solution for everybody, it still makes a huge difference in remote places where no power lines are available. In the future it will undoubtedly replace the fossil fueled power plants due to the limitation of the hydrocarbons.