Myth #1: Solar Power Only Works In Sunny Places
Reality: As long as some sunlight reaches the earth solar technology can be used in almost any weather, including rainy, and snowy days.
Because heat inhibits the conversion of sunlight into electricity, solar panels perform best in cold and sunny climates. Keep in mind that solar panels capture light rather than heat.
A home with rooftop solar panels is still connected to the electric grid, unless you live in the tiny minority of Americans who live more than a mile from a power line. This means that if your solar energy system does not produce enough power, the grid will.
Myth #2: Solar Panel Is Too Expensive
Reality: Some people avoid solar panel installation because they believe it will be too expensive. This was true a decade ago, but with the growing popularity and demand for clean energy, solar panels have become more affordable.
In fact, according to data from 2009 to 2015, investments in solar panels have generally increased as they become cheaper. Their average costs have dropped by about 30%. Globally, producing electricity from solar energy is actually less expensive than producing electricity from coal.
Many solar companies typically offer financing options to homeowners who want to go solar. A great example of financing is one that allows you to pay overtime, as well as federal tax, local and state incentives, and rebates to help offset the costs.
You can pay for your panels in monthly installments similar to an electricity bill. To save even more money on energy, some providers offer solar loans at below-market rates.
Myth #3: Solar Power Is Unreliable
Reality: When some homeowners hear that solar panels have an efficiency rate of 20–22%, they think that means they’re not strong enough to power their homes. Why isn’t it at 100%?
Truthfully, it’s because it doesn’t need to be. Solar energy is much stronger than standard electricity.
According to experts, just one and a half hours of sunshine could power the world for an entire year. That means solar is more than capable of powering your home.
Myth #4: Solar Power System Requires A Lot Of Maintenance
Reality: Solar panels will not require maintenance for many years after they are installed. Solar panels have no moving parts and do not need to be serviced on a regular basis. They are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions such as hail, sleet, and snow.
Keeping them clear of debris is the most basic way to keep your solar panels in good condition. If you live in a dusty area, you should clean them once a year to maximize power output, but that’s it.
Most homeowners rely on rainwater to wash away dust and grime, thus naturally cleaning panel surfaces. Maintenance is usually required only when there is a lot of rain or snow and dust or ice buildup that could interfere with energy production.
Myth #5: Solar Power Is The Solution To All Energy Challenges
Reality: A variety of solutions, including but not limited to solar, will be required. Not every solar myth stems from a mistrust of solar energy.
On the other end of the spectrum, there is the belief that simply dumping solar panels on our energy problems will solve them. This myth ignores the difficulties associated with commercial-scale storage, access, and recycling.
Before solar can reach its full potential, more work must be done on storage and recycling, as well as ensuring that the technology is accessible to all.
Myth #6: Solar Energy Can Still Power Your Home When The Power Goes Out
Reality: When there is a power outage on the grid, solar systems automatically shut down to prevent power from flowing back into the grid and endangering the safety of electrical workers repairing the problem.
Some solar battery storage systems, but not all, can provide backup power. That’s why It is critical to know about this before purchasing.
Solar panels are typically incapable of providing all of the energy required by a home. As a result, solar-powered homes connect to the primary electrical grid to meet those requirements.
This grid connection is useful on days when solar production is low, but it is problematic during power outages. Installing a solar battery storage system is the only way to use your solar power during grid outages.
When the grid goes down, these alternatives to traditional generators store excess energy as a backup.
Myth #7: Solar Panel Can Decrease House Value
Reality: In fact, solar panels would increase the value of your home. According to numerous studies, homes with solar panels sell faster than homes without solar panels.
Because of the rapid growth of solar power generation, many prospective home buyers consider it a desirable upgrade. Although homeowners may not realize it at first, solar panels increase the resale value of their home.
According to a 2019 study conducted by experts, homes with solar energy systems sold for nearly $10,000 more than conventionally powered homes.
Myth #8: Solar Panel Will Damage Your Roof
Reality: Solar panels actually protect and preserve the portion of the roof they cover. If the roof the panels are sitting on becomes damaged and needs to be repaired, the panels can be easily removed because they are not directly attached to the roof; they are simply mounted on top of it.
If there are any gaps between the roof and the panels, sealant is usually used to fill them. Furthermore, the mounts are protected by metal “flashing” or coverings to provide an additional barrier of protection. It is best to inspect your roof for damage before installing a new roof.
When proposing, designing, and installing an array, engineers take structural soundness and roof integrity into account. Typically, panels are mounted on removable skids with weighted ballasts for easy removal.
Myth #9: Solar Power System Is Bulky And Unattractive
Reality: Disliking the appearance of solar panels was also a popular reason homeowners said they wouldn’t install solar panels, right behind them being too expensive.
Most solar panel systems are still quite bulky, but the aesthetics have come a long way since they were first developed in 1954, and there’s more hope on the horizon. Companies such as Tesla have been developing technologies such as solar shingles to improve the aesthetics of high-efficiency solar modules.
Solar roofs will become more affordable to homeowners as the technology becomes more popular and less expensive to manufacture.
Myth #10: Only Homeowners Can Have Access To Solar Power
Reality: As a renter or business owner, you can use solar panels in a variety of ways, such as purchasing plug-in mini solar panel systems or solar-powered appliances. The best option, however, is to participate in a community solar program.
Community solar enables people who do not own their homes or live in an apartment building to benefit from solar energy via a shared solar array. These arrays are typically installed offsite, and you can purchase a share or pay a monthly subscription to gain access to the solar energy produced by the system.
While you won’t be able to take advantage of solar incentives, participating in a community solar project is still a great way to save money on your electricity bill and reduce your carbon footprint.
Myth #11: Solar Panels Are Bad For The Environment
Reality: Some people believe that when solar panels reach the end of their useful life, they have a negative impact on the environment. They anticipate that used panels will pile up in landfills, resulting in an excess of toxic technical waste.
It’s worth noting that a single solar panel can produce clean energy for up to 25 years. However, once those 25 years are up, the PV panels will eventually sputter out and stop producing energy.
However, institutions such as the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency is implementing programs to recycle PV panels and keep them out of landfills. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, recycled solar panels contain enough resources to create 60 million new panels.
Myth #12: Solar Power Won’t Work On Cloudy Days
Reality: Even on cloudy days or in low-light conditions, solar panels continue to generate electricity. They operate by converting sunlight particles into electrical currents via solar photovoltaic cells.
The most payoff will be obtained on days with bright, direct sunlight. In partly cloudy conditions, panels may still perform at anywhere from 40% to 70% of their normal output.
On extremely overcast days, performance drops to the point where almost no electricity is produced at all but will not prevent energy production.
As you can see, there are many misconceptions about solar power that are simply not true. If you’ve been thinking about going solar but have been hesitant due to these myths, we hope this blog post has helped set the record straight.
Solar power is a clean, renewable source of energy that is becoming more affordable and efficient every year. So why not give it a try? You may be surprised at just how much you love being powered by the sun!
