Solar energy is probably the most commonly heard word in the past few years. This happened because solar energy or solar power is becoming very popular due to its uncountable benefits. Sun is the main and the biggest source of solar energy. The sunlight is converted into solar power through the use of photovoltaic or PV panels which are also commonly known as solar panels. These panels gather solar radiation and convert it into electricity or store it in batteries for other uses.
Solar panels have three main components which are solar panels, a mounting system, and a solar inverter. Solar panels gather radiations from sunlight in the form of DC electricity. This DC is converted into AC by the inverter for household usage.
Solar panels have a long life span of nearly 25 years. They can even last longer than that. They also need very less maintenance to keep on working properly. The most common maintenance requirements are proper cleaning of the panels from dust and debris etc so that their working may not affect them.
Pros and Cons of Solar Systems
Solar systems are a new product for many homes or business owners. However, this system is becoming increasingly popular due to its beneficial features. However, if you are planning to go solar, you should first consider the pros and cons related to solar systems. Therefore, we have created a list of important benefits and drawbacks of solar systems. We hope that the below-mentioned points will help you to understand solar systems more clearly.
Pros of Solar Systems
The beneficial features of solar systems are given below.
1. Reduction in Monthly Electricity Bills
The greatest advantage of installing commercial solar panel at your place is you produce your own electricity. You do not need to rely on the electricity from the grid or you have to rely less on grid electricity. In this way, you save a lot of money on your monthly electricity bills. A solar system has a life span of nearly 25 to 30 years. This means that you can reduce the use of electricity and cut the cost for decades to come. Another good point is that solar system costs have been reduced by 70% in the past decade while electricity prices are on a continuously rising pattern. Therefore, by going solar, you will save a lot of money.
2. Less Carbon Footprint
Solar energy systems are renewable energy sources that helps to reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. Compared to other energy sources that use fossil fuels, gas, or oil for energy production, solar energy has very less impact on the environment. Fossil fuels and oil or coal etc emit pollutants directly into our environment causing environmental pollution. However, solar systems have very less or no bad impact on the environment.
3. Increases your Home’s Value
Installation of a solar system at your place is the most beneficial investment you can do right now. It has been proved through a survey that installing solar systems at your house increases the value of your house by nearly 4 percent. Therefore, if you are still thinking about installing solar systems or not, then you should go for it without any hesitation. Solar systems will pay you back even if you move out.
4. Fewer Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance requirements of solar systems are very low. They only need cleaning etc to keep on working properly. However, this depends on the proper installation of your solar system. If your system has been installed by a qualified technician then hopefully you will not face any issues. The parts of a solar system are fixed therefore, there are no such maintenance requirements after installation except cleaning.
Cons of Solar Systems
Some drawbacks of solar systems are explained below.
1. Not Suitable for Every Roof
One major drawback of solar systems is that they cannot be installed on every roof type. The mounting system for solar panels cannot be installed on certain roof materials. Similarly, some roof styles like the sliding ones do not support the proper installation of solar panels. It becomes difficult to install the system on such roofs.
2. Less Electricity Costs Mean Less Savings
If you are living in a place where electricity costs are already low then you cannot get any benefits from solar systems. The ultimate goal of solar system installation is to reduce electricity costs and save money on monthly utility bills. However, if you are already getting electricity at the lowest cost then it will be of no use for you to install a solar system as your savings will be very less as compared to the person who is paying a lot more on monthly electricity bills.
3. Solar Systems Do Not Work at Night
Another drawback of solar system is that we can gather energy in daylight only. We know that solar systems work on radiations from the sun which is not present at night. Therefore, there will be no radiation and the solar system will not work. In order to get the benefit at night time, you will have to attach batteries for energy storage which will be an extra cost. Ultimately, the cost of your overall solar system will increase and it will be an extra weight on your pocket.
Final Words
From the above-mentioned points, we know that solar systems have both advantages and disadvantages. However, the advantages outweigh the drawbacks clearly. Therefore, it is understood that installing solar panel at your place will be a wise investment that will highly benefit you in the future. However, it is important that you buy good quality solar panels and hire a professional for proper installation.
