The sun is an essential part of our daily life. We need it to sustain us and provide us with many positive aspects. While we can’t live without the presence of the sun, it doesn’t mean we have to be dependent on it. Nowadays, there are many different ways to generate electricity cleanly and independently from the power networks, using the energy of the sun. If you’re interested in exploring this option, then this article is for you. Here we’ll discuss five reasons why you might not want to go down the solar power route just yet.
Costs Are Still High
Even after the recent fall in solar prices, the cost of setting up a solar-powered system still can’t be considered affordable. The cost of a 5-kW system with a 25-year warranty is about US$14,000, which is equivalent to approximately £8,400. Although this is a considerable decrease compared to the price of a similar system a few years ago, it’s still a lot of money for most people.
The price of electricity has also increased significantly in the past few years, so much so that the cost of running a 5-kW system for a year will equal the price of a 50-kW system for a month. The higher prices are mainly due to the costs associated with providing the service to households. Although there’s still a significant market for selling excess solar power to energy companies, the cost of setting up a small-scale solar power plant makes this option financially less appealing. As a result of this, more and more people are turning to the grid for their energy needs.
Regulations & Permits
The cost of installing solar panels is considerably less than the cost of buying appliances to generate electricity, however, this doesn’t mean it’s legal to do so. While solar power is an ideal way to generate electricity for some businesses and homeowners, in some places, it’s not yet approved as an energy source. As a result of this, alternative energy suppliers need to be aware of these regulations when planning operations in these areas.
The good thing is that as the demand for clean energy grows, more and more jurisdictions are likely to approve alternative energy sources. The best thing for consumers and the environment would be for all energy suppliers to become accredited with the relevant authorities, however, this isn’t something that’s likely to happen overnight.
Technology Is Still In Its Infancy
The average life expectancy of solar cells has more than doubled in recent years, reaching over 25 years. Not only that, but their efficiency has increased as well. These devices aren’t just limited to generating electricity from sunlight anymore – they can also be used to collect energy from other sources, such as the wind.
To put these advances in technology into perspective, it’s important to remember that solar power is still considered a brand new, emerging field. Up until very recently, nobody had ever synthesized a solar cell with useful power levels – let alone any that could be produced at a commercially viable price. While this might not be the case any more, the progress that was made in the space of a few years is still astounding.
Size Is A Major Concern
The bigger the structure, the more expensive it is to maintain. This makes a smaller system more practical in terms of both cost and efficiency. The cost of maintaining a 5-kW system over the course of a year is about the same as that of a 50-kW system for a month. In terms of cost-effectiveness, the smaller the system, the better – at least, until you reach a certain point.
There is also the fear that if you have a small structure, then the opportunity to add more solar panels will be severely limited. The optimum size of a solar power system varies from case to case, but is generally accepted to be between 5 and 10 kW. Going beyond this size could result in a significant decrease in efficiency, as well as more complicated calculations regarding the maximum number of panels that can be used.
It’s Not Yet Tested In The Field
Although there are many successful stories from around the world regarding the use of solar power, the technology still isn’t ready for widespread adoption. In many places, the main concern regarding the use of solar energy is the reliability of the source. Up until recently, the only way to assess the quality of a solar energy source was by using expensive scientific equipment, which is able to determine the maximum and minimum power output of the system. While this information is essential for deciding whether or not to use the energy generated by the panels, it’s still not something that can be provided by small solar companies or independent installers without causing significant disruption to everyday life.
In conclusion, while there are many reasons why you might want to go down the solar-power route, there are also a lot of concerns associated with it. The good news is that these days, more and more people are becoming aware of the many benefits that solar energy can provide. As a result of this growing interest in alternative energy sources, more and more people are likely to be exposed to the wonders of solar power, no matter where they live. Not only that, but with the cost of photovoltaic electricity continuing to decrease, and the technology continuing to develop, more and more people will be able to enjoy the many advantages that solar energy can bring.