Time to dig in and debunk these solar energy myths that you may have come across
You might have heard that solar energy is too inefficient and too expensive to be of any real practical value, but what you have not been told is this: that characterization has not been true for decades.
This post will clear the air about the reality of solar energy as it stands today. It will reveal four stubborn myths about solar energy that are long past their expiration dates, and provide recent evidence from reliable sources showing just how important solar energy has already become today, at this very moment.
Myth #1: Solar Energy is Too Inefficient
Early solar panels were novelty items. They were more proof of concept than practical, requiring relatively large panels to generate even low levels of usable energy.
The first solar panel, however, was produced way back in 1954. The technology has come a long, long way since then. Hannah Glenn of Solar.com explains that today’s solar panels are roughly ten times as efficient as they once were; they also cost much less.
The myth of solar inefficiency remains simply because public perception has not fully caught up with the developments in solar technology.
You can be assured, though, that solar energy’s efficiency today is more than adequate for household, commercial, and power grid applications.
Myth #2: Solar Energy is Too Expensive
In the past, solar energy was relatively expensive. Solar panels were less efficient, and they were manufactured only at small scales.
All of that has changed today. In his history of solar energy, Max Dilthey of the Solar Power Authority explains that the first commercially available solar cells (from back in 1955) cost around $16,000 in inflation-adjusted dollars for each watt of electricity they could generate. By 2017, reduced manufacturing costs and improved efficiency had dropped that cost to only $4 per watt of electricity production capability. And the costs keep going down. Even better, since solar is a renewable energy source, this one-time cost covers decades of energy production.
One reason that this myth remains is that unlike energy from non-renewable sources, the bulk of the costs for solar energy come in the form of up-front equipment costs.
Fortunately, numerous companies have stepped in to ease the initial cost burden for residential customers. Homeowners in most areas now have the option of buying solar systems on installment plans, with costs spread out over 25 years. The best part is that the savings on customer’s monthly utility bills are greater than the costs of the solar system.
"Solar panels are getting more efficient, batteries and inverters are becoming smarter and cheaper, and the solar options for homeowners have never been more diverse." – Max Dilthey
Myth #3: Solar Energy is Too Reliant on the Weather
Solar panels generate energy from the sun. This has led to a perception that solar energy systems only work on the brightest, clearest days, and that they are not viable because of the weather in many areas.
However, the high efficiency of today’s solar panels means that they can generally continue to generate electricity without direct sunlight, and even on cloudy or rainy days. Hanna Kieler of Rocket Solar, a company that provides residential solar energy systems through installment plans for homeowners, explains that as long as there is enough light for a person to see, solar panels continue to generate electricity.
This myth remains since it contains a grain of truth. Solar panels do not, of course, generate energy at night when there is no sunlight.
You should not be dissuaded by this fact, of course. Most residential users of solar energy systems remain connected to the power grid, and utility companies typically provide energy credits when these users produce more power than they consume during the day. Further, aspiring off-grid users can even store sufficient energy using advanced, whole home battery systems.
Myth #4: Solar Energy Requires Equipment that is Hard to Maintain
Solar panels require an up-front investment, so many people worry that they will require extensive maintenance or even that they will go bad within a few years.
Yet today’s solar panels are incredibly tough and require very little if any regular maintenance. Manufacturers use advanced coatings and test their solar panels against wind, snow, and even hail damage. Solar Energy Solutions, a solar power system company, points out that most solar panel manufacturers offer 25 year warranties for their equipment. Today’s solar panels are so durable that when a massive hail storm hit the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, just a single solar panel out of 3,000 total was damaged.
Very early solar panels may have required maintenance and broken down in a few years, but it is simply a myth that this it true of today’s solar panels.
If you are considering upgrading to a solar energy system, you have no reason to worry. You can expect your solar panels to provide decades of high efficiency production with little maintenance. A regular cleaning regimen for maximum energy production is all you need. Consider a quarterly, bi-annually, or yearly cleaning.
Conclusion
The myths make it sound like solar energy is a nightmare: inefficient, expensive, useless in most weather, and prone to breaking down in a few short years.
As this post has demonstrated, the reality is very nearly the opposite of these myths. Solar energy is highly efficient, tends to cost less than energy from non-renewable sources over the lifetime of the equipment, can be generated even in reduced sunlight, and uses equipment that is durable enough to keep going strong for decades.
Whether you are seeking the best energy source for your home or business, you should look at the reality of what solar energy can offer today.
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