Our ability to harness the energy of the sun has been one of mankind's greatest achievements. Solar panels are our lifeline in a future of uncertain supplies and spiraling costs, but as sensible an alternative as they are it's important to consider all the pros and cons of ownership before making the decision to install them.
For example, some of the pros of owning such a system include:
Can Be Installed Almost Anywhere
The beauty of solar panels is they can be installed in a huge variety of locations, including some of the most remote places in the world. In some rural places in the UK, it is more cost-effective to have solar panels than laying high voltage wires.
The Energy Is Constantly Available
Solar energy is the most abundant natural source of energy on the planet and it never runs out. Even in winter on overcast days, the solar energy from the sun is enough to power every home across the UK.
The Electricity Is Clean And Produces No Pollution
Solar panels give off no pollution. There's no exhaust fumes, odorous emissions or nasty by-products of electricity generation, and solar panels do not have a carbon footprint. They just produce clean pollution-free energy.
They Are Quiet
Unlike most fossil fuel-based energy and some renewable sources of energy such as wind turbines, there's no noise from solar panels. They produce electricity very quietly.
You Earn And Save Money From The Day It's Installed
The launch of the Feed-In Tariff by the government means every month you will receive money in three different ways. You get money for each unit of electricity you generate, then more money for any surplus units you export back to the National Grid, and finally great savings on your utilities bills as you use the energy you generate instead of what supplied to you. And the income is tax-free and linked to keep pace with inflation.
They Need Very Little Maintenance
Apart from a check every five years by a qualified installer, solar panels are true 'fit and forget' technology and need little effort on you part to look after them during their 30+ years lifespan. In very heavy snow you may need to clear some off the panels, although the panels produce some residual heat which, along with a special coating, stops the snow from settling.
However as there are also some important considerations to take into account:
The Cons...
They Can Be A Large Up Front Expense
The biggest consideration of solar panels is their price. To receive Feed-In Tariffs you have to own the panels and that means finding several thousand pounds in one go to buy your system and have it installed.
Energy Is Only Generated During The Day
Solar panels only convert sunlight to electricity during the daylight hours and generate nothing at night. You may have to adapt to using some appliances like washing machines and dishwashers during the day, perhaps on timers if you are at work, to make maximum use of the energy available.
Many Things Can Affect The Solar Panels Efficiency
Any shade that falls on the panels could potential reduce or even block their efficiency. Soft shading, such as wires can be easily dealt with, but hard shading such as large trees or high neighbouring dormers or rooflines are much more difficult to deal with if your neighbour is intent on having them.
Prolonged Poor Weather Can Reduce Your Output Considerably
Days of winter storms can have a detrimental effect on the amount of energy the panels are able to convert. This in turn will affect how much electricity you produce and the amount of money you receive from the Feed-In Tariff scheme.
They Are Energy Intensive To Produce
While the panels themselves are non-polluting once in place, the amount of energy and the chemicals and metals used in their manufacture are not. There are also the polluting effects of the transportation used to ship them from factory to supplier.
You Have To Have The Right Angle To Your Roof
The ideal roof is south facing at a 60o angle, although good results can also be obtained from roofs angled 90o either side - south west through to south east. North facing roofs are not suitable.
It Can Take A Long Time To Achieve Payback
The average solar panel system can take around 10 years to pay back - that is for you to earn as much income in Feed-In Tariffs as the panels cost you to have installed.
Investing in solar panels today is investing in your future tomorrow. There are very few people who cannot benefit from solar panels, but under the right circumstances and with full understanding of the pros and cons of this versatile and cost-effective environmental technology.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6601190
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