So you like the idea of solar power systems, but you’re not too sure that you know enough about it?

It’s true that the market is flooded with sellers due to the solar boom, and many of them like to gloss over the less palatable aspects.

Our aim is to break it down and give you the simple facts surrounding solar.

So, just to keep you well informed and help you decide for yourself, we list the pros and cons of solar power.

Pros of Solar

Solar is the renewable energy source of the future for the following reasons:

• Extremely safe to use.
• Low to no maintenance cost.
• Efficiency of conversion is very high.
• You can now even get solar panels for free.
• The sun is limitless in supply and highly reliable.
• Solar panels reduce your carbon footprint immediately.
• Solar systems Has no moving parts, and it is therefore very quiet.
• Good for low-power uses, such as battery chargers and garden lights.
• Once the initial expense is paid, solar power panels provide free energy.
• Reduces the amount of fossil fuel burnt and decrease greenhouse gas emissions globally.
• The adoption of renewable energy technologies creates a large number of jobs worldwide.
• Solar panels do not require new land space, and your roof space would have been mostly unused anyway.
• Leasing options allow you to avoid the large capital costs, and now you can even get paid for your roof space.
• The average life of photovoltaic cells is 25 years and more, but some of the first solar panels ever produced are still operational.
• Solar power does not suffer from inflation and increasing prices, and they are not affected by unstable world markets like fossil fuels.
• Remote stations make use possible almost anywhere with a sunny climate, especially remote areas where obtaining electricity is difficult.
• “Net metering” allows you to “sell” your excess power back to the utility, reducing or eliminating your bills, and covering your need for power at night.

Cons of Solar

Solar power cost is arguably the main disadvantage, and this all comes down to the high initial cost. This can also be attributed to the “soft cost“.

Not considering the main stumbling block, the current downside of solar includes the following:

• Your power output will be affected by bad weather.
• Solar storage is expensive if you want to live off the grid.
• You can’t make solar power at night either, so may have to store it.
• Pollution associated with the manufacturing process is not yet fully understood.
• Certain solar cells may require exotic materials which are expensive and rare in nature.
• Your roof may not have a good orientation or angle to the sun, which could make installation less effective, or even impossible.
• If you want to run your business off the grid, you may not have enough roof space to install a big enough system to meet your needs.
• Capacity to produce large amounts of solar power is greatly reduced in the winter, when daylight is shorter and the sun is at a lower angle in the sky.

Regardless of which way you look at it, solar power is here to stay.

With the latest advancements continuing to improve the overall efficiency of photovoltaic technologies, solar will continue to be the number one contender as the renewable energy source for a sustainable, gridless future.

If you are ready to explore the advantages of solar power, we recommend you get in touch with a highly qualified solar professional in your area. You can start right now by entering your zip in the area provided to the right.