Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Panels for Your Home

This is a collaborative post by Rosana with the pros and cons of solar panels.

Ths sun’s radiation generates solar energy. The sun is an extremely powerful source of energy, which you can harness by installing solar panels at your home. In fact, did you know that the energy provided to planet Earth by the sun for just one hour could meet global energy needs and requirements for an entire year? However, currently, we are only able to harness just 0.001% of that energy.

This post will discuss why solar energy is popular as well as the advantages and disadvantages of solar panels for your home.

Why Solar Energy is Popular

When it comes to renewable energy, there’s a big reason as to why solar energy has become a very popular, trending topic in recent years. Although it may have suffered some criticism for not being very efficient or for being expensive, solar energy technology has improved massively. It is now proving to be extremely beneficial not just for the environment.  Solar energy technology helps pockets of regular homeowners, renters, business owners and anybody who needs to use energy on a day to day basis.

Thanks to various solar panel grants, incentives, and initiatives, along with an increasing demand for renewable energy options, solar technology has improved.  In addition, solar battery storage systems have transformed it into a far more efficient source of clean, renewable energy. But before you take the leap, take a look at some of the main advantages and disadvantages of solar energy to consider.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Home Solar Panels

Advantages:

1. It’s a renewable energy source:

Amongst all the various benefits and advantages of solar panels, the most important thing to consider is that solar energy is a truly renewable type of energy. It can be harnessed in all areas of the world – not just the particularly hot ones – and is available every day.

Unlike some other sources of energy, it is impossible for us to run out of solar energy – it will be accessible for as long as we have the sun, which according to scientists will be for at least another five billion years.

2. Reduce your utility bills:

In addition to being concerned about the impact that your home is having on the environment, investing in solar energy is also a great idea for anybody who wants to spend less on their monthly expenses and keep their utility bills down. In fact, if you are able to buy your solar panels outright and depend on them fully to power the electricity in your home, your electricity bill will be reduced to £0.

And, not only will you be saving on the bills, but you can also find the best solar company in Westminster to install a battery storage system that allows you to store surplus energy and sell it back to the grid, making money on energy instead of spending it.

There are options here at Semper Solaris, a reputable company offering the best solar panel installation in Westminster. If you are looking for solar panels in Westminster, check them out and see what they are able to do for your home, whether you are looking for a full installation package, roofing repairs before installing solar panels, or simply want to purchase the panels on their own. Solar in Westminster is becoming increasingly more popular; therefore, you can rest assured that they are an experienced expert in their field.

3. Various applications:

We use solar energy for a range of diverse purposes. People can use it to generate both energy and heat. We can install solar panels to produce energy if a home is located in an area that does not have access to the central energy grid or use them to distill water in regions that have limited clean water supplies.

In addition, we can integrate solar energy into the materials that is used for buildings. So this may be an option to consider if you are thinking about building your own off-grid home or office. Recently, more companies have been offering solar energy windows and other components for the structure of your property.

4. Low cost of maintenance:

Another reason to consider investing in solar panels is that solar energy systems do not typically require a large deal of maintenance. All that you need to do is make sure to keep them relatively clean.  In order to do this, you only have to clean them a couple of times per year.  You can do this yourself if you have the know-how and skills.  Otherwise, get a professional, such as an experienced solar company in Westminster to do the job for you.

In addition, the majority of reliable solar panel installation companies will offer at least a 20-30-year warranty. So you can rest assured that most companies will take care of any potential issues during this time with no additional cost to yourself.

As there are no moving parts with solar panels, they are not subject to wear and tear. The only part that will need to be replaced more often, around every 5-10 years, is the inverter.  This is because it is constantly working to convert solar energy into heat and electricity. And, the cables will also need some regular maintenance to ensure that the system is running at maximum efficiency.

Disadvantages:

1. Initial cost:

The initial cost of purchasing a solar panel system for your home can be fairly high. This will include paying for the solar panels themselves, the inverter, wiring, batteries, and the installation.

However, with solar technologies constantly developing and improving, it’s safe to say that these prices will fall in the future. And, depending on your state, you may be able to take advantage of rebates and other initiatives to help you save on the initial cost. Many solar panel companies also offer finance options that can help make purchases more manageable.

2. They’re weather dependent:

While solar energy can certainly be collected during rainy, cloudy or gray days, their efficiency will drop when the weather is not sunny. Solar panels depend on sunlight to effectively gather solar energy. If you’re lucky enough to live in an area that has a sunny climate all year round, then this shouldn’t be a problem for you.

However, if you don’t, then it’s important to bear in mind that a few days of bad weather can have a noticeable effect on the energy system. And, solar energy cannot be collected during the night.  In this case, thermodynamic panels may be an alternative to consider if this is necessary for you.

3. Storage is expensive:

Bear in mind that the energy your solar panels generate from the sun has to be used right away – if not, then it needs to be stored in large batteries. The batteries are often used in off-the-grid solar systems.  They can be charged during the day to ensure that energy remains high at night.

While this is a good solution for ensuring that you never run out of energy regardless of the weather or light, battery storage can also be very expensive. However, you can offset some of this cost by selling any surplus energy you generate back to the grid.

When it comes to renewable energy, solar panel systems are one of the best options out there. Although there are some disadvantages to consider, most agree that these are largely outweighed by the benefits.