Solar Panels have been a hot topic of discussion for many years at this point. The general feeling is that they are a great thing which can save people money whilst working to improve the environment. Whilst both of these things are true, there are both advantages and disadvantages to solar panels.
In this guide, we are going to be looking at both the advantages and disadvantages of solar power so that you can go about making a more informed decision as it whether they are the right option for you.
Advantages
One of the most obvious advantages which is often pointed out is that solar power is environmentally friendly. Solar power is environmentally friendly in that it is pollution free and it causes no greenhouse gases after it has been installed. There is also a reduced dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels the more people use solar energy as opposed to traditional means of energy. Furthermore, they are safer than a traditional electric circuit.
The fact renewable energy is available every single day of the year, even cloudy and rainy days produce some power, means you are not dependant on other sources and you are not going to run out.
Many people switch to solar power in order to see a return on investment which is not seen with utility bills. Solar panels are quite expensive, but they often save you money in the long run in the majority of cases.
They may be expensive, but they do last a long, long time. There is virtually no maintenance involved as the solar panels tend to last a minimum of 30 years and have the capacity to last far beyond that.
Having solar panels can actually increase the value of your home as many buyers nowadays are attracted to renewable energy.
Disadvantages
Something which often scares people off taking the plunge and switch to solar power, is the high initial costs of the solar panels and of installation. The price is not likely to fall in the current climate as the thing making them so expensive is because they are not being produced on mass due to a lack of material and technology. However, if this did change, the price would become lower.
If you do not have a lot of space or land, it can be hard for solar power to work efficiently for you and you need a large surface area to get the most out of it. This is because efficiently is not actually 100% yet.
Solar power works off daylight, so one of the disadvantages is that there is no solar power at night. Therefore, there is a need for a large battery bank. Furthermore, whilst cloudy and rainy days do still produce energy, they do not produce an ideal amount and living in the UK, we all know how the weather can be here. This also means there is lower production in the winter months, which is when you are going to be consuming the most energy.
Many people find solar panels unattractive as a rule. This may, in turn, put potential buyers off a house when they see that the roof is covered in solar panels. If you are thinking of moving in the next few years, it is not a good plan to get solar panels as they are a huge investment that may not pay off and will not be something that you see the benefits of for very long at all. If you do get solar panels and sell your home, the payments will be passed onto the new homeowner and if they are not particularly environmentally conscious or find them atheistically unappealing, they may not buy your home despite liking it enough in other ways to make an offer.
