Solar Energy Pros and Cons: 5 Myths Debunked

1. Presented By: Venture Home Solar Solar Energy Pros and Cons: 5 Myths Debunked

2. Solar Is A New Unproven Technology The history of photovoltaic solar power began with scientific experimentation during the late 1800s. The first PV silicon cell capable of converting the sun’s energy into power that could run electrical equipment was introduced in 1954, and by 1983, worldwide PV production exceeded 21 megawatts. SunPower has been in business for more than 30 years and globally has installed 5.8 gigawatts as of December 2014, enough to power 4.1 million homes, and we have more than 12 gigawatts in our development pipeline worldwide. SunPower® solar panels are expected to have a useful life of more than 40 years.1 Solar is proven technology, and it’s here to stay.

3. Solar Only Works In Sunny, Warm Climates. Many people believe that solar won’t work in a colder climate with shorter, darker days. That’s not true. Solar panels actually work more efficiently in colder temperatures because heat can reduce output voltage. While more direct sun exposure will indeed allow a solar system to generate more power, modern panels are quite efficient and can still generate energy in low light situations. Someone living in Seattle, for example, needs a somewhat larger solar array to get the same results as someone in Southern California. For years, Germany was the largest solar energy market in the world.  Bottom line is, solar works anywhere there is daylight.

4. Solar Is Too Expensive The price of solar energy has dropped by 50 percent since 2010, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. In many markets worldwide, solar power is less expensive than conventional energy. There are a variety of financial incentives available, such as rebates and policies that help make going solar affordable for more families and businesses. There are also a variety of solar financing options, from no-money-down leasing2 to home improvement loans that make solar more affordable. With SunPower, you can buy or lease a solar power system. If you purchase a solar power system in the U.S., you may be eligible for a 30 percent Federal Income Tax credit and other local incentives.

5. If I Get Solar, I Can Live Completely Off The Grid This is not really practical yet for most solar users. While many solar companies, including SunPower, are investing in home battery storage solutions, it’s not yet a widespread option for most homeowners. Solar energy is generally mostly used in real time or delivered back to the grid. Solar households rely on utility grids for power at night and in other situations where sunlight is limited. Battery storage costs are coming down systematically, and so there may some day be a time when it makes sense for some solar users to “disconnect” from the utility grid. However, such a scenario is unlikely for large solar users such as schools, government facilities and businesses. 

6. Any Surplus Energy My System Produces Is Lost This is not the case. Around the world, excess solar energy is used and compensated.  The energy is delivered to the grid and compensated through practices called feed-in-tariffs in some international markets, such as Japan, and in some European countries. In most U.S. states there are net metering policies. Net metering is a billing strategy that essentially pays solar users for their surplus electricity by giving them credit against their use of the electrical grid at night. Any excess energy generated by a solar system flows back into the grid to be used by nearby homes and businesses, adding to the advantages of solar energy.

7. Contact Us • Venture Home Solar • 240 Kent Ave Brooklyn, • NY 11249 • +1 800-203-4158 • http://venturehomesolar.com/ • Resource: http://goo.gl/SROZMZ