This post is part of a series on energy consumption and conservation. For other posts in this series please click here.
We’ve all seen solar panels at some point, and have probably marveled at their ability to capture sunlight and transfer it into useable energy. In theory, it seems almost too good to be true.
Alternative sources of electrical production, including solar power, are a growing industry that has the potential to drastically reduce our need for coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy production. As breakthroughs in technology occur, solar power will become more affordable and efficient for use in business, as well as residential settings.
[1]According to a SEIA report,
“Photovoltaic (PV) devices generate electricity directly from sunlight via an electronic process that occurs naturally in certain types of material, called semiconductors. Electrons in these materials are freed by solar energy and can be induced to travel through an electrical circuit, powering electrical devices or sending electricity to the grid. PV devices can be used to power anything from small electronics such as calculators and road signs up to homes and large commercial businesses. Rapidly falling prices have made solar more affordable than ever. The average price of a completed PV system has dropped by 33 percent since the beginning of 2011. The cost of PV has dropped dramatically as the industry has scaled up manufacturing and incrementally improved the technology with new materials. Installation costs have come down too with more experienced and trained installers. However, the U.S. still remains behind other nations that have stronger national policies to shift energy use from fossil fuels to solar. Globally, the U.S. is the fourth largest market for PV installations behind world leaders Germany, Japan and Spain.”
If you would chose to participate in a “grid-connected” setup, your solar panels will generate power which you can use for your home, but in times of low light, excess power can still be drawn from your local power provider. Some electric providers also offer “net metering,” which essentially means that when a household is creating solar energy through a grid-connected agreement, excess energy from solar sources are “sold back” into the grid, which is credited towards your monthly electric bill.
[2]According to the U.S. Department of Energy, it’s important to consider a few factors when deciding whether or not solar power is a viable option for your home or business:
- Your available solar resource — do you have clear and unobstructed access to sunlight for most or all of the day, throughout the year?
- The system size — do you have a roof or area large enough to accommodate it?
- The economics — is it worth the investment?
- Local permits and covenants — are there any issues with installing a system?
So while advances have been made in the area of solar power, they have not necessarily translated to the collective consumer. While it’s true that some states are predisposed to a better environment to gather solar energy (i.e. the U.S. Southwest), small-scale solar additions to homes in our area can still be beneficial for our financial bottom-line as well as the environments’ bottom-line.
Whether or not your own personal circumstances merit the installation of solar panels for energy production, it is certainly worth investigating.
Information on solar panel acquisition and installation can be found here:
http://seia.officialbuyersguide.net/.
[1] Photovoltaic (Solar Energy). Solar Energy Industries Association. n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. <http://www.seia.org/policy/solar-technology/photovoltaic-solar-electric>
[2] Planning a Home Solar Electric System. U.S. Dept. of Energy. 15 Jul. 2012. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. <http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/planning-home-solar-electric-system>