Within the last few years many are looking to solar power as the solution to the worlds energy needs. During the middle of the day the sun will provide an average of one thousand watts of energy per hour per square meter. To put this in simple terms, a 100 square mile area in the southwest United States can receive enough solar power to meet the entire energy needs of the United States. However, the challenge remains in finding a way to convert the suns energy into usable electricity.

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Solar Power

Since photovoltaic power system is the most common method of solar power for homes it is best to consider this aspect of solar energy when considering the advantages and disadvantages of solar power. There are five main advantages that you need to take a look at when you are weighing the advantages and disadvantages of solar power. The first of these is the fact that solar panels have a long operational life and many have warranties from the manufacturers of up to twenty years.

Another advantage is that electricity from solar panels is completely silent so you don’t have to worry about any noisy diesel or gas motor. Third is that solar panels provide shade for your roof which results in a cooler attic, which can really be beneficial during the summer months. Fourth after you pay off the cost of installing a solar power system then your system will essentially be earning you money, money that you won’t have to pay out to the power company. Finally, solar power systems are virtually maintenance free once they are installed.

However, with all these advantages you are likely wondering why everyone doesn’t switch to solar power right away. The reason is because solar power does have some disadvantages that you should consider. You need to weigh both the advantages and disadvantages of solar power before deciding whether or not installing a home system is right for you and your needs.

Next consider the seven main disadvantages to solar power. First once you install a solar power system it becomes a part of the house and stays with the house, meaning you can’t take it with you if you decide to move. Second, if devices use an electric heat element such as a hot water heater, a whole house furnace or an electric oven and range then solar power will not work well. Third your solar system will not produce any electricity on cloudy days or during the night.

Fourth, when replacing your roof you will have to remove your solar panels and related hardware which then means you will have to hire a qualified electrician to reinstall and reconnect your solar panels. Fifth, The cost of installing a solar power system is still higher than what the electric utility company charges. Sixth, hail can be problem depending on where you live; you should check to see how durable the panels are before having them installed. Finally you should see if your insurance policy cover replacing residential solar power system in case there is damage such as fire or weather related incidents. So carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of solar power when making your decision.

In many ways you have likely been told many different facts about solar power energy. However, with all these so called facts floating around it can be difficult to tell which facts about solar power energy are really true and which are merely opinions. Therefore, it is important to get all the top facts about solar power energy before you decide whether or not solar power is right for you and your energy needs.

Solar Power Energy Facts

While solar power energy can go away at night it is always there and solar energy is a renewable resource. Solar power energy does not pollute the air with carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases or other bad emissions. Solar power energy works for heating water, drying clothes, heating swimming pools, powering attic fans, powering small appliances, producing light for indoor and outdoor use, and even powering cars.

On the other side, solar power energy can be expensive with the main cost being the main disadvantage and reason that many do not switch to solar power energy. In order to get a good level of efficiency you will need a relatively large area to install your solar panels. You can get different results from solar energy systems depending on where you live, such as Arizona and Alaska.

After installation, solar power energy can be very inexpensive to run since energy from the sun is free. Your utility company may even buy energy from you if your solar energy system is producing more energy than you use. By using solar energy you can make both yourself and your home independent, meaning you don’t have to depend on foreign or other sources of energy that can go up in cost.

You don’t need to connect to a gas or power grid in order to have a solar energy system. You cannot produce solar energy at night or if there is pollution or clouds that block out the sun. When there is a lack of sun you can have a battery backup system to provide you with your energy needs. Solar panels operate silently. If there is a power outage you will still have electricity with solar power energy. You can install a solar power system in remote locations. If you have growing energy needs then you can easily add more solar panels to match your needs.

Solar powered cars are not yet up to the level of other cars since they have a much slower speed. Using solar energy systems means you have power for a long time and there is very little need for maintenance. Solar energy technology is constantly experiencing improvements. These facts can help give you a more accurate picture of solar energy and help you determine if it is right for you.

Converting to solar power is a great way to help save the planet and save on utility bills in the future. But most people’s good intentions are nipped at the bud when they discover the cost of converting their home to solar power. At the present writing in September of 2007, there is a grand total of ONE home in America that runs entirely on solar and hydro power. But are we doomed with high costs and a coughing planet? Actually, looking at solar power cost trends, the future looks bright for homeowners who want to go green.

Going Down?

Solar power cost trends have gone down since the 1970’s an continue to go down every year as more and more companies are determined to lead the way in the relatively new-old field of solar power. The standard to determine solar power cost trends is called the cost per watt. In 1982, the cost per watt was $27. In 2003, this has dropped to $4. This is expected to drop even further.

Solar power cost trends for the initial installation are also going down. Most states now give tax breaks or tax refunds to any homeowner converting to solar energy. Many states have other green incentives, especially in sunshine-heavy California. But even the temperate New York also has tempting green incentives. Because of the ever-fluctuating world of tax and banking laws, be sure to check with your Department of Energy and your local tax accountant to see what you can get back.

If You Can’t Go All The Way

Making the huge commitment to converting your entire home to renewable energy is a huge leap that you may not be able to soundly make. But there are still other ways where you can choose green energy over non-renewable energy sources. Solar power cost trends have gone down for common small items such as watches, calculators and cell phone chargers. You can even get the air pump or water heater for your pool off of the utility grid and hooked up to solar power for only a couple of hundred dollars (US).

The main reason major companies have not embraced solar power is it’s comparative inefficiency with non-renewable energy sources. You need a lot of room for solar power panels to generate a significant amount of solar power energy. However, not only the cost of photovoltaic cells have gone down, so has their size. In many ways, solar power cost trends are mimicking the personal computer cost trends. You think you want a revolution?

There are long listings of solar power companies and their popularity is on the rise as people have become environment and nature-friendly, and each one in their own way would like to help in the preservation of nature. Using solar power means for many a conservation of other energy resources on earth.

Solar panels are the most important products of most solar power companies like Mr. Solar, Big Frog Mountain and Solar Cell Sales, because a basic kit for any solar power based system would require a solar panel, batteries and solar kits. The complete network of solar power companies as Kyocera Solar is a result of the demand all over the world for solar-generated electrical power, which is not only reliable but also economical.

Inverters and batteries also form an important product for solar power companies. A solar power company called Evergreen Solar develops and manufactures photovoltaic modules which are used in remote power and grid-connected ventures. Photovoltaics or PV is the technology used in solar power using solar cells to convert light from the sun into electricity.

Solar electrical and heating equipment is another useful product of solar power companies for the home, industry and farmhouses. Companies like GO Solar Company and Solar Attic. Inc not only provide the design and installation of heating equipment, but they also cater to all after-sales services. Pool heaters to heat swimming pools are available too.

The Wireless Solar Process

The complete process of solar power generation has been made wireless by some solar power companies, and one of them is SunWize Technologies, Inc. This process provides renewable and clean solar power generation. They specialize in solar modules for which they offer renewable energy systems design and distribution.

Solar energy is also used for race cars, airplanes and space applications. Solar power companies like SunPower Corporation are manufacturers of silicon solar cells used in them. The company called Nanosolar roll-prints solar cells which are only 1/100th thinner than a silicon wafer cell. But the durability and performance are the same. For remote homes and livestock water pumping solar technology is also put to use.

There are wholesale distributors and retail distributors. Solardepot.com is a wholesale distributor and it is industry oriented, whereas the retail solar distributors sell goods mainly to private homes and individuals. Electric generators and solar thermal systems are generally industrial products, though many companies also make smaller generators for private homes. Lighting systems for streets, parking lots, parks and billboards are also popular products for big buyers from solar power companies like SOL. A range of small consumer products have come into the market from solar power companies like Sun-Mate Corporation . They are solar calculators, battery chargers for cell phones, laptop computers, torch lights and radios.

The world demands new solar power technology in order to slow the effects of deadly global warming. Not only are activists, the common people and scientists calling for it, so are investors and technology companies. New solar power technology is coming into our lives all of the time in bits and pieces, which all add up to help put us on the path to renewable energy sources.

A Brief Look At The Past

The human race grows, matures and changes priorities. When the priorities change, that’s where the money, resources and idea makers go. Perhaps first these were fire makers. Then they were boat-builders and sailors, farmers and herders. In the Industrial Revolution, the priorities went to bringing mass manufacturing to the masses. In the last twenty years, the home computer industry has been the primary focus of the world’s financial and scientific attention. In fact, with the help of computers, we might never have known about global warming until it was way too late.

PC Parallels

There are many things about the solar power industry that are paralleling the personal computer industry. The first computers filled entire office buildings and did little more than crunch numbers. But now you can get a tiny cell phone with a screen just a tad bigger than a gnat’s behind which can pretty much run every aspect of your entire life. What made computers smaller yet more powerful? Silicon chips.

The new solar power technology is also using silicon for solar power panels. The cells in the panels are usually crystalline silicon cells. They are gradually getting smaller and rapidly becoming cheaper. There are also new ways to store these solar power panels. Tiny rows of solar power cells can run a retail store’s calculator for an entire work day. Solar power cells can be laid onto a rollable mat and rolled out only when you need it, then rolled up and stored away for when you don’t.

Both of these devices are not science fiction. They are commonly in use today. New solar power technology is being integrated into our lives and homes to keep us from total future shock. With each use of the new solar power technology, we are that much closer to keeping this planet from going belly up. As more and more consumers demand renewable energy, there should be dizzying advances in the new solar power technology as there has been for personal computers.

If you ignore the initial cost of parts and installation, the cost of solar power will be zero to keep a home functioning. While the current prices of many components used in a solar power system remain high, new technology and additional competition between makers of the components, should begin to drive the prices down. However, when looking at the cost of solar power, one thing to keep in mind is the cost on the other side of the equation.

Those thinking of installing a solar power system have to look at the long-term picture and compare it to the long-term cost vs. investment. Consider the warranted parts of most systems is about five years, the total cost of solar power installation can be divided by 60 to determine a month cost. If that price is higher than the current electric bill, it will pay for itself over the warranted lifetime. If the parts last longer than their five year expectation, then the monthly cost will continue to provide a savings.

Another consideration in calculating the cost of solar power systems, is any interest rates that may be charged if a loan is needed as well as any tax saving that may be granted by the federal and state governments for the use of alternative, renewable energy. In some areas, there may also be grants available to help offset the cost of solar power installation.

Consider All Factors Before Making Decision

Converting to an all solar home will be a big step for any homeowner and they will want to get all the facts. In addition to the cost of solar power systems, consider the reliability of such as system in the geographic area in which the house is located. There needs to be between four and six hours of daylight, preferably with full sun, and if the location is not conducive to this exposure, the cost of solar power may be a moot point, if the house is left in the dark too often.

In some areas, full sunlight may be possible for the majority of the year, and for part of the year a hybrid system may be needed. Maintaining a connection to the power grid during days of little sunlight may increase the long-term cost of solar power, but during the days when the power company’s offering isn’t used, it can still greatly decrease the electric bill. It can also provide power following storms or natural disasters during which the power company has problems with their lines.