E ven though solar panels are quite simple, they can still have problems from time to time. Here are some of the areas where they can have problems.

Out of all the ways that we can obtain renewable energy, a solar panel is our best bet for the future. It’s easy and it’s clean at the same time, even though it’s not the perfect method. Solar panels come with their own set of issues, both in the space/efficiency department and in the materials/cost area.

It costs quite a bit to install a solar panel, usually around $7 for each watt that your solar panel will provide. So, if you need 100 watts, it will cost you around $700 to install it. For a regular family, this cost will probably be too high. If you install them in a condo or an apartment complex, the cost increases, so solar panels are not enough.

You should also take into consideration the costs of the maintenance. The way to offset the installation costs is by using government incentives, like tax credits or rebates.

Glass and semiconductors are the main materials used for solar panels, and they are usually considered fragile. You need to maintain them and sometimes you also need to replace them. This happens even if you use Plexiglas shields for your solar panels, since they can still get deteriorated by hail, wind or lighting. When an area is prone to hurricanes, chances are that it’s not very practical to use solar panels, as they get damaged if you leave them up during bad weather.

One other problem you might have with panels is how efficient they are. Their efficiency ranges from 8 to just 15 percent, so you need more of them to produce all the energy you need. They also have problems if they don’t get direct sunlight, as it reduces their power output. Another factor that can cut down on the efficiency is if the house is at a good angle for the best amount of exposure, and they’re usually not. If you get long periods with bad weather, the solar panels become useless.

You can compensate for the efficiency problems by using solar arrays, but they tend to take a lot of space to set up. The latest prototypes of solar panels have efficiency of up to 40%, which should prove revolutionary once they get to the average consumer. You get a solar array by combining a number of different solar panels together, and creating a single big unit.

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In an ideal world, using solar power for everything we need sounds like a simple plan. There are pros and cons of solar energy to any debate, and there is no exception in the case of solar power; this article will clarify some of the more prominent arguments in this important argument about our power consumption.

Advantages to Solar Energy

1. It is more inexpensive to use than other ways of generating energy for comsumption. There's no need to burn fossil fuels, which can have detrimental effects on the environment, as the sun's energy comes to us free of charge, with no need to refine it. It can help save the environment to just use this power.

2. There's very little money involved in pulling the sun's rays from the sun, as it provides it freely; all you have to invest in is the initial setup.

3. With solar power, there's little to no cost for your utilities, so say goodbye to an energy bill; you could even make money by supplying other areas with excess energy that you have to provide to them.

4. The atmosphere would benefit from diminished burning of fossil fuels. Even if gas prices go up, there's no need to worry, as your power is being provided at no cost to you, and there will not be a shortage in your lifetime.

5. Power outages would not affect you, as the solar energy would keep coming to your home; you don't have to worry about the sun going out.

6. The sun reaches every part of the Earth, so there's no worry about whether an electric company can reach you. Many out of the way locations use solar power to run their homes.

7. There's no need to rewire your home, leaving it easy to maintain; if more power is needed, merely increase the number of panels you have.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

1. While all you really have to worry about is the initial cost of your investment, it is an extremely pricey thing to set up and install. If you live in certain areas, the government could supply you with a grant that can pay for your system setup; you would do well to investigate these options before you begin.

2. Make sure that your geographical area gets enough sunlight to run your home sufficiently. If you live nearer to the equator, you'll get more sunlight per day, which will make it worth it to invest in this system; this may not be as practical for someone living closer to the poles.

3. During the night, you may have difficulties running your home since the sun only shines during the day; you could get a backup battery to solve this problem, which will store the excess energy that it accumultes from the sun to run your home overnight.

Weighing the pros and cons of solar energy, it's clear that solar power is a worthwhile investment; the only problem you have to deal with is the large setup cost. Prices should become more reasonable as the technology makes further strides and becomes cheaper to use.