Know the 10 popular solar energy myths

Solar is relatively a new concept in Indian homes.

​On one hand, people are excited about installing this renewable source of energy at their roof top while on the other hand there are some myths and misconceptions in their minds, stopping them in adopting solar as a new alternative source of energy. ​

I have met & inquired people, about the use of solar energy, around the state and cleared their misunderstanding about this energy source.

I have made them aware about  its environmental and financial benefits.

I am going to summarize this post by clearing the myths and apprehensions about the solar energy.

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Myth-1: Solar Energy is not cost effective
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In fact, the cost effectiveness of this technology was a dream 15 years back.

Since then, the solar panel prices has fallen from $8.5 per watt in 2009 to $2.25 per watt in 2020, making the solar energy electricity generation as a feasible source of energy.

Please see the price chart below:

In India, the cost of the solar panel lies between Rs. 22 per watt to Rs. 35 per watt, depending on size of the system.

This price drop over the period of time has improved the the average payback period and the financial feasibility of the home solar power system.

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Myth 2: It is difficult to understand the Solar Technology
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In fact, it is one of the simplest technologies that you can learn and install at your roof-top.

You do not need connecting wires for joining source (sun) with destination (your panels) unlike in any other conventional sources of energy.

It works on the simple principle of conversion of the solar energy into electricity; when the sun light falls on the surface of the silicon solar cells, they generate electricity.

One can easily understand the functions and working of all the components of the solar power system like solar panels, solar inverter, solar batteries (for backup) and solar charge controller within few weeks of practical training.

A great solar course can help you in designing the complete home solar power system, and knowing its financial feasibility.

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Myth 3: The solar panels require more space
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In fact, the area required by solar panels is very much justified by the amount of electricity they produce for the house hold consumption. 

Generally, the 110 square feet of the area on your roof can accommodate the solar panels of 1kW.

A 2 KW system can be accommodated in less than 220 sq. feet of area which is an average size of the Indian rooms.

​So, if you are living in a two room set with good amount of sunlight then you can definitely consider the option of installing solar power system.

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Myth 4: Costly Maintenance
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The solar panels last for 25 years and the other components like solar charge controller and the inverter are electrical devices that require very little maintenance.

The grid-tied system without battery back-up requires around 1% of the total cost of the system as the annual maintenance charges.

Whereas, the solar power system with battery back-up requires slightly more annual maintenance of around 2-2.5% of the total cost of the system.

The average annual ownership cost of car, when you are driving only 20 kms in a day or 600 kms in a month, can be 10% of the cost of the car

Looking at the cost of maintaining a car, the maintenance cost of home solar power system is very minimal.

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Myth 5: Solar panels do not generate much electricity during winters
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This is for your kind information that the output of the solar panels depends on the amount of the solar radiations falling on their surface.

You will be surprised to know that solar panels actually perform better in the cold weather with clear sunlight as compared to the hot & humid weather.

The performance of the solar panel reduces with the increase in the temperature beyond 25 degree Celsius.

Sunlight is the abundant source of energy which is available at free of cost.

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Myth 6: Solar Energy is not reliable
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It is the most reliable renewable energy source than its counter-parts like Wind Energy and Geo-Thermal Energy.

Just place a solar panel under the sun light and you start getting the d.c. electricity for your consumption.​

Our Sun is a middle-aged Yellow Dwarf Star and will provide us sunlight for another 5 billion years.

While on the other hand the fossils fuels are expected to last for few hundred years from now.

If I can rely on petrol to run my car then why not on Solar Energy to run my household electrical appliances.

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Myth 7: Solar panels can damage my roof and are not aesthetic in nature

The installation of the solar panels does not require re-engineering of your roof.

These can be fitted & installed on iron frames by with nuts & bolts using the drilling machine.

Moreover, you can make a pattern of the panels to look aesthetically good.

​Nowadays, the solar panels are sleek, light weight and well finished and when installed properly enhances the look of your house.

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Myth 8: The solar is feasible on the large scale and is not feasible for the residential use
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For this I would say that you first use the residential feasibility spreadsheet (view the video on the left side) before installing solar power at your roof top and then go ahead. 

India is a tropical country where average solar insolation is (5 - 5.7) kW per square meters in day, makes it fit and feasible not only for commercial but also for the residential solar power system.

Moreover, the governments of many countries are offering incentives and the benefits for those owners who install solar system at their rooftop.

You can also add the Net-metering feature with your solar power system and can feed the extra units to the grid.

The grid will compensate you for those extra units.

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Myth 9: You need to keep changing the position of solar panels with the position of sun
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It is true that the rotation of earth around its own axis and the revolution around the sun keeps its position changing relative to the sun, resulting in the variation in the intensity falling on the surface of the solar panels.

You can determine the optimum angle and the orientation of the solar panels with respect to the sun and then fix your solar panels.

​At this optimum position, they receive the maximum amount of the sunlight and produce the optimum output.

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Myth 10: The solar panel prices are falling, I will install it later as it will be a cheaper bet
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Come on! the Indian household grid electricity prices are rising at an average annual rate of 5%.

The amount you are saving by not buying solar roof is going out of your pocket for paying the increased electricity prices.

When you are  using solar energy, you are actually contributing in preserving the environment, saving every month and generating your own electricity.

​A early adoption of solar power as an alternate source of energy will give you a head-start  to understand the nuances of this technology which will let you implement & avail its benefits in the full swing in the near future.

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Conclusion

I have busted the popular myths about the solar energy to clear the doubts in the mind of the Indian residential owners.

​It is necessary to promote the use of the renewable energy like solar energy for the widespread adoption of this energy in India.

Your solar roof is the mobile electricity station

You know that you can dismantle the whole solar power system and can re-install to another roof if for some reason you are planning to shift to another location.

​By adopting solar as a source of energy, you become an independent electricity generator.

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