Misconceptions about the use of solar technology

Misconceptions about the use of solar technology

Whenever any new science or solar technology acquires popularity in our modern society, a fair number of myths and misconceptions spread, making many of us skeptical. Solar energy is no exception, and numerous widely held myths keep many people from making the switch and installing solar panels on their houses.

Solar energy is a more environmentally friendly alternative energy source that utilizes the sun to power businesses and homes. Solar panels have spread across the country as more individuals attempt to become more energy-efficient, but there are still plenty who believe in false information and continue to utilize fossil fuels.

Switching to solar energy provides several environmental and economic benefits in Pakistan. At GEL PAKISTAN, we realize the importance of eliminating the myths and properly educating others about solar energy. Here are some common misconceptions about solar technology:

Top 10 Myths Related to the Solar Energy

MYTH 1: Installing solar panels is too expensive

Many individuals are hesitant to have solar panels installed on their houses because they feel the installation costs would be too expensive. Residential solar panel installation costs vary based on a variety of factors. The initial installation costs are mostly determined by the size of both the home and the system.

In fact, according to data from 2009 to 2015, investments in solar panels have usually increased as they became more affordable. Their average costs have decreased by around 30%. Globally, producing electricity from solar energy is less expensive than producing electricity from coal.

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MYTH 2: Solar panels will damage your roof

Solar panels help to safeguard and preserve the portion of the roof they cover. If the roof, the panels are sitting on, becomes damaged and has to be repaired, the panels can easily be removed because they are not directly attached to the roof; they are just installed on top of it. If there are any gaps between the roofs and the panels, the sealant is usually used to fill them. Furthermore, the mounts are shielded by a metal “flashing” or coverings to provide an additional barrier of protection. Always inspect your roof for damage before installing solar panels.

MYTH 3: Solar panels require warm climates

Some people assume that a solar panel catches more than just light from the sun and that if they reside in a colder region, their home will be incompatible with solar energy. Solar panels, on the other hand, perform best in cold areas.

A solar panel’s duty is to gather light from the sun, not heat, thus living in a warmer area does not guarantee it will operate better. As long as the area receives plenty of sunlight throughout the year, cold weather actually boosts the conductivity of solar panels, allowing more power to be generated.

MYTH 4: You won’t have energy at night

Solar panels can generate electricity only when there is sunlight. While solar energy cannot be generated at night, most systems generate enough energy during the day to create a surplus ratio of power output. This surplus is caused by the system producing more energy than the household consumes and can be stored in solar storage batteries to be used later on when there is insufficient sunlight or during blackouts.

In grid-tied systems, excess energy is returned to the grid for houses to use as a credit when required, such as at night. The energy excess also reduces the need for conventional energy in some households.

MYTH 5: Installing solar panels is difficult and requires a lot of maintenance

As long as you use a reputable manufacturer, solar panel installation is pretty simple. If your system is linked to your utility grid, as is common with power systems, it makes solar panels easier to maintain. The solar panels would only need to be cleaned with water to remove any collected dust, dirt, or snow. Solar panels are designed to survive adverse weather conditions such as hail, sleet, and snow.

A battery-powered system will require more cleaning than one without it, however, systems without batteries are more common and less expensive than battery-powered ones.

Check our Solar system services – Gel Pakistan for a diverse range of modern tier-one solar technology

MYTH 6: Excess energy can be stored in batteries

If you live on the grid, your system is linked to the power grid, thus you would profit from a net metering system that enables the owner of the solar technology to exchange the surplus electricity generated from the solar PV panels with the credit units from the main grid.

Furthermore, if you are linked to the grid, you can keep your current local utility company, so if you generate more power on some days, you will have more electricity credited to your account. As a result, if you want extra electricity at night when the system is not operating, you must use the excess electricity generated to power your home directly from the grid. This is done automatically, so you won’t notice any differences when the switch occurs.

MYTH 7: The manufacturing process is harmful to the environment

Opposition to solar energy is sometimes motivated by the myth that manufacturing solar panels is harmful to the environment. Indeed, some have incorrectly claimed that the solar panel manufacturing process consumes more energy than the solar panel itself will generate during its lifespan.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory refuted this myth when it discovered that the payback period for solar panels in terms of energy use vs output is less than four years. This indicates that a solar panel will have generated enough electricity to cover the cost of production in four years.

In terms of manufacturing pollution, a solar panel saves a considerable amount of carbon dioxide that would otherwise be emitted by households using conventional energy.

MYTH 8: Solar energy will not work on a large scale

One major objection to solar energy’s potential as a primary power source is its presumed inability to distribute energy efficiently to the people. The truth is that the sun generates enough energy every hour to cover the entire world’s annual energy needs. Solar power has the ability to service the entire world since it can work in practically any environment. Solar energy is almost infinitely scalable, from tiny, handheld solar products to large solar farms.

Both solar thermal technology and photovoltaic technology are being installed at an impressive rate on a global scale.

Myth 9: Fossil fuels are more cost-effective

Because demand for fossil fuel energy is currently higher, its prices are also lower. However, as demand for solar power grows, its costs will fall accordingly. This is the polar opposite of what is expected for fossil fuels, which are likely to continue to climb in price as the conventional energy grid is stressed further.

With the variety of installation incentives and credits available, installing a solar energy system is an investment that may yield an annual rate of return of between 12% and 15%, and its investment value will only increase as fossil fuel costs rise. This is an investment that conventional energy cannot provide for the average household.

Myth 10: To follow the sun's pattern, you'll need a tracking system

A widespread misconception regarding the technology underlying solar power systems is that they require the installation of a tracking system. This is not true. When solar panels are initially placed, they are precisely positioned to maximize the sun’s energy. As a result, they don’t need an extra tracking system to follow the sun’s pattern.

Additional components can be added to some systems to allow the panels to shift position throughout the day as the sun moves. However, they rarely increase energy efficiency enough to justify the additional cost.

Solar Power Installation in Pakistan

GEL PAKISTAN, located in DHA Lahore, is committed to making the world a greener place and raising awareness about solar energy. We have brought world-class solar technology and aim to spread solar energy across Pakistan to see a rise in the number of solar-powered homes and businesses in the future years.

GEL PAKISTAN can educate you about the advantages of installing solar panels in your house and help you in selecting the best solar panel system for you. We love what we do and are devoted to making the world a better place for everyone.

Our goal is to change the modern world and create sustainable and nature-friendly energy solutions for future generations.

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