If you were to surf the internet for information related to home solar power, there are many sites that mention the advantages of getting free energy from the sun. Are there any negative aspects of a residential solar energy system? This article will highlight the 4 issues of harnessing free energy from the sun that will cost you money.
1) High initial capital investment – The initial investment on a solar system can be astronomically high. You need to set aside money to purchase the Photovoltaic (PV) cells, charge controller, DC disconnect, battery bank, meter gauges, power inverter, cables and other miscellaneous components.
How much money do you have to budget? If you were to engage a professional solar contractor, be ready to invest upwards of $50,000 for a robust system.
2) Reliability issues – A solar power system will only generate energy when the sun is shining. As you know, we cannot control the sun. There is no way to switch the sun “on” or “off”. The system is at the mercy of mother nature.
If you need electricity at home during dark and gloomy winter days, you will need the backup of a battery bank. If the batteries were to go dead, you have no other choice but to use a gasoline generator. Reliability is not a strong point for solar.
3) Going through government red tape – In some district, you need a permit to install a solar array on your roof. You have to spend time to make sure you follow all the building codes to the letter.
Bureaucrats are a big hassle and interacting with government officials is not a thing you’ll look forward to.
4) Maintenance and upkeep – A residential solar power is not a “set and forget” system. It has to be maintained regularly for it to function properly.
You can either do the maintenance yourself or pay someone to do it for you. If it is a DIY system, you may have to do the upkeep on your own. There is some danger in doing this. You might fall off the roof and break your back.
Will Yap is a renewable energy enthusiast and he writes about home solar and wind energy on his blog. Are you looking for ways to reduce your home energy consumption? If you are, check out the Ambigrid e-book. It will show you step by step how to make your own solar panel and wind turbine with minimal cost. For more information, check out the Ambigrid review on his blog. For a complete residential solar power guides, go to www.diysolarhomes.com
