The landscape for solar energy has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. A homeowner in the market for solar panels was stuck with a choice of industrial grade products with an imposing price tag. With fuel costs skyrocketing and green products at the height of popularity, manufacturers of solar panels have shifted from small start-ups to global corporations that provide a wide array of panels that include consumer grade products that are quite affordable.
On or Off the Grid?
One of the advantages of solar energy is that it provides solutions for different types of living situations. A farmer who literally lives “off the grid” can install an off-grid solar panel without worrying about public utilities. Mainstream residents can take advantage of the more popular “grid-tie” systems that integrate with the public utility. If the panels generate an energy surplus, and the local government employs a net-metering program, the surplus is routed back into the grid and sold to the utility for an energy credit. In conjunction with government tax credits and other financial incentives, solar systems can be considerably more economical that non-renewable energy in the long run. The average return on investment takes about 20 years—less than a mortgage on the same house.
Purchasing Solar Panels
Domestic solar power uses three main types of solar cells: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin film. Most residential solar panels sold today use arrays of polycrystalline wafers. A one square-foot array produces 10 watts of electricity, and each panel, depending on its make and model, produces between 150 and 240 watts. The power is routed to an inverter (purchased separately), which converts the panels’ electricity from DC to the house’s AC. 24-volt batteries are used to store the electricity for low-light/night use. Get a professional installer to calculate the energy needs of the house, which will determine how many panels will need to be purchased and run together in series.
If shopping online, keep in mind that many resellers have vastly different prices for the same model. This can happen because of the number of units they purchase from the manufacturer, because they require a volume purchase, or because they’re selling discontinued models for a discount. Verifying the terms of sale (e.g. minimum orders) is crucial. Since many online resellers, inadvertently or not, list models as new that have been replaced by their respective manufacturers with more recent models, check the manufacturer’s websites for any model you’re considering before finalizing your purchase from the reseller.