Myths and Facts about Solar Energy
Introduction
Across the timeline, solar energy has attained massive recognition across the globe. As people realize their environmental responsibilities, they look for more nature-friendly and green methods as an alternative to various harmful practices and activities. But as the fame comes, it brings certain myths and confusions with it.
Something similar has been happening with the solar energy concept as well. As it is gaining more and more popularity, various myths and confusions have been surfacing the web area. So what are these myths? And how can it impact the increasing fame of solar energy?
Well, the answer to ‘How it can impact solar energy?’ could be positive and negative at the same time. Why? Sometimes myths or what we can call them in simple language as ‘Narrative’, about certain things can either be positive or negative. Therefore, the impact might be positive as well as negative. Let us dive into some of the common myths associated with Solar Power to have a better understanding.
4 common myths linked with Solar Power.
Normally, there lies ‘n’ number of myths related to solar energy. It would take us really long time to describe each one of them here. So, we have decided to present the 4 common myths in regard to the solar energy concept this time. All of them are mentioned below, take a look!
Functions under the Shiny Sun!
This is one of the most known myths about solar energy it works ‘ONLY’ when there is sunlight; now this can be perceived in different ways:
- It cannot work during nighttime, and;
- It does not function properly in seasons other than the summer.
Let us bust this myth and tell you the reality that Solar Panels can work at any time of the day and in any season other than the summer. They are a 24/7/365 technology. Remember this, solar panels absorb light from the sun and not the heat. To date, sunlight reaches the earth successfully in every season, this means solar panels can definitely perform their task without much interference.
The point that should be noted here is that the efficiency of the panels might be affected due to the less amount of sunlight available, but its working won’t get stopped. When the concern is power supply at night, the battery storage system is an available option that won’t only help during nighttime but will light up the infrastructures during cloudy days as well.
Solar can still work during a Power shortage.
This myth is partially true and partially false. This is true in the case of independent energy generation. By independent energy generation, we mean when households are completely relying on solar panels to meet their electricity needs then the only thing that matters is sunlight for power production. Even if the power shortage occurs it won’t interrupt their comfort.
As usual, we will not focus only on the bright side of the coin. Its other side says that this myth is false in the case of on-grid solar setups. If some people have opted for grid-supported solar panels that provide electricity with the help of sunlight and the grid, then power cut-offs could be a problem. As the grid’s functioning matters here as well, any problem in it could be a challenge for solar panels as well and eventually, people’s comfort would turn into discomfort.
Solar energy is an ‘Expensive’ decision to make.
Many believe that switching to solar energy can be a heavy decision on the pockets, but that’s not true. Even though the installation costs are high, the long-term expenses are almost negligible when compared to the different sources of energy. With technical advancements solar panels are becoming more efficient and their costs are declining over time.
High installation costs make people set a narrative that solar panels are costly and cannot be afforded by them. But this thing should be made clear to everybody that the installation costs are one-time expenses and the benefits that they can reap from solar panels would compensate for all the money they had spent on the installation. So the bottom line would be, that solar panels ask for a one-time investment but they are not that expensive.
Roofs with Solar Panels are hard to sell.
The reality is completely opposite to this myth. Houses with solar panels installed are more likely to be noticed by interested people. This could be due to certain reasons like government incentives, and public awareness. Let’s dive further into this one by one.
In order to increase the public’s response toward the renewable energy sector, governments around the world provide different kinds of incentives and rewards to those who incorporate renewable energy production methods into their daily life. Incentives like tax rebates, concessions, and credit units (in case excess energy produced is sold back to the grids) are offered to such people and communities.
Other than that, public awareness plays a vital role here. As people are becoming aware of their environmental responsibilities they are more drawn towards eco-friendly things and practices.
3 Interesting Facts about Solar Energy.
We hope that we have successfully busted the common myths about solar panels. If one gets interested in solar energy after reading the above section, they must know the 3 interesting facts related to their topic of interest!
Below we have listed the three fun facts about solar energy, read them:
Panels are Eternal
Panels are immortal i.e. they will never die (stop working) until and unless they are dismantled. Although the amount of electricity generated and the efficiency of the panels might decrease over the period. The average lifespan of solar panels is estimated to be 20-30 years but the return on investment can be expected within the first 10 years.
The Unearthing of Solar Power
It is well known that the solar energy concept has been gaining fame for the past few decades. The interesting fact here is that this concept was discovered way back in 1936. At that time, a French Physicist while working in his father’s laboratory, discovered that a certain type of material could generate electricity when kept in the sunlight.
The Cheapest One
In the past, solar energy was one of the most expensive sources of energy. But over time its costs have significantly declined with technical advancements. When compared to other non-renewable and renewable energy sources, solar power is affordable and suitable for almost everyone’s needs as it occupies less space and maintenance, and no additional materials for energy production.
Conclusion: The future of solar energy
To sum it up, when we look at the myths and facts about solar energy, we find that solar power is an amazing source of clean energy. Some people believe myths that make it seem less useful than it really is, but the facts show that it works well and helps the environment. By learning the truth and using solar energy, we can make the world cleaner and better for everyone. So, don't be fooled by myths; the sun's energy is a bright future for us all!
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