Solar Panel Installation & Installers | SolarAccess.com

There are many myths that surround the existence and purchase of solar panels. We hope to help educate you on these so that you can make an educated decision when it comes time to decide to go solar or not, or if you have already decided to go solar, what the realities of the situation are.

Myth: Solar is only getting more efficient—I should wait.

Reality: We’re actually still using the same solar technology that came out in the 1960s. Since then, solar has only become moderately more advanced (as compared to, say, computers). Since there’s such a continuance of technology and there is a 30% tax cut for buyers of solar, now is the best time to buy and install!

Myth: I live in a cool, foggy climate; solar will not work.

Reality: Solar panels work just as well in ambient light as they do in direct sun. They will still produce energy even on cold or cloudy days – and solar panels are actually more efficient on cold days than they are on hot ones! Compare San Francisco and Sacramento: between the two, rainy San Francisco out produces Sacramento by about 1% when it comes to solar electricity.

Myth: I can store my excess solar power in batteries.

Reality: Most solar systems are locked to the grid, which means that your system will create electricity during the day and then feed it back into the grid. When this happens, however, your electric meter will actually spin backwards and the electric company will end up owing you money! Batteries are an option, but they are expensive and must be replaced at least every ten years.

Myth: Solar panels will harm my roof.

Reality: Solar panels actually protect your roof! They’ve even been proven to stand up to hurricanes. If you ever need to get to the roof itself for repairs, solar panels are easy to remove.

With these myths debunked, hopefully you know a little more about the truth of solar panels!

Solar power certainly isn’t just a phenomenon in the Americas – in fact, the craze has encompassed the entire world. However, there are some countries that are a little more dedicated to the business of going solar as compared to the United States. For a little more information about who’s going solar and how, check out our list below on the top countries that use solar power!

Germany. Germany is clearly the world leader in solar power. In 2009 alone, Germany installed enough solar panels to equate to 3,806 megawatts of power, which is more than Spain’s entire capacity and nearly eight times as much as the United States installed that year. Germany is expected to remain the top purchaser of solar panels for some time to come.

Spain. Spain is just behind Germany in terms of amount of solar power, but there has been a recent decrease in interest in past years. This is owed to a lack of government interest, but Spain is expected to bump up its solar capacity even more over the next few years.

Japan. Coming in at number three, Japan is truly chasing the dream of becoming entirely solar powered. Government residential PV programs, net-metering, high national solar energy goals to reach 28 GW by 2020 and 53 GW by 2030, as well as the support of local authorities and the private sector make Japan a world leader in this field. Japan has also invested nearly 9 billion in stimulus money to solar energy in 2009, and this is likely just to increase in the future.

United States. There are a number of state-led initiatives in the United States, which have helped foster the growth of solar panels. The cap on the federal solar tax credit was lifted in 2009, which is encouraging the growth of the industry even more.

These are the top four countries in terms of amount of solar panels and attention paid to solar programs. With any luck, all of us will be seeing more solar power in the next few years no matter where we live!

As of right now, there are four different varieties of solar powered panels that you can choose from. All of them can be easily installed at your home or business. But be sure to do plenty of research on these kinds of panels so you can choose the right fit for you and your needs!

• Monocrystalline Silicon Panels. These are also called “single crystal” panels. They have an electricity return of anywhere between 14% and 18%. These panels are made from one single continuous piece of silicon that has metal plates nailed to the ends in order to increase the connectivity of the panel. Generally, these are the most expensive and most effective kind of solar panel.

• Polycrystalline Silicon Panels. These have a return of anywhere between 12% and 18% on electricity and are made up of lots of individual PV cells of metal that comprise the panel. These units are less effective than the monocrystalline panels, but are cheaper to maintain.

• String Ribbon Silicon Panels. These have about the same electricity return rate as polycrystalline panels and are constructed in a similar fashion. The difference is that the PV cells are made of strips of silicon that attach to bars, which fasten the strips together to form a cell. Using strips of silicon makes their construction costs cheaper than polycrystalline panels.

• Amorphous Silicon Panels. These have the lowest electric return of any panel, due to the fact that they are not made with silicon, but rather semi conductive metal that has a layer of silicon on top. These are very cheap, but with a return rate of 5%-6%, you’ll need a lot, and a lot of space!

These are the main types of panels that you can choose from when trying to outfit your home with solar panels. There is a good fit for every level of electric return and every budget, so be sure to do your research before buying! Make sure you talk to a solar panel installation technician who is experienced with the type of panels you have purchased or plan to purchase.

The quintessential science question! For those of you who have ever seen a solar panel and wondered how it worked, this article is for you. Get ready for it to get a little bit technical, but we think you can handle it.

Solar cells on calculators and houses alike are made from photovoltaic, or PV cells. These convert light into electricity. One “solar panel” is a group of these PV cells connected together in a frame, which can then be grouped into an “array.” This is what you’ll see on the tops of homes.

PV cells are made out of materials like silicon. Basically, when the light hits the panel, some of it is absorbed within this material. This allows the absorbed light to transfer into the semiconductor material – which is the silicon. This energy knocks electrons in the silicon loose, allowing them to flow freely.

The PV cells also have one or more electric fields inside of them, which allow these freed electrons to flow in a specific direction. This flow of electrons is known as a current, and if you place metal contacts at the top and bottom of the cell, this creates a small battery. It is from this flow that the power from solar panels is drawn!

Of course, you can get much deeper into the technical specifics of solar panels, but the good news is that it really doesn’t get too much more complicated. With the basics outlined above, you understand how solar panels work.

Solar panels are a technology that is relatively simple for the amount of energy that can be produced from them. Many people assume that solar panels necessarily have to be complex works of art – but we’ve actually been using the same technology as we did in the 1960s. It’s not that difficult to understand – and now you can tell your friends! If you are thinking about installing solar panels into your home or business, hopefully this helps you understand how solar works.

Need more convincing as to why switching over to solar is a good idea? No problem! We’ve compiled five good reasons why you should go solar today.

• Rising cost of oil. It has been a talked about subject in our media for quite some time, but the world’s supply of oil is not infinite. Most of the ways that we produce conventional energy is through the consumption of oil, but not solar! Go solar today to “get off the grid” and start using a renewable resource to help you get endless amounts of energy! You’ll save money and the environment in the long run.
• Off the grid in case of catastrophe. This might be a little bit intense, but you never know what kind of natural or political catastrophes could strike your area. Should this be the case and the power goes out, you’ll be glad to know that you have your own little electric generator – your solar panels!
• Environmental impact. Using solar energy is just better for the earth than using fossil fuels to energize your home. The sun never runs out – and best of all it shines all day long for free! Solar panels do no produce any emissions!
• Tax benefits. If you purchase solar panels for your home, the government will automatically give you a 30% discount. The higher ups in the government are learning just how good solar panel can be for the country – and if you get on board they’ll show you the money!
• Pioneering. Let’s face it – moving forward with solar is a definitive step toward self-reliance and a higher level of environmental awareness. Being the first person on the block to do so is gratifying and sends a message to your neighbors that the health of your community is important to you.

For these reasons and more, choosing to go solar is a great idea. There are of course more than five reasons to take advantage of this renewable resource – and once you’ve done so, you won’t believe that you used to be tied to the conventional electric grid!