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Solar Energy Myths Debunked

Solar Energy Myths Debunked

Tags: Solar Energy
Last updated by The FiftyUp Team on

In the movies, harnessing the power of the sun has been the dream of many villains and heroes.

While the big budget box office movies make the reality sometimes seem far-fetched, we can harness solar energy from that bright orange ball in the sky.

Last year, 3.5 million solar panels were installed in households across the nation last year. Their output was equivalent to the output of a medium sized coal fired power station!

With the boom of solar panels also comes along fact vs fiction and if you’re curious about solar power or want to install your own solar panels. You need to know the truth.

HERE ARE THE FACTS ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY

FICTION: Solar panels are expensive.

FACT: Solar panels used to cost as much as buying a new car, but now the cost of a solar PV system starts around $3,500 for basic installation.

 

FICTION: Since solar panels don’t work at night or on cloudy days, my energy bill won’t be less.

FACT: Solar panels don’t generate as much energy on cloudy days and do not generate energy at night, but the amount of energy generated during the day can drive your energy bill down. During the day when you are using the energy from your solar panels and any unused energy is fed back into the grid and most providers pay a feed-in-tariff for it.

 

FICTION: Solar panels are hard to maintain and upkeep.

FACT: To maintain efficiency panels will need to be cleaned from time to time and that can be simply as hosing off the elements that have built up on them. Solar panels in Australia have a 25 year performance warranty and a 10 year product warranty. Unless a force de majeure happens, your panels should be running for a long while.

 

FICTION: Solar panels will damage my roof.

FACT: Unless your roof is made out of paper, the solar panels actually act as a shield and protect your roof from the elements, meaning it could save you from repairs down the line!

 

If you’ve got solar or you’re considering getting solar panels, check to see if there are government rebates available to you as well and check out the latest feed-in-tariffs offers for FiftyUp Club members.

Originally posted on .

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Someone
Someone from VIC commented:

Very informative blog about Solar Energy. Got the neccesary information needed for installing solar panel system in Australia. Thank you for providing such information it really helped me in solving my doubts about solar panel. I read this post your post so nice and very informative post thanks for sharing this post <a href="https://www.tgr.org.au">Solar Panel System Australia</a> Renewable energy is one such thing gifted to mankind by mother nature. Decades of scientific advancements now make us competent enough to explore these renewable sources for accomplishing our energy demand in the most suitable way so that we can leave a better world for our upcoming generations. 

VICKI
VICKI from WA commented:

One of the things people forget when considering (or after buying) solar is that they can reduce their basic energy use easily. Simple things like insulation, closing drapes in winter to keep heat in or sun out in summer, stopping draughts, and more, can all be done very easily deliver good savings and may reduce the need for panels in the first place. Even if you have them, you'll get more bang for your buck. Some good tips here - https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/You-and-Your-Home/Save-energy 

Valery
Valery from NSW commented:

SAVINGS ON YOUR BILL???? what about the cost of a storage battery and the possibility of never a recoup? you are behind before you start. is there a real saving because it may take 10 years to be upfront and see your bill realistically go down? don't forget maintanace on the panels and the life expectancy of the panels & battery unit which is not cheap. lots to concider. is there a real saving or a myth? 

John
John from QLD replied to Valery:

You're exactly right. Do the maths for a quality system,which will cost double what they are saying here. The break even time for your investment is between 5 and 10 years. Assuming you still live in that house, Only then do you actually start to see a return. Now most panels have a warranty of between 10 and 20 years for the panels and 10 years for the inverter, both of which performance drops off over time. Oh and if people think you will still have power during a grid blackout, no you won't, even if you have a battery, because the inverter needs to have grid power to operate. So really it's still a tough decision to make on an economics basis. I've recently weighed all this up and I'm not going to get them. 

Graham
Graham from VIC commented:

Great information well done. 

FiftyUp Club
FiftyUp Club replied to Graham:

Thank you Graham 

wolf
wolf from VIC commented:

Force majeure.......WHAT ABOUT HAIL STONE DAMAGE ?? 

Robert
Robert from NSW replied to wolf:

Well, since you haven't gone off grid, so long as power is available, you'll have it. The bonus is that usage while your system is being repaired will only cost you the CT2 rate so it's still cheaper than what you pay now. Perhaps more relevant is will hail damage be covered by building insurance and how slow will insurance companies be to get off their butt and fix it. 

Robert
Robert from NSW commented:

Heres a "way out there" thought. We have a poles and wires "national" grid running from at least Cairns to Whyalla. No one wants to go "off grid" because if something goes wrong, you're on your own. What if the feds offered a system where, if you install solar with battery storage you will only pay $1 a day to remain connected to the grid and would only be charged the "off-peak" usage rate for any electricity you use plus receive credits at half that rate for your "feed-in" tariff. There would be a minimum configuration , say a 7 kWh battery storage system minimum and the solar to support that. There are millions of 1, 2 and 3 story homes and commercial buildings on that stretch of grid so I can see the equivalent of several solar farms being introduced. The added bonus is that while the sun don't shine every day on you, with the length of that grid, I'd be pretty confident that the sun is shining somewhere EVERY DAY, and by controlling the cost of accessing the grid, most homes, and especially those outside the capital cities, would see a significant reduction in their electricity costs (my daily supply charge is $2 a day). I wonder if there is any federal poli that would pursue this? 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Could you advise me on the best value for money deal I could get on Solar Panels.Thank you. 

Someone
Someone from VIC commented:

We have just put on 36 panels on our roof earlier this year. We have not had a bill. When we can afford it we will get super capacitater as on John fain'es show. store our own energy 

Alan
Alan from VIC commented:

We should also invest in molten salt thorium reactors for main stream power. 

Jeffrey
Jeffrey from NSW replied to Alan:

Thank you Alan! For whatever oddball leftie reasons the pollies are dead against using uranium to power our nation but no-one discusses thorium as a safer, cheaper, more abundant option. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

We have an isolation power switch on our Solar Hot Water system & only turn it on when it needs to be boosted. We shower usually at night & now know when to turn it on during the day if the sun hasn't been out. Often only needs to be on for an hour or so even in winter. During summer it is very hot. 

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