So, you want to learn about solar panels. Well coming to a solar panel fitters website is probably a good first step.
At MTG Energy Solutions Solar panel fitting is probably one of the areas of our business that we are most enthusiastic about. We get to spend time on-site working as a team to help install solar panels and revolutionise homes and businesses. We love to help introduce new people to renewable energy systems that help them improve their own standard of living and reduce their carbon footprint in the process.
So it is safe to say that we are pretty experienced with this process so we get asked a lot of questions about what we do. In this blog, we will cover some of the most frequently asked questions we get asked at MTG Energy Solutions.
Do solar panels work on cloudy days?
A common misconception about solar panels is that they don’t work when the solar panels don’t have direct sunlight. This would make purchasing a solar panel in the UK what some people would call a ‘bad investment’.
Luckily this cannot be further from the truth and I am pretty sure that if you look out your window now at least one of the buildings you see will have a solar panel on them. I’ll even wager that even in the wasteland of the east midlands we can find some.
Solar panels work but convert the suns radiation into electricity that is then used to power your kettle for your morning brew. Radiation waves from the sun pierce through clouds even if the sunlight doesn’t. This means that even if it snows or is cloudy your solar panels will still generate electricity.
How long does it take for a solar panel to pay itself off?
When people are looking at any investment one of the first things that they want to know is when the investment will start to pay itself off. With a solar panel, it’s not much different.
There are a few factors that affect the time it takes to start to see a profit. For most homeowners, the average time it takes solar panels to pay for themselves is between 6-10 years.
Now we know that that may sound like a long time, but we can’t forget that this is a huge range in the stats and it truly depends on the quality of the solar panels and how much you are willing to invest.
Can I go off-grid with solar panels?
When you install solar panels on your property, you will still be connected to the grid.
This allows you to draw from the grid when your system is not producing all of the power that you need, and send power back to the grid when you produce more than you use.
However, if you truly want to live that off the grid life, It is possible to go off the grid with a solar energy system that includes battery storage, These can be easily fitted and allow you to save your excess generated electricity for later use instead of sending it back to the grid.
Installing solar is quite complicated and requires a lot of maintenance
In fact, solar panel installation is relatively straightforward! As long as you are using a reliable manufacturer. If your system is connected to your utility grid, which most electricity systems are, then it makes solar panels easier to maintain. The solar panels would just need to be cleaned with water to remove any accumulated dust or debris or snow that has been trapped on them.
Solar panels are constructed in a way that allows them to withstand harsh weather, including hail, sleet, etc. If you have a battery-based system, it will need more cleaning than one without, but systems without batteries are more common and are cheaper than those that have battery systems.
Reselling your home will be harder with solar panels
Solar panels enhance the property value of your home. Multiple studies have found that homes with solar panels sell faster than homes without solar panels! Although the cost of solar panels can range from £5,000 – 8,000, you end up saving on a long term basis. They can enhance your home’s value by as much as £14,000 on average, but of course, this is completely dependent on how much it will be worth.
Solar panels are bad for the environment after their lifetime is used up
Most solar panels are built to reach a maximum lifetime use of 25 years. Many people tunk that after this they get thrown into a landfill and end up damaging the environment. This does depend on the manufacturer you use to install your solar panels, but knowing whether they will be recycled is a bit tricky as most modern-day solar panels are still working optimally. Additionally, some manufacturers will even recycle them for you free of charge.
We hope that these few misconceptions about solar panels have been cleared up and that you have had your questions answered. Perhaps you are interested in investing in solar energy or perhaps are looking to buy some for your business?
Whatever your reason for reading this blog we are happy that you did and if you are interested in reading more please consider visiting our blog page here.