Top Industry Experts Tackle Frequently Asked Solar Energy Questions


Guest post by Sarah Hancock, BestCompany.com

Solar energy has become increasingly popular among home and business owners in recent years, primarily due to falling solar equipment and installation costs, steadily rising utility rates, favorable government incentives, a variety of payment options, and positive environmental benefits. Because of these factors, switching to solar can be an extremely beneficial decision for many individuals.

However, the solar industry can be somewhat confusing and difficult to navigate, so most consumers (rightfully) have several questions when they are considering a solar energy system for their home or business, such as:

* What are the benefits of solar energy?
* How does solar energy impact the environment?
* How much could I save with solar?
* Do I need battery storage?
* What should I look for in a solar company?
* What incentives are available to me?
* Will solar panels still work in cold climates or inclement weather?
* Will solar panels still generate power during grid blackouts?
* Is solar panel efficiency an important factor?
* How long will a solar energy system last?
* What effect will solar panels have on my home’s value?

In a new ebook, 11 top solar energy experts answer these important questions and more. Here’s an overview of their responses:

1. In your opinion, what are the top benefits of solar energy?

According to the experts interviewed, the top benefits of solar energy are cost effectiveness and sustainability. Samuel Adeyemo, co-founder of Aurora Solar, said, “the cost of solar energy is generally lower than the cost of the utility grid, especially when you consider the fact that utility rates increase about 2%-3% each year. Over the life of a system, that means electricity costs could almost double, while the cost of energy, if you own the solar installation, is constant.” He continued, “since solar energy relies primarily on sunshine, of which there is relative abundance globally, it is sustainable and does not pollute our environment.”

2. How does solar energy impact the environment?

The consensus from the experts was that adoption of solar panels has a positive environmental impact because it leads to less reliance on fossil fuels. Mark Stevenson, founder and managing director of Bright Spark Energy, stated that solar “reduces our CO2 output,” while Teris Pantazes, co-founder of Efynch.com, mentioned that “in places where coal is the main fuel for energy, the carbon footprint of solar panels is much better for the environment.”

3. How much could the average homeowner expect to save with solar?

The experts were all in agreement that the amount a homeowner can save with solar depends on a number of factors, including, as Simone Garneau, co-founder of WhatNextNow Solar, said “location, location, location! The amount of solar electricity you can produce will vary from place to place, and the amount you can save will be directly related to the cost of electricity from your local utility.” Greg Reed, director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Energy and Energy GRID Institute, noted that “the size of the solar installation and if it is integrated with battery storage” can also make a difference when it comes to savings.

4. Would you recommend investing in battery storage along with a solar energy system? Why or why not?

Most of the experts agreed that battery storage technology is great, but costs need to come down before investing in it makes economic sense for most consumers. Julio Daniel Hernandez, CEO of EnLight.Energy, mentioned “it would be great to have power even if the grid goes down, but the expense associated with that luxury is hard to justify in areas where you rarely have a power outage.” Shel Horowitz, owner of Going Beyond Sustainability, added that, at least for now, “on-grid homes should stay connected, sell excess power back to the power company, and use the electrical grid as their battery. It's cheaper, more efficient, and takes up much less space.”

5. What should consumers look for in a solar company?

As far as what consumers should look for in the solar company they choose to work with, the experts recommend selecting a company with a good reputation, a solid track record, financial stability, and industry accreditations. According to Rainier de Ocampo, VP of marketing at Solar Optimum, “the concern should be "will you be around when I need you in the next 5+ years? Go with a company that has some experience underneath it.” Julio Daniel Hernandez added that, “the best bet is to speak to families who have already worked with the company,” while Geoff Mirkin, co-founder and CEO of Solar Energy World, advises consumers to find a solar company with “great reviews.” Kathie Zipp, managing editor of Solar Power World and Energy Storage Networks, said that “consumers should look for a solar installer with NABCEP accreditation. This is not an easy certification to get or keep and was established to set a standard for quality in the solar workforce to protect consumers.”

6. What solar incentives are currently available? What do you expect to happen with solar incentives in the future?

Similar to solar savings, the experts explained that solar incentives vary from location to location. Many of the experts mentioned the 30 percent federal solar tax credit offered in the United States, which will be available through 2019, and Simone Garneau recommended DSIRE and WhatNextNow Solar as resources to find out which incentives are available locally. As far as what will happen with solar incentives in the future, Matt Stoutenburg, founder and CEO of Peak Power Solutions, said that “incentives will slowly draw down” and eventually go away.

7. Are solar panels viable in cold climates? Will they still work when it’s rainy/cloudy/snowy?

The resounding answer from the experts was that yes, solar panels are definitely viable in cold climates. Greg Reed mentioned that “like any electrical device, solar panels actually perform better under cooler temperatures. Cool, sunny locations can create some of the most efficient output of solar panels.” Matt Stoutenburg chimed in that “panels will still work in cloudy weather, but not as well as when the sun is directly shining on them.”

8. Will solar panels still generate power during grid blackouts?

According to the experts, solar panels will not generate power during grid blackouts in most cases. Simone Garneau explained that because most solar energy systems today are grid-tied, they will turn off during a power outage for “safety reasons.” However, Geoff Mirkin added that having a battery backup attached to the system will still allow homeowners to have power during a blackout.

9. Is solar panel efficiency an important factor?

The experts were all in agreement that solar panel efficiency is indeed an important factor. According to Teris Pantazes, “we all have limited roof space. The more efficient the panel, the more power you can produce per square foot” to cover your energy consumption needs. Greg Reed added that “the more efficient a panel is, the more cost effective it is.”

10. How long will a solar energy system last?

Each of the experts responded that solar energy systems are typically warrantied and expected to last for at least 25 years. However, Kathie Zipp explained that “panels can potentially continue to generate power at lower than 80% of rated power output for 30 years or more.”

11. What effect do solar panels have on a home’s value?

Most of the experts agreed that the effect solar panels will have on a home’s value is dependent upon the situation. Mark Stevenson responded that “value is defined by what somebody is willing to pay. We think that PV panels will raise the value, as the running costs of the house are significantly reduced and there may be a long term income stream.” Teris Pantazes added that “like a pool, some people like [solar panels], some don’t. If they like solar, it can add appeal and value, but if they don’t, it can detract.” However, Matt Stoutenburg noted that an increase in home value typically only comes with purchased systems; “a system that is leased does not add any value to the home, as these systems are someone else's property that are attached to the home.”