I asked Google and there were several answers. Here’s what Artificial Intelligence I has to say about it: (We’ll address each point at the end.)
AI Overview
Solar power’s limited widespread use is due to several factors, including high initial costs, intermittent energy production, and the need for large land areas. Additionally, challenges exist in integrating solar power into existing grids, efficient storage solutions, and the environmental impact of manufacturing solar panels.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
1. High Initial Costs:
Solar panel installations, while becoming more affordable, still represent a significant upfront investment.
This cost, combined with the need for storage solutions and grid integration, can deter widespread adoption.
2. Intermittency and Reliability:
Solar power generation is directly tied to sunlight availability, meaning production fluctuates throughout the day and is absent at night.
This intermittency makes it challenging to rely on solar power as a primary energy source without backup systems or energy storage.
3. Space Requirements:
Large-scale solar power plants require extensive land areas, which can be a constraint in densely populated areas.
This land use can compete with other land uses, such as agriculture or urban development.
4. Storage and Grid Integration:
Efficient and affordable energy storage solutions are crucial for balancing solar power production with demand, especially during periods of low sunlight.
Integrating solar power into existing power grids can also present challenges, requiring upgrades and infrastructure adjustments.
5. Manufacturing and Environmental Impact:
The manufacturing process for solar panels can have a significant environmental impact, particularly in terms of energy consumption and resource utilization.
While solar panels themselves are environmentally friendly, the overall lifecycle of solar power, including manufacturing and disposal, needs to be considered.
6. Other Factors:
Lack of Awareness:
Many individuals may not fully understand the benefits and cost-effectiveness of solar power.
Maintenance and Degradation:
Solar panels require regular maintenance, and their efficiency can degrade over time.
Grid Infrastructure:
The existing power grid may not be fully equipped to handle the variability and fluctuations of solar power.
The following is our response to those reasons.
1. High Initial Costs:
There is no initial cost if you choose to finance. The bank requires no money up front to loan money on solar. They charge interest, and that will cost more in the long run, but not as much as the power companies are charging. Most lenders offer terms as long as thirty years in order to get their payment as close to a customer’s average electric bill as possible.
Some solar customers choose to pay cash, in which cases, there is a substantial upfront cost. In the United States, home solar panels take seven to ten years to pay for themselves. After that – free electricity for the next several decades.
Storage solutions and grid integration are not required.
2. Intermittency and Reliability:
This AI concern is obviously tailored to states other than “The Sunshine State.” We might have cloudy days, and even storms, but the sunny days outnumber the cloudy ones by a lot. Cloudy days are typically not a problem for solar in Florida.
If it was, a solution to that is batteries or grid connectivity. Either is a back-up power source.
Grid-tied solar systems, the most common kind of solar installations, are set up so the home uses power from the grid and the electricity the solar panels create are sent back into the grid for an even exchange to cancel out the bill.
Batteries are only required if a customer wants electricity when the grid goes down, or the power company decides to change the even exchange
3. Space Requirements:
This is a legitimate barrier for some. Some properties that do not have enough sunny roof space, or yard, where panels can be placed are what we call “not solar feasible” and a responsible contractor will manage the customer’s expectations properly or refuse to install solar there.
To give some perspective, out of twenty people that call us for a quote, maybe three are not solar feasible.
4. Storage and Grid Integration:
Energy storage solutions are NOT crucial for balancing solar power production with demand. We think AI slipped a gear here. Energy storage solutions are irrelevant to both solar power production and demand.
A properly sized system is based on the previous twelve months of kWh consumption. Panels that will create the same amount are placed. Boom! Production and demand are balanced.
We said it before and will say it again … energy storage solutions (batteries) are only necessary when the grid goes down or the power companies get stingy.
Integrating solar power into existing power grids are standard operating procedure on a typical installation. No upgrades or infrastructure adjustments are required. When you grid tie, the power company will come out and install a bidirectional meter that spins both ways. This is standard.
5. Manufacturing and Environmental Impact:
This is an endless debate with constantly changing data and revolving experts. For every expert that says solar is green, there’s another talking about transport costs, disposal, and manufacturing practices.
As we have said many times before, we avoid the green renewable energy aspect of solar as a buying consideration. It may or may not save the world. What it will do, for sure, is save the average family hundreds of thousands of dollars. Need to see that for yourself? www.costtodonothing.com
6. Other Factors:
Lack of Awareness. Yup. We agree with AI here. If more people were aware of how much solar would save them, they would not hesitate.
Maintenance and Degradation. They do require maintenance. You should have your panels cleaned about once or twice a year. Figure about $10 a panel.
Top Tier panel manufacturers warranty their panels to produce at over 90% after thirty years. We feel like that is pretty strong and negates any degradation concerns.
Grid Infrastructure. For us, the unreliability of the grid is a reason to go solar, not a reason to avoid it. Thousands of solar installations and not one negative effect on the grid. Not sure what AI is talking about here.
So there you have it. These are the reasons that AI surmises solar is not more widely used along with why we think those reasons should not be factors. So many times, frustratingly, solar prospects choose not to go solar and state a reason for why they should go solar as the reason they hesitate. In summary …
Can’t afford it? Can’t afford not to. It costs less than what your power company is going to charge you. Go solar!
Clouds, grey days? YOU. ARE. IN. FLORIDA. Those are concerns for people in Oregon. Go solar!
Room for panels? Legitimate concern. As long as you are solar feasible though. Go solar!
Storage? Yeah, maybe, but it’s a separate issue from solar. Go solar!
Save the world? Maybe. Maybe not. Focus on the math. Go solar!
