What Are the Deciding Factors in Using Solar Energy to Generate Electricity?

Cost vs. Benefit

• When you consider purchasing solar panels to generate electricity, you need to consider cost. You can purchase solar panels at big box retailers, but they are expensive. Consider the costs versus the benefits. For example, if you live in a climate with abundant sunshine, solar panels might be a wise investment. You will need to purchase several solar panels to make a significant impact on your electricity requirements. Verify if the long-term benefits will justify the upfront costs.

Weather and Season

• Weather and variations in the seasons also affect the output of your solar arrays. The angle of the sun changes with the time of day, and the seasonal variations affect the exposure of the solar panel to direct sunlight, which affect output. During rainy seasons and cloudy weather, direct sunlight will not be as intense as on a clear day.

Material Choices

• Choice of material is important to achieve optimum output; monocrystalline, plycrystaline and thin solar panels can be used to create solar arrays. However, the level of output varies among the three. Monocrystalline is the most expensive but also ensures the highest level of efficiency. Conversely, thin solar panels are the cheapest solar converter, but levels of electricity generation are minimal.

Panel Size

• When it comes to electricity generation from sunlight, bigger is better. The larger the surface area exposed to the sun, the higher the electricity generated. Use a simple equation to approximate the size of panels to generate optimum levels of output: amps times volts equals watts.

Panel Conditions

• Dust gathered on the panels over time acts as an obstruction between the sun and the solar panels. This obstruction affects the output drastically. To ensure optimum efficiency, clean panels are important. Since the panels need to be exposed to sunlight for production, you need to clean the panels on a weekly or even daily basis depending on the amount of dust collected.