What Are Some Drawbacks to Solar Power?

Dormant Periods

• Solar energy is not created at night, when the sun doesn't shine. This is an inherent limitation of solar power that becomes more pronounced as you travel towards either one of the poles. In and around the arctic regions of the world, extremely long winter nights limit solar production during this time of the year. This fact is compounded because it is during these times of the year when solar energy for space heating or electricity may be most needed.

Stormy Weather

• Another similar situation that can diminish the effectiveness of solar energy is the presence of a prolonged period of cloudy or stormy weather. In cold climates, this kind of event is most likely to occur during the winter when the energy demand is greatest. For this reason, heavy reliance on solar energy occurs in temperate or arid areas with a relatively high percentage of sunny days.

Design Costs

• Solar energy is most cost effective and efficient when it is incorporated into the original design of a house or residential building. In this way, the architect or builder can design a house that maximizes the solar technology that is available at the time of construction. The building designers can also allow for complicated calculations and installation of large heat sinks and thermal masses that are so essential to many solar heated houses. Moreover, the inclusion of a large, heat-producing, thermal mass during a renovation is very expensive and difficult to install.

Security

• Another problem that is inherent, especially with expensive photovoltaic solar panels, is theft. Initially, electricity generating panels were installed right on the roof or sometimes even in the front yard of solar homeowners. As the effectiveness and price of these panels increased, so did the black market value of an operating unit. As a result, homeowners and small businesses have learned that surrounding a house with unsecured panels can lead to theft and financial loss. Building a protective wall or adding an effective surveillance system has sometimes proved to be expensive and counter-productive.

New Construction

• Local tree growth or construction of new buildings could diminish the amount of sunlight available to your solar energy collectors. If these intrusions occur on adjacent private land, you may not have any legal recourse to protect your access to direct sunlight.