Micro-inverters, like acid washed jeans, seemed like a good idea at the time but in retrospect, not so much. We installed well over 5,000 Enphase micro-inverters that were supposed to have only one failure per year out of every 330 units. In reality the failure rate was as high as 1 in 8 per year …
Continue reading “Do use micro-inverters on your solar systems?”
No, but it will reduce the use of natural gas. The output of nuclear power stations is not adjustable. They are always running at the same rate. If there is excess power from solar, they will throttle back the gas generation plants first.
Not directly but if we were to factor in the energy it took to make the panel in all the different phases of the manufacturing process, it has been estimated that solar energy releases 25 to 32 g/kWh. This compares favorably to coal which releases 960g/kWh or even clean burning natural gas which releases 590g/kWh. …
Continue reading “Does the manufacturer of solar panels release greenhouse gases?”
With current production methods a solar panel will take 3 years to generate the power that it takes to produce it. With the average lifespan of a solar panel being between 30 and 40 years we would estimate that a solar panel will generate at least 10 times the energy that it takes to produce …
Continue reading “How much energy is used to manufacture a solar panel, is it worth it?”
It is true that the price of panels have dropped drastically and there is still some room to go. The price of panels have come down so much that it is not the most expensive part of a solar system. In recent years the rules have changed and the installation cost have gone up by …
It may come as a surprise to many people but solar photovoltaic cells are not new. They were first discovered in 1839. There have been many breakthroughs since then but the advancements are getting smaller. In Europe, large solar plants cover 1000’s of acres and have for years. There may be a company or university …
Continue reading “I heard there is a new breakthrough in solar technology coming, should I wait?”
The efficiency of a solar panel is its ability to convert solar energy into power. A panel that has an efficiency of 15% converts 15% of the solar energy that falls on it into power. There is a great deal of hype about how efficient one panel is over another. What efficiency translates into in …
Continue reading “How important is the efficiency of the solar panels that I buy?”
We are pleased to report that finally after 30,000+ installations in Ontario, most insurance companies now understand solar. Most of them now treat solar equipment the same as any other equipment such as a hot tub or upgraded kitchen. Our customers pay from $75 to $150 extra per year to insure their equipment. Check with …
Manufacturer warranties for solar panels are typically 25 years. Inverters are warrantied for 10 to 20 years with another 5 or 10 years optional. From what we have seen from installations in Europe and California, solar panels should actually last about 40 years.
Birds can white wash your panels but they don’t really cause any serious damage. Squirrels on the other hand can nest under the panels and they have the annoying habit of chewing everything and anything. New ESA rules require us to install metal squirrel guards on certain installations and if it is a concern we …
Continue reading “Will birds or squirrels cause problems with my solar installation?”
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