Argon Electrical & Solar Services Inc. | Feb 20, 2020 Solar energy is an efficient source of renewable energy, and it has gained popularity over the last few decades. However, several misconceptions around solar energy have led many people to overlook its benefits and not use this affordable form of energy.
To help you steer clear of these misbeliefs and to ensure that you get the best of solar energy, Argon Electrical & Solar Services Inc. has debunked three of the most widely believed myths about solar energy. Myth 1: Solar energy is too costly and is not economically viable. This is a common misconception that discourages many people from investing in solar energy. If we look at figures from 2009 to 2019, investments in solar panels have generally been on the rise as they are becoming more affordable. Their average costs have fallen by about 30% to 60% percent. Globally, it is actually cheaper to produce electricity from solar energy than it is from coal. A typical install in the Okanagan can be done for $0.09 to $0.10/kWh. Myth 2: Solar panels do not work in cold, snowy, or cloudy weather. Solar panels work in sunny, cold, and even cloudy environments. The technologies of solar panels allow them to work effectively and efficiently and are even more effective in cooler temperatures than warmer ones. In addition, cloudy weather does not inhibit the efficiency of solar panels; they can be a viable source of electricity as they can still produce enough power. Even cold, sunny winter days generate a comparable level of electricity to what you would get from hot summer days, you just don’t get the same length of day to harvest from. Myth 3: Don’t oversize your system. DC Oversizing is a common practice and can increase your harvest totals significantly. A good installer will aim to oversize your system by 30% or more. That means your installed solar kW is greater than the kW output of your inverters. For instance, if your inverter(s) are set to output 10kW of AC energy, you should oversize your system to 13kW of DC energy. That allows your inverters to work at 100% more often, thus producing more power. A 10kW DC system will be hard-pressed to output 10kW of AC energy. At Agron Electrical & Solar Inc., we offer a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial electrical and solar services, including maintenance. Over eighteen years, we’ve grown into a vibrant business known for putting our clients and their needs first. We work towards providing our clients with exemplary products and excellent customer service. We serve across Oliver, Osoyoos, Summerland, Peachland, Penticton, Kelowna (West), Keremeos, Cawston, Kaleden, and Okanagan Falls. For a complete list of our services, please click here. If you have any questions about electrical and solar products, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us by clicking here.