Solar panels are becoming increasingly popular with last year being a record year for heat pumps and solar panels in Scottish homes and businesses.
The vast majority of MCS installations last year were solar panels, at nearly 26,000. This is a 174% increase from 2020, when just over 9,000 certified installations were carried out.
While they are becoming more popular, there are still some myths and common misconceptions that put people off.
Read on to find out the common myths and misconceptions about solar panels.
What Are The Benefits of Solar Panels?
There are many benefits of including:
- Reducing your energy bills – By reducing your energy bills you will not only cut your reliance on the national grid but also your energy bills.
- Generate money – If you have excess electricity that your panels have generated, then you can sell this electricity back to the grid for some extra money.
- Solar power is clean and green – Do your part in helping tackle the climate crisis by switching to solar as it is a low carbon, renewable energy source.
Common Myths About Solar Panels
Some of the common myths about solar panels are:
Solar Panels Are Expensive
While solar panels can be an expensive investment, they have become cheaper over the years. It is now cheaper than ever before to get them installed.
As well as being cheaper, it is also quicker to break even.
It has also been reported that installations in 2024 will break even quicker than before. It has previously taken around 14 years to break even with photovoltaic (PV) panels.
However, it has been reported that systems in 2024 could pay for themselves in under 10 years and even less if you have a battery.
While their upfront cost is expensive, the long term savings make it worth it.
My Roof Needs to be South Facing for Solar Panels to be Efficient
Solar panels are most efficient on south facing roofs. You will see the most savings on your energy bills with panels on the roof of this orientation, however, this doesn’t mean they can’t work on other orientated roofs.
East and west facing roofs are also efficient enough to power your home. While they are quite as efficient as a south facing roof you should still generate enough power for your home.
Scotland Does’t Get Enough Sun for Solar Panels
The typical Scottish weather makes many doubt that solar panels will be worth their while. However, this is not the case.
They are still a highly effective and worthwhile investment for Scottish Homeowners. They work by absorbing solar energy through the PV cells in the panels. This is then converted into usable electricity. The panels don’t need direct sunlight to work.
While they don’t need direct sunlight to generate electricity, they are still more effective in the sunnier months during spring and summer – compared to the months during autumn and winter.
That being said, they still generate enough power for your home, even on dull cloudy days.
Solar Panels Need a Lot of Maintenance
Solar panels are designed to be low maintenance. Due to this, you will very rarely need to do anything to keep them running efficiently.
Cleaning is the most common maintenance you will need to perform. Most of the time, the rain should be enough to wash off light debris from your panels.
However, you may need to give them a proper clean from time to time. This may be needed during a rare dry spell of rain or a build up of bird dropping.
Due to being low maintenance, your panels don’t need any annual maintenance. The only time you may need to get your panels checked is when they aren’t generating as much electricity as they normally do – and it’s not because of any weather changes. This may mean there is an issue with your system which may need to be looked at by a professional.
Other Myths and Misconceptions
There are plenty of other myths and misconceptions about solar panels. Like everything, you should do your research before investing in them to make sure they are right for you and your home.
Alternatively, you can read our blog post Are Solar Panels Right For You? to help you decide.
Looking to Invest in Solar Panels?
At Homeshield, we have been providing homeowners with ways to make their homes more energy efficient.
We have been installing renewables such as solar panels, air source heat pumps and batteries in customers’ homes for a number of years.
You can get your free no obligation quote here and get started to a warmer, cheaper and greener future today!
