How to Figure Out the Cost of Solar Energy
Even a grade school
student can figure out why solar energy is
useful to learn about – simply because
solar energy is free for us to secure and
use for our own purposes. Solar energy is
all around us from dawn to dusk, so that gives
us plenty of time to collect it, store it,
and then use it when no sunlight is available
anymore. Of course, we also need to understand
the cost of solar energy as well to understand
whether it is worth our time to invest in
solar energy systems or not. One proof that
use of solar energy systems works is the fact
that satellites orbiting the earth and that
have been sent out far into the galaxy to
examine those parts of our universe are currently
powered by solar energy systems. Bearing this
in mind, we know that the initial cost of
solar energy is offset by the long-term gains
we can get from use of a free energy supply
like sunlight. There is one proposal that
satellites be used to gather solar energy
directly from the sun (which is possible because
there are no clouds to prevent sunlight from
being gathered by the solar energy systems
of the satellites) then have the energy be
redirected towards earth stations for processing
into usable forms of electricity for human
consumption. At this URL (http://www.jc-solarhomes.com/solar_energy_facts.htm),
the author estimates that if oil is priced
at $2 per gallon, a solar energy roof spanning
95 square meters located in the north central
USA would be able to help the owner save up
to $6,460 in energy payments per year. (This
already factors in any perceived inefficiencies
in capturing and converting solar power into
solar energy using the PV panels on the solar
energy roof.)
In that same website, the author estimates
that if a 10 kilowatt solar energy system
is to be set in place in your home, you would
need about 25 PV panels (measuring 2 square
meters each) to fit together to form a total
surface area spanning over 600 square feet
in area. The author believes that if you pay
for $10 per watt, such a system will end up
costing you at least $100,000 in initial investment.
That is possibly exclusive of the labor costs
that an electrical or solar power engineering
contractor would charge you. The initial investment
to install solar energy systems is often the
biggest drawback that potential solar energy
users have to face even if they are enthusiastic
about the potential of solar energy usage.
That means, according to the author, you may
have to set aside at least $200,000 in total
investment to prepare to put up your own home
solar energy systems. This is why solar energy
has to become more efficient for the average
homeowner to be able to afford it in the near
future.
The cost of solar energy is also affected
by how complicated your solar energy systems
are to become. For instance, you might be
able to create a solar-energy-based electrical
system that is independent of your solar-energy-based
hot water system; or you might want to integrate
these two systems using the same heat storage
vault.
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