Advantages of Solar Energy

1. Energy independence
Traditionally, most people depend on the utility company to supply them with power. When
the grid goes down, going without power for an extended period of time can be a helpless
feeling.

It’s liberating to have complete control over where and how you produce energy. And with
electricity costs rising, it also feels great to lock in a fixed rate for your electricity over the next
few decades.

2. Eliminate your electric bill

Who doesn’t love one less bill coming out of their paycheck? With a properly sized system, you
can drastically reduce or completely eliminate your electric bill.

Even if you extend your payback period by taking out a loan to finance your project, you still
enjoy reduced electricity costs from the moment you flip the switch on your PV system. This is
the most exciting part of solar for many people: bringing the system online and watching their
power bill disappear.

3. (Grid-tied) solar is a profitable investment

If you buy a grid-tie system (the type of system you build if you have access to power lines), you
can expect your investment into solar to turn a profit in the long run.

In fact, over the 25-year life of the solar panel warranty, after clearing the initial payback period
it’s still profitable.

4. Lucrative government incentives

The investment into solar becomes even more appealing when you take government incentives
into account. Government programs are in place to encourage people to invest in renewable
energy. Claiming these can put a ton of cash back in your pocket.

5. Sustainability
A sustainable energy source is one that we can use without depleting the source of power. Oil
and gas are not sustainable, because we consume those resources as we use them.

In contrast, solar is sustainable because the source of energy (sunlight) is constantly

replenished. We can use solar energy without worrying about whether we will deplete the
Earth’s natural resources for future generations.

6. Low maintenance
Solar systems don’t have a lot of moving parts. As a result, they rarely break down or require
maintenance to keep them running optimally.
Panels are warrantied to last 25 years, but many have a much longer lifespan.

It’s common to replace your inverter at least once over the life of your system, as inverters are
typically warrantied for 5-10 years. But that’s about the only scheduled maintenance you will
encounter for grid-tied systems.

Off-grid systems are a bit more complex because they must include batteries, which often
require routine maintenance. Specifically, flooded lead-acid batteries (the cheapest option
available) must be checked and refilled with water regularly to keep them functioning properly.

However, building a grid-tied system eliminates the need for batteries, so most people will
rarely need to check in on their system for maintenance or replacements.