5 solar myths you shouldn't believe

In the face of a large amount of information about solar energy , people are still troubled by some rumors. One of AiPV 's goals is to be a "myth terminator" of solar energy to help you eliminate incorrect understandings of solar energy. Here are 5 solar energy rumors you should not believe. Here are 5 solar energy rumors you should not believe, focusing on answering the question raised by cnbeta netizens about the fact that the electricity generated by solar cells cannot compensate for the energy consumed in producing solar cells.

In the face of a large amount of information about solar energy, people are still troubled by some rumors. One of AiPV's goals is to be a solar energy "myth terminator" to help you eliminate incorrect understandings of solar energy. Here are 5 solar energy rumors you should not believe.

Myth 1: Solar energy is only suitable for warm areas. The average temperature of an area does not have much impact on solar panels.

In fact, solar cells are more efficient at lower temperatures. So even if you live in a cold area, you can still get enough sunlight on your solar panels. Germany, a northern country (its latitude is equivalent to that of Heilongjiang Province in China), is not known for its sunny weather, but it is a world leader in the use of photovoltaics , with an installed capacity of more than 9,800 MW in 2009. The area of ​​panels used could cover the roofs of more than 2 million houses.

So, next time you hear this, you can easily point out that a high latitude or low temperature doesn’t mean that a region can’t use solar energy.

Myth 2: After installing solar panels, you still need traditional fossil fuels as a backup energy source.

Almost all home solar cells can be connected to the grid . In addition to supplying electricity to the home, the remaining electricity generated by the solar panels can be sent back to the grid. This actually means that the household meter can be turned back on. More importantly, the house is still connected to the grid, and the electricity generated by the power plant can be used at night or on cloudy days when the solar cells cannot reach the maximum power . As long as you install this grid-connected solar power generation system, you don’t need to prepare a backup diesel generator. (The country currently lacks the corresponding electricity price subsidy policy, FiT).

Myth 3: Choosing solar energy means giving up modern and comfortable life

After installing a grid-connected solar power system, your home is still connected to the grid, and the electricity generated by the sun can offset a considerable part of your demand for grid power. In this way, you can use electricity day and night without batteries, and you can also reduce a large part of the electricity bill while using household appliances normally.

Myth 4: Solar power isn’t ready for mass adoption

This is perhaps one of the most damaging rumors because it puts many homeowners on hold in their plans to install solar. Decades of research and billions of dollars in scientific research funding have brought us reliable solar power technology. At the same time, governments around the world are encouraging commercial and residential solar power projects.

Myth 5: Solar cells use more energy to make than they can generate in total electricity

Energy Payback Time (EPBT) is a measure of the time it takes for the energy generated during the use of a solar cell to compensate for the energy consumed during the manufacturing process. A report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows that the time it takes for a photovoltaic solar panel to recover its energy costs is between 1 and 4 years, depending on the type of cell (the latest CdTe cell EPBT is less than 1 year). Considering that solar cells can continue to work for 30 years, a photovoltaic system can provide 26 to 29 years of zero-emission electricity. Have you heard more rumors about solar energy? Tell AiPV what you want to know, and we will help you identify whether it is "true" or "false".