The 10 Most Common Solar Questions
The sun is a colossal nuclear powerhouse 93 million miles away from Earth. In one hour, Earth’s atmosphere receives enough sunlight to power the electricity needs of every human being on Earth for a year! This power comes in tiny particles of energetic potential called photons, which in simple terms are the particles that transmit light.
The widespread transition to this source of clean and renewable energy has begun but rapid innovation has left some with unanswered questions. Look no further!
We believe that the power of solar energy can change the world and want to be a readily available resource for all of your solar questions. The more knowledge people have, the quicker things will change.
Here are ten of the most common solar related questions we get, plus a few more hard ones!
1: What does “intermittent” mean? Will solar work in rain or snow?
Photo-voltaic (PV) energy is an “intermittent” resource, meaning that you can’t count on it all the time (365 days/24 hours). Obviously, we need the sun to create solar energy, as modules don't produce power without sunlight! The modules will continue to produce power, albeit at lower amounts, even if not directly in the sun, or during cloudy conditions. Energy production will experience a dip during winter months due to reduced daylight hours and the sun's relatively lower position in the sky, diminishing its luminosity. The only condition that will stop solar energy production is a snow-covered module or night.
2: What is the “payback” for renewable energy? In other words, when do they pay for themselves?
This is a very common question that we get, and ultimately the answer is…it depends! Key variables include what you currently pay for each kilowatt hour (which will change over time), your ability to monetize tax incentives, and the turnkey installation costs of the system, which will vary by size and location. As a good rule of thumb - residential solar can usually “pay for itself” in somewhere between 15 and 20 years, depending on your utility’s solar policy.
3: What about the “payback” for a commercial solar system?
The typical payback for a commercial system is 6-9 years, as most businesses can monetize both the Investment Tax Credit and Bonus Depreciation which were established in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Projects eligible for the USDA’s REAP program see payback periods between 2-5 years!
Schedule a consultation with us to learn if your organization is eligible.
4: What is the “payback” for a Nonprofit or Tax-exempt solar system?
The typical payback for a Non-profit/Tax-Exempt system is 9-12 years, but it can be much faster if the organization is eligible for IRA adders. Read our ESL Blog to learn more about the IRA adders!
We will update our website when substantial new IRA information becomes available.
5: How long do PV systems last?
Currently, modules typically have a 25-year warranty on production. This means they will produce at least 85% of the name-plate capacity 25 years later. Inverters generally are warrantied for ten years, but can be extended to 20 years.
6: Will the PV system provide power when the grid has an outage?
This is another one of the most common questions we run into - it is a big NO! A solar PV system is not allowed to generate power in the event of a power grid outage because systems have to abide by the rules of the utility and the National Electrical Code. When the grid goes down, the inverters will automatically shut down in order to protect the safety of electrical workers who may be working on infrastructure nearby. In other words, if the PV system operates during an outage, there is a possibility that it will energize the power lines that the utility may need to repair. That is a safety hazard.
There are, however, two exceptions to this: the PV system is equipped with a battery for energy storage, or the PV system is not connected to the grid (uncommon).
This brings us to another common question:
7: Does adding Battery Storage to a PV system make it “Off-grid”?
Not technically. A true “off-grid” system is a self-contained system that is not connected to the local utility. We do not recommend this type of PV system because solar is intermittent. However, adding battery storage CAN allow a PV system to operate in a grid outage, depending on the capabilities of the specific battery storage product.
Certain battery products and inverters can create an “island” with PV-produced power flowing to the battery - not to the grid. Furthermore, batteries can be charged by the sun, and then discharged at night or when you need it. Think of batteries as generators - except they are powered by the sun and not gas.
8: So, what is meant by off-grid solar systems?
With an off-grid solar system, your home/building is not connected to the local utility. That means you would be completely reliant on the sun and energy stored in batteries for power. Depending on the size of the PV system and capacity of batteries and your electrical load, storage (alone) can last a few hours to a few days. If it is rainy for 7 days straight, or if your modules are covered in snow, it is unlikely that the batteries will re-charge and you will be without power.
9: I can buy a DIY solar kit online and do it myself. Why should I pay you?
We are renewable energy experts! We will ensure that your system meets all safety, local code and utility requirements, and that all products retain their manufacturer’s warranty. Furthermore, installing electrical equipment can be dangerous, so you want a fully trained and licensed electrician overseeing this technical work. Backed by our full workmanship warranty, and with several options for ongoing preventative maintenance plans, our job is to make this an easy experience for you!
10: Can I sell my excess energy back to my utility provider?
The best scenario for solar is for any excess energy (kWh) to be paid the same price that you buy it. However, depending on the utility, that may not be possible. Some utilities are going to pay you the “wholesale” or avoided-cost rate for kWh that are exported to the grid.
Bonus Questions!
Q: I have a lot of land and want to sell power to the utility - how do I do that?
That is not our core business model but we can connect you with folks that do that. The key considerations are who is going to buy all that power, at what price, and who is going to pay for the system to be installed? The site details matter here but generally if you have cleared land that is close to an electrical substation and serviced by an electric cooperative, then you might have a deal!
Q: Can I charge my EV off solar and/or battery storage?
The simple answer is….not really. Most Level 2 chargers will pull more power than can be consistently produced by a typical residential PV system. Furthermore, even if you do have storage on your PV system, the car battery is probably going to be 2-5X that storage capacity- so you would drain your home storage pretty quickly! As with everything, there are a few ways to make driving on sunshine the most efficient. Our sales folks would love to walk you through best practices!
Q: What’s going to happen in 30 years when all these modules no longer work? Are they going to end up in a landfill?
We hope not! Solar modules can be recycled, but currently it costs more than the value of the recycled materials. ESL pays to have our broken modules recycled. However, more technologies are being developed to make recycling either cost neutral or financially positive. As interest in renewable energy continues to grow, more recycling initiatives will emerge. You can learn more at this EPA site.
While solar recycling advances, ESL is finding more creative ways to get extra use out of our retired products. A perfect example is a recent collaboration between ESL, the NCSEA and NC artist Autumn Cobeland! ESL donated recycled modules to be turned into works of art and auctioned off at the annual NCSEA auction.
The final product was stunning to say the least!
Have more in-depth questions? Ask us directly!
