On first inspection, you might think it bonkers that someone wouldn’t want solar panels.
After all, they produce free and clean electricity.
But even these magical energy panels have their drawbacks.
In fact, there’s several issues that you might face when trying to install solar panels.
From a lack of sunlight to the initial investment, you’ll find frustrating reasons not to buy solar panels.
To be honest, if you have any of the 9 issues below then it might be best to save your money at this point in time.
As much as I love technology, if it’s not worth it then I’ll be the first one screaming “Don’t buy solar panels”…
So let’s go through the reasons not to install solar panels for now.
Not Enough Space
In many areas of the world, space is at a premium, particularly if you live in an urban area. Unfortunately, solar panels need plenty of space, especially if you want to generate a decent amount of electricity to power your home.
Residential solar panels are large items measuring 5.5 by 3.3 feet. So you can’t get away from the fact that you need ample roof space or spare ground in your yard.
In fact, the average home solar array uses 18 panels which can require over 300 square feet of sunny roof space to run efficiently. As you can imagine, if you live in an apartment block this space issue rules you out almost instantly. Trying to install a couple of panels on a balcony is not going to move the needle much in generating home power.
No Direct Sunlight
Even if you feel like there’s plenty of space available for the installation, you also need to ensure it is suitable. The number 1 rule of solar panels is direct sunlight!
Yes, it’s true that a solar panel still works in the shade but performance can suffer by over 70%. For example, a 100 watt solar panel placed in the shade might only produce 30 watts or less.
To make the investment worth it, you need to ensure the solar cells are hit with a few hours of direct peak sunlight every day. That means they at least get direct sun between the hours of 11am and 3pm.
In the US that means being able to face them South without any light blocking from trees, buildings, or other objects.
This becomes a problem if you find that the only roof space you have available is North facing. Or perhaps you live in a forest which lacks a lot of sunlight?
Whatever the reason, if you feel like you can’t get at least 3 or 4 hours of direct sunlight to your panels in the middle of the day, then energy production will be pitiful…
Small Energy Bills
46% of American homeowners say they have given serious thought to installing solar panels. And 96% of those people say that they want to save money on electric bills.
Free electricity is the biggest selling point to solar panels. You can save huge stacks of cash on your energy bills, there’s no denying this fact. Once you’ve paid off the original investment through reduced bills, it’s all gravy from thereon. In areas with high energy prices, a solar array can pay for itself in just 3 to 4 years and continue working for over 25 years.
Now you might consider this information helpful or not depending on how much you pay for your electricity. If you’ve already got cheaper energy bills then it might not be worth the investment in solar. In simple terms, the less you pay for energy then the longer it will take to recoup your investment.
For example, if you live alone in a small home, travel for long periods, or have low utility rates. Take the time to assess your current energy usage and bills, cost of solar panels, and amount they will save you.
Just Switch Energy Suppliers
If you don’t feel like the savings on utilities will make solar worth the investment but still care about environmental aspects then switch energy suppliers.
The green energy market is growing at an astounding rate. Renewables are predicted to make up nearly 95% of the increase in global power capacity by 2026, with solar accounting for more than 50%. That means virtually all increases in energy production will come from renewable sources in the coming years.
There’s already an abundance of companies supplying electricity from renewable sources including solar, wind turbines, and hydro for you to choose from. And you can expect the choice to increase further.
So if solar panels don’t make economical sense to you, then don’t wait and switch to low carbon energy suppliers.
Moving House
It’s incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to take a solar panel system with you when you move house. It’s simply not practical to remove, transport, and reinstall. You’ll struggle to find a company willing to do the job for you. In addition, it’s unlikely your current system will work well with your new home. There’s multiple factors to consider including space, type of roof, and energy requirements.
So if you’re planning on moving house then don’t install the equipment thinking you can take it with you. In addition, solar panels leases will make a home sale more complicated as the contract will have to be transferred to the new owner.
If you’ve already got solar panels then don’t despair, as it can increase the price and sale speed of a home. Solar panels are still an asset and buyers see the benefit of reduced utility bills. In fact, reports show that solar arrays increase house prices by over 4%!
Big Upfront Investment
The price of solar panels is coming down every year, but it still requires a large initial investment to buy and install the equipment. The average cost is around $16,000, although this can vary depending on the size and quality of your system.
Of course, you can reduce upfront costs with smaller and less efficient solar arrays but this will also reduce the savings on energy bills in the long run too. It might be worth waiting a little while until you can afford an appropriate setup for your needs.
Happily, there are other options to help you get started with solar without costing you your life’s savings. A popular option is to get solar panels on lease. This means a company installs solar panels on your house and you pay them a monthly rental fee for the equipment. The installer technically still owns the equipment and you lease it from them.
The beauty of this method is that it still proves a cost effective option as the energy savings more than offset the monthly fees. Unfortunately, if you don’t own the equipment you won’t gain any Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) which have become a valuable financial asset.
Planning a Reroof or Renovations
Solar panels can be installed on virtually any type of roof. Certainly, materials used in home roofing should present no problem for your installation.
You certainly don’t need to get a complete reroof just to install solar panels. But if you are planning one then do it before you go solar. Obviously, it is not a smart move to mount the equipment and then rip it off a year or two later.
Solar panels last at least 25 years so you want to combine them with a roof that will be just as durable. It is wise to have a survey or inspection done before adding a solar array. This will enable you to spot and fix any issues before the installer starts the work.
Get your roof in tip-top (and clean) condition before the panels get mounted.
Future Usage Electricity Changes
Whether you like it or not, we’re all moving into an electrical age. The combustion engine and fossil fuels are being replaced at lightning speed.
You only have to look at the growth of electric vehicles. Every time I go out for a drive, I see more Teslas on the road. It is predicted that electric vehicle numbers will rise to a whopping 145 million by 2030.
What does that have to do with solar panels I hear you ask?
Well, it illustrates the point that we’re all going to be using a lot more electricity. In the coming years, you might find you have two more cars to recharge every day.
A solar array that generates enough electricity for you currently might quickly become outdated and underpowered. Consider any planned changes in the coming years. If you’ve got your eye on an EV then it might be worth waiting to install solar panels. Once you’ve made the switch you’ll be able to judge your energy requirements more accurately.
It’s not always that simple to add solar panels to an existing system…
It Seems Too Cheap
The soaring demand for solar has led to the rise in cowboy operators. If you’ve got a remarkably low quote for your installation then be very careful. It’s best to get at least 3 quotes so you can get an idea of what you should be paying. In addition, it will give you multiple opinions and calculations on the number of panels you require.
A cheap installer might leave you with an underpowered, poorly installed, or faulty system. You must also consider the longevity of a company offering dirt cheap prices. While the initial installation might be fine, a solar panel power output warranty should last 25 years. But the warranty is only valid if the company is still in business…
If there’s anything we’ve learned as human beings this century it’s ‘cheap is not best’. Remember this is a long-term investment so don’t cut corners now as it’s going to cost you in the long run.
Other Disadvantages to Solar Panels: Why Do People Not Want Solar?
Along with the suitability factors above, there’s a few other reliability issues with solar power. As with many clean energy sources it is highly weather and climate dependent.
You won’t be able to generate electricity 24 hours a day. Not even close to this! To start with, solar panels do not work at night. In addition, electricity production is only at its optimal when solar cells receive direct sunlight during peak hours. Most areas receive between 3 to 5 hours of peak sunshine per day. And that’s when your solar panels need to be doing the bulk of their work. In the early morning and evening, performance will drop significantly.
Weather also plays a significant factor in performance. In particular, cloud cover reduces power output by 70% or more. Plus, studies show that winter months like December and January produce a fifth of the energy compared to performance in summer months of June and July. This is because the days are much shorter in the winter compared to the summer in many areas.
Final Words on Reasons Not to Buy Solar Panels
There’s no doubting the capabilities of solar power to help shape the future of the planet.
That doesn’t mean it is right for everyone to have their own equipment. Afterall, we don’t all have power plants in our backyard.
You might find the amount of suitable space or economic reasons make it unviable for you to buy solar panels.
Before you make the decision to go solar, take into account the factors we’ve discussed above. There’s plenty of people that simply don’t buy solar panels and instead opt to switch to a low carbon energy supplier.
