How Much Does Solar Power Cost And Can You Afford It?
Sunday, April 5th, 2009 at
9:06 pm
The world needs a new source of energy. The current primary energy source is fossil fuel, which is not only expensive, but also hazardous and will eventually run out. With all these disadvantages, people are now becoming more conscious of the advantages of using other sources of energy, such as solar power. But how much does solar power cost?
Using the sun’s radiant energy has some great advantages. Such as:
- It is free. As long as the sun rises, you can tap into its energy. - It has an unlimited supply. Unless you plan to still be alive in a few billion years, the sun will always be there. - It does not make pollution. - It will help you save money.
Solar panels today are very proficient. There are many types of panels out in the market. But the question is how much does solar power cost? The answer to that question can be tricky to answer. That’s because various types of panels can be determined by the efficiency and price. The balance between these two factors might give you the answer to the question.
There are two basic types of solar panels – One is crystalline silicon and the other is amorphous silicon. Amorphous silicon is much less expensive to produce, but is less efficient in producing electricity. Crystalline silicon, on the other hand, is more efficient in converting the sun’s energy to electricity but is much more costly. To be able to find the right panel for you, here are a few of the solar panels that you can buy on the market:
- Sunsei SE-4000 – This solar panel is a crystalline silicon type that has a maximum power output of 65 watts and is priced at around $650. - Kyocera KS20 – this is another crystalline silicon type that has a maximum power output of 20 watts. Its price is about $300. - Silicon Solar – This is an amorphous silicon type that has a maximum power output of 40 watts. It is priced at around $250. - Sanyo HIP-195BA3 – This is a combination of crystalline silicon and amorphous silicon. It costs about $1000. - Then there is the do-it-yourself model. These can usually be made for less than a hundred bucks. They probably won’t be as proficient as the professional models and will take a little bit of your time to build it, but they can save you a lot on your initial investment.
To learn more about do it yourself solar power, be sure to read our Energy4Green review.
So how much does solar power cost? By looking at all these figures, the cost of these panels would be at $5 per watt, $10 per watt or $15 per watt. But remember that the figures shown are the maximum output. The output will vary based on the intensity of the sun where you live.
The BatteryMINDer Solar Charging System is an ideal choice for 12 Volt battery operations. This complete system is specifically designed for charging and maintaining up to four 12V batteries of any size/type/brand. Extends performance and life of 12V lead-acid, maintenance-free, marine deep cycle and sealed AGM batteries. Fully automatic desulfator dissolves life-shortening sulfate using safe low voltage high frequency pulses. Charges: Yes, Maintains: Yes, Desulfates: Yes, Conditioner: Yes, Works With: 12V lead-acid batteries, Amps: 1.25, Trickle Charge Amps: Regulated up to 1.25A, Charges Multiple Batteries (qty.): 4, Overcharge Protection: Yes, Polarity Reversal Protection: Yes, Power Source: Solar panel, Power Cord (ft.): 20in. from panel to controller Built-in automatic desulfator Not for use with aircraft batteries
PowerG Grid-Tie Solar System offers this grid-tie solar system that is designed for residential and commercial applications. The kit provides an investment-grade array of solar panels, inverters, racking and technical support to capture the power of the sun for your home or business. High-performance 240 Watt, 72 cell monocrystalline solar panels (64.6in.L x 39.1in.W x 1.8in.H) collect power and heavy-duty, 60Hz based inverter converts solar energy to grid-tie compliant AC power. Call 888-955-3469 for free online evaluation and quote. Common Usage: Grid-Tie System, Panel Type: Monocrystalline, Solar Panel Wattage: 240 Per panel, Rated Watts (kW): 2.88, Dimensions L x W (in.): 64 5/8 x 39 1/8, Thickness (in.): 1 13/16, Material Type: 72 Cell monocrystalline, Solar Panels Included (qty.): 12, Battery Qty.: 0, Mounting Hardware Included: Yes Reduce or even eliminate electrical bills; in some cases system can spin meter backwards and sell excess electricity back to the utility
PowerG Grid-Tie Solar System offers this grid-tie solar system that is designed for residential and commercial applications. The kit provides an investment-grade array of solar panels, inverters, racking and technical support to capture the power of the sun for your home or business. High-performance 240 Watt, 72 cell monocrystalline solar panels (64.6in.L x 39.1in.W x 1.8in.H) collect power and heavy-duty, 60Hz based inverter converts solar energy to grid-tie compliant AC power. Call 888-955-3469 for a free online site evaluation and quote. Common Usage: Grid-Tie System, Panel Type: Monocrystalline, Solar Panel Wattage: 240 Per panel, Rated Watts (kW): 2.18, Dimensions L x W (in.): 64 5/8 x 39 1/8, Thickness (in.): 1 13/16, Material Type: 72 Cell monocrystalline, Solar Panels Included (qty.): 9, Battery Qty.: 0, Mounting Hardware Included: Yes Reduce or even eliminate electrical bills; in some cases system can spin meter backwards and sell excess electricity back to the utility
PowerG Grid-Tie Solar System offers this grid-tie solar system that is designed for residential and commercial applications. The kit provides an investment-grade array of solar panels, inverters, racking and technical support to capture the power of the sun for your home or business. High-performance 240 Watt, 72 cell monocrystalline solar panels (64.6in.L x 39.1in.W x 1.8in.H) collect power and heavy-duty, 60Hz based inverter converts solar energy to grid-tie compliant AC power. Call 888-955-3469 for free online evaluation and quote. Common Usage: Grid-Tie System, Panel Type: Monocrystalline, Solar Panel Wattage: 240 Per panel, Rated Watts (kW): 7.92, Dimensions L x W (in.): 64 5/8 x 39 1/8, Thickness (in.): 1 13/16, Material Type: 72 Cell monocrystalline, Solar Panels Included (qty.): 33, Battery Qty.: 0, Mounting Hardware Included: Yes Reduce or even eliminate electrical bills; in some cases system can spin meter backwards and sell excess electricity back to the utility
PowerG Grid-Tie Solar System offers this grid-tie solar system that is designed for residential and commercial applications. The kit provides an investment-grade array of solar panels, inverters, racking and technical support to capture the power of the sun for your home or business. High-performance 240 Watt, 72 cell monocrystalline solar panels (64.6in.L x 39.1in.W x 1.8in.H) collect power and heavy-duty, 60Hz based inverter converts solar energy to grid-tie compliant AC power. Call 888-955-3469 for free online evaluation and quote. Common Usage: Grid-Tie System, Panel Type: Monocrystalline, Solar Panel Wattage: 240 Per panel, Rated Watts (kW): 5.76, Dimensions L x W (in.): 64 5/8 x 39 1/8, Thickness (in.): 1 13/16, Material Type: 72 Cell monocrystalline, Solar Panels Included (qty.): 24, Battery Qty.: 0, Mounting Hardware Included: Yes Reduce or even eliminate electrical bills; in some cases system can spin meter backwards and sell excess electricity back to the utility
Optimizes all solar panels charge rates. Prevents over/under charging. Full time desulphation pulses safely extends life and performance of all batteries. Features exclusive U.S. Patented PulseMode desulphation circuitry, designed to safely remove sulphation. Charges: Yes, Maintains: Yes, Desulfates: Yes, Conditioner: Yes, Works With: All batteries / 12V lead-acid, Amps: .45, Trickle Charge Amps: Regulated up to 0.45 as needed, Charges Multiple Batteries (qty.): 1, Overcharge Protection: Yes, Polarity Reversal Protection: Yes, Power Source: Solar panel, Power Cord (ft.): 20 Not for use with aircraft batteries
(5.0 out of 5)
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