No matter who you are and where you live, you can always enjoy a few things for free for as long as you live. The sun is one such thing. Since the dawn of history, the sun has been spreading its light and warmth for the entire world. Modern science has given us the measures of harnessing the tremendous energy contained in it and use it for the progress of mankind.

Think about solar energy and the first image that springs to the mind is that of those arrays of shiny photovoltaic panels adorning the rooftops and the countryside. Indeed, photovoltaic cells still remain the most popular way of generating solar power. Solar power, for one thing, is not cheap. However, even though the initial set up costs can be quite high, the long-term financial benefits of using solar power are too strong to deny.

Solar power gives you a unique double-edged advantage. First, you can generate all the power that you need with help pf a setup. Secondly, if you happen to generate power in excess of your actual requirement, you can choose to sell it off to the local utility company or the grid at a profit through what is known as the “Net-metering Scheme”. It is really a very simple process that needs no raw materials and has practically no running cost. Selling off surplus power seems like the only sensible and smart choice because you cannot store this power for use on rainy days. If left unused, it will usually go to waste. Therefore, the smart decision is to sell it back and get rewarded. All one needs to do is connect the system to the local power grid and send back the excess power generated by him to the local company. An example will make things clearer. Say, your monthly electricity consumption is X number of units or A amount of dollars. Now, if you install a solar panel at your home that can produce 6X number of units per month that is equivalent to $5A and you draw 2X number of units from the utility for night time consumption, you are still left with 6X minus 3X or 3X number of units equivalent to $5A minus $A or $4A in your hand.

Before you make up your mind to go ’solar’, there is one very important consideration viz. the return on investment. It is worth remembering that solar systems do not come cheap. In fact the initial investment can be fairly high by most standards, even though most states will extend financial aids to you for the cause because solar energy is eco-friendly and a clean renewable form of energy that does not pollute the environment. However, you can always find out the break-even point by subtracting the value of the annual sale of electricity from the initial investment made by you. Take a look below for a typical example.

Initial investment $30,000 Annual sale value of solar electricity $ 5,000 Number of years to reach break-even point 6years From the 7th year onward everything is free

The ecological benefits of using solar energy are too strong to deny. In fact, one of the biggest advantages of using solar energy comes from its clean, renewable, non-fossil fuel oriented and sustainable nature. Solar energy production does not cause air pollution because, unlike other conventional modes of energy production, there is no discharge of sulfur dioxide (SO), carbon dioxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NO) or mercury. And for the same reason, solar energy does not contribute to the contemporary problem of global warming or greenhouse effect. What’s more, with solar energy you never need to worry about smog or acid rain in the area where it is utilized. What could be ‘greener’ than this?

Another big advantage of using solar energy comes from the fact that it is virtually free and requires very little maintenance.

Solar energy can set you free. Let me explain. These days, thanks to advanced research, it doesn’t take much to set up a fully functional solar power unit near your own house and start generating your own electricity. Solar power setups are self-sustained and an independent means of energy production. This distinctiveness of operation helps installation of units anywhere under the sun, irrespective of whether other facilities are available or not. Besides, it offers excellent portability. Powerful Solar energy units mounted on trailers, complete with control panel, converters, battery banks and switches are now in use in such remote areas like the South African Game Reserves where scientists are busy checking the genes of large animals like the rhinoceros or the giraffe. Independent solar energy operated units help light up their camp sites while powering their laptops for research work and power other equipment.

To top it all, it has already reduced the dependence on Middle Eastern countries whose oil supplies had so far been responsible for fossil fuel generated electric power. And the way people are now becoming ready to install solar power in homes and workplaces, the day is not too far away when diesel powered generators would find their place in the pages of history books.

All said and done, let us now take a look at some of the disadvantages that accompany solar energy uses. A disturbing factor is the present high cost of installation of a solar panel. Though efforts are underway to improve their affordability (there are many government schemes that extend financial help to those willing to install a solar power unit), the picture is still far from encouraging.

So are you ready to opt for solar energy - there are simply too many advantages to ignore it. What you need is a training guide - a manual, that will let you learn how to install a system. You will also need to know a few other things such as what is the best place to set up the system, where to buy the parts, how to get free batteries, safety precautions and also wiring the system. Get informed and you are ready to install solar system in your home.

Tags: Solar Energy