Is Solar a Good Investment or is it Too Expensive?
Solar Panels are increasingly becoming more then just a fad a few rich hippies have installed on the roof of their house. The last time I actually saw a solar panel on the roof of someones home was when I talked to a poor elderly couple that got swindled into retrofitting their house with these things for $50,000. I am not trying to say solar panels are bad but considering $50,000 in solar panels was enough to power only 1/3rd the power consumption of their house you will really can’t justify buying them. The energy must be sent through an inverter and loses some efficiency there, it then must enter a deep cycle battery to be stored. Deep cycle batteries are very expensive and deplete over time. The upkeep and maintenance involved with a solar panel system is cost prohibitive and a headache for almost everyone. There are still the die hard green energy activists that will put up the capital investment even though it may take 50 years to break even. Considering you can invest that money in the stock market or other investment I just have never seen a good reason to buy these things unless for a small application like charging up my ipod music player.
New Solar Technology Causing a Stir in Green Energy Circles
As of lately, there are recent news stories and developments hitting the blogosphere talking about thin film solar panels. It may take 10 times the amount of solar panels to produce the same amount of energy as a typical solar panel but they are very cheap to produce. The production of these things is very similar to the printing of paper money. Applied Materials has the patent and exclusive licensing rights to allow manufacturers to produce these solar panels using their enegineered technology but right now things are at a hault as solar panel manufacturers await the needed silicon to make these panels. There is a large shortage of silicon and the material is selling much higher then ever before as the demand for solar technology is higher then it has ever been. Another technology competing with thin film solar panels is the dark nanotube technology that claims to have the darkest material on earth. The darker you can make a solar panel the more sun it soaks up and the more efficient it becomes. Between these two technologies we should have a good solid home solar energy solution in the next 5 to 10 years.
No Viable Retail Solar Panel Product Available
We tried speaking with Applied Materials about whether or not they had a retailer selling thin film solar panels and they never responded back. When we aksed about manufacturing possibilities they were very eager to talk with us. It appears that they are remaining tight lipped about whether there is actually a thin film solution for residential homes at this time. I live in Texas and Austin Texas remains a hot spot for green energy, solar panels, and wind turbine driven power. Austin is one of those cities in Texas where alternative thinkers, hippies, and your basic vegan type of person chooses to live. There is a company there by the name of Meridian Solar that was featured on “This Old House” that attempts to stay updated on new Texas solar panels, solar technology, and solar industry science as it comes down the communication channel. If you would like to learn more about new solar technology feel free to visit a page about their site: Meridian Solar
Stay Current with New Solar Updates as They Hit Publication
If you would like to stay updated on the status of new solar panel technology and news as it hits the news stands then we have a Solar Panel News sign up. You may fill this out and we will keep you in the loop as more affordable solar panel solutions come into the retail channels. We have a working relationship with several wholesale solar panel companies, retail solar stores, and trade journals that keep us updated on what is happening in the solar industry and marketplace. You may sign up to be included in our Solar News update list here: Solar News