How much per sq inch do they cost? Will i have to worry about them blowing off during hurricane season? If the sun isnt out for a week will my power go out? Will I have to check them every week and check which ones arent working and replace them? Is there anyway for them to be damaged by acid rain or any type of erosion like hail? When do I have to replace them? How do I dispose of old ones (like recycling)? What is smarter and more economical having few big panels or many small ones? I know I have alot of questions but I want a good detailed answer.
More Pages:
- Solar Lights: Outdoor Solar/battery Setups Vs Rain? (12/3/2011)
- Solar Energy: I Am Considering Putting Solar Panels On My Roof So I Can Go To Solar Energy. What Do You Think? (10/13/2011)
- Solar Turbines: What Would Happen To The Ability Of Solar Panels To Generate Electricity After An Intense Freak Hailstorm? (6/2/2011)
- Solar Producer: Need Help On Some Biology Questions.? (1/21/2012)
- Solar Producer: What Is Wrong With My Jeep/coolant System? (4/16/2012)
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
They don’t sell them by the square inch. It costs about $ 10 per watt of generating capacity. Unless you are connected to the grid you will need a battery bank to storage power “for rainy days”.
As for the effects of weather … you can probably make a cover out of plywood… but if your house blows away the solar panel goes with it. Before you buy one make sure your insurance covers it.
The cost of solar is measured in dollars per watt. That means the cost of a cell that can make one watt continuously in full sunlight. A friend of mine is starting a new job to set up a new solar cell factory and he said the present cost is $ 3 per watt, but that they expect to get that down to $ 1 per watt in a few years.
They can be damaged by weather, just like any regular roof. My insurance agent asked if I had solar panels, so it is a factor in insurance cost.
I never heard of recycling or disposing of old panels, maybe because they are so new and last so long that not many are ready to be disposed of yet.