A rooftop photovoltaic system is an innovative way to enjoy the benefits of renewable energy without renting social areas for solar panel installation. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as the time and cost that installation requires. Well, to be clear, everything has its pros and cons. But if you make a decision after considering each and every aspect, then the risk of struggling from the drawbacks are minimal.
To help you make an informed decision, we have mentioned all the pros and cons of the rooftop solar panel system.
Advantages of Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems
Wondering why you need to invest your money in a photovoltaic system? Here’s why:
Help You Leverage Unused Surfaces
Rooftops provide billions of square feet of area that allow you to install photovoltaic systems. Hence, there is no need to rent or purchase additional real estate to construct an energy-producing facility. This way, your rooftop photovoltaic system benefits from unused spaces. The best part is that the installation process is not as challenging as it looks. In addition, the solar panel system offers the same results as a separate solar energy facility on the ground.
Offer Leasing option
Leases give the opportunity to install solar without paying thousands of dollars for a down payment. Also, leasing allows you to install the system on your rooftop and start saving money right after it. This means that the property owners don’t have to pay the local utility company. Instead, they have to pay for the leasing company. The commercial or residential property owners can also find multiple financing options, such as a power purchase agreement. This requires them to pay for the power you use instead of the equipment itself.
Don’t Require Energy Cost
Installing a rooftop photovoltaic system means that property owners don’t have to pay high energy costs. You won’t have to worry about making bill payments before the due date. If you, the property owner, choose to purchase solar instead of leasing it, you can enjoy free energy. But if not, you only have to pay monthly leases.
Require Less Maintenance and Repairs
Solar panels are significantly low maintenance. This is because there are no moving parts in a solar panel that can break or suffer from damage. Additionally, there is also minimal equipment in the system, which makes it even easier to check on your system a few times a month. The only maintenance that will cost you some money is inverter replacement.
You need to replace the inverter if it has been operating for 15 years. Note that you can ensure these benefits if you hire experienced and skilled engineers and technicians to install the rooftop system. If you fail to properly install solar panels, it can lead to expensive repairs.
Reduce Carbon Emission
Installing a rooftop system is the best way to secure your environment. This is because producing renewable energy will offer benefits like reducing local air pollution and carbon emissions. To be more precise, solar panels’ carbon output is approximately 20 times lower than that of coal-energy-generating facilities. This can help to improve the environmental conditions of at least a particular area.
Help to Generate Profits
Some states allow you to benefit from Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs). With this program, you can sell unused energy produced by your rooftop system. The energy then goes to utility companies. So, interestingly, instead of paying your local energy distributing company, you will receive money from them. Additionally, the resale value of the properties with the solar panel system is also significantly high, as property buyers find it a great way to save money on energy bills.
Disadvantages of Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems
These are the drawbacks that you need to keep in mind before installing a solar panel system.
Requires Replacements
Although there are many benefits of installing a solar panel system, they don’t last forever. The average solar panel age is 20 to 25 years. Your supplier will also give you a warranty of 20 to 25 years. Besides that, the age of solar inverters is around 10 years- after that, you need to replace them. If a person or company owns a solar panel system, they will be in a pinch when it’s time to make replacements. So, you need to keep money aside for future replacements.
Offers Incentive of Installing Requires Time
It will take a while before a homeowner with a solar panel system starts seeing returns on their investment. If someone has installed the system on a lease, they must first get rid of the lease before they can enjoy its benefits. Even if they invested their own money, the system would take some time to pay back their investment. So, if you think that you will enjoy big returns soon after installing a rooftop photovoltaic system, you need to reconsider investing your money in it.
Need Planning
Installing solar panels on a roof requires great planning. The engineers you hire need to create a plant for the roofing system and solar installation. During the process, they need to consider several environmental impacts such as seismic activity, fire possibilities, and high winds. Even the smallest mistake can result in catastrophic damage to the building and properties around it. Another reason to create a plant is to understand whether the building can withstand the weight of the solar system. Since there are many things to consider, the entire process can take months.
Need Permits
Although you need to fill out some documentation and need permits no matter where you install your solar panels, getting permits for a rooftop system is more complex. The property owner needs to give several documents as proof of compliance with standards and codes to the local building department. You also need to demonstrate that your building can easily handle the weight.
Don’t Work For Every Type of Roof
Engineers install a mounting system on the roof to properly set up a rooftop system. Some roofing materials like cedar tiles or slate are challenging for solar panel installers to work with. Besides that, many buildings have rooftop additions like roof decks that make installation costly and difficult.
Finding Cost-Effective Installers is challenging
It’s extremely hard to find reliable and cost-effective solar panel installers at the same time. The engineers and technicians can ask for thousands of dollars to install solar panels on smaller rooftops. On top of that, finding highly skilled and professional companies in the market is also a difficult task. Therefore, you need to do plenty of research before hiring solar penal installer companies.
Bottom Line
Like any other thing in this world, rooftop photovoltaic systems have both benefits and drawbacks. Based on your needs and requirements, it can either be a worthy investment for you or a problematic one. So, it’s important to consider every factor before investing your money in it. You need to think about the budget and the area you need to cover.
Also, consider the funding programs in your state that the government is offering to support installing renewable energy-producing facilities. Besides that, analyze the condition of your property and its roof type. Before making the final decision, look for the best and most affordable installers in your area to make your system long-lasting.
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