Solar Myths

[SRE]

I'm doing a new website and thought I'd add a page in the solar section called solar myths. You know the sort of thing,

• you only need daylight for the panels to work efficiently
• special solar cells that work using moonlight
• special price only available tonight

Any suggestions, any outrageous claims that you've heard on your rounds lately?

 

[whinmoor]

"These panels (Sunrise) have 72 cells. Those (Hyundai) only have 60. Therefore these are better.

You get what you pay for." :shades_smile:

 

[SolarCity]

"These inverters have a lower voltage start-up. They'll kick in earlier" - arguably true, but unlikely to provide anything significant in the way of annual yield.

 

[dansk]

These panels have been specialy made for you!

 

[JulianC]

Our panels are more efficient than everyone else's, so will generate more.

 

[SolarCity]

"These panels are British made (Sharp). They're much better than those cheap Chinese imports (Linuo, Yingli)"

 

[SRE]

[FONT=Georgia, Bitstream Charter, serif]This is what I'm thinking - broken down with an explanation below the 10. Although I agree about the Sharp panels I'm also conscious that some of our first installations (including ours) were Sharp so I don't want to upset previous customers.

[/FONT]

1. More efficient panels mean they will generate more electricity.
2. You only need daylight for solar panels to work. OR our solar panels work in moonlight.
3. You will cut electricity bills by 50% if you install solar panels.
4. More cells in a solar panel means the panels are better.
5. A bit of shading won't make much difference.
6. All solar panels do the same thing.
7. We've had these panels specially commissioned for us.
8. This price is only available for tonight, there's only a few of these panels left.
9. The energy you save + the feed in tariff will pay for your monthly loan repayments.
10. You only need 6 panels on the roof for the amount of electricity you use.

What do you think??

 

[whinmoor]

"You will cut electricity bills by 50% if you install solar panels."

Some people theoretically could if they play their cards right, couldn't they? For example, maybe an office with minimal off-peak usage.

 

[SRE]

In theory with very low usage I guess it's possible (and I'll explain that in the bit I put under each statement) but as you know it completely depends on what their usage is and when the panels are generating. It's true in so few cases that to state in marketing literature is misleading. We target domestic properties - maybe I need to make that a bit clearer.

It's one of my pet hates and comes from 15 years of doing impartial energy efficiency advice, I've just seen one of our competitors telling people in Facebook if they install free pv they will cut their bills in half (no, they aren't MCS or RECC registered because they sub the work out and yes they are a double glazing firm ) and another of our local competitors saying you can cut your electricity bills by £325.