The Pros And Cons Of Building Your Own Solar Panels   by Ron Hitley

in Home / DIY    (submitted 2011-05-28)

You might be wondering, is learning how to build solar panels, and then actually doing it, worth my time? This post aims to help you decide for yourself. We'll run through a number of real pros and cons associated with photovoltaic technology (which is the fancy term for all this stuff).

Let's alternate between them, starting with the positive:

PRO: Your average photovoltaic panel will function well for 20 years are more. In fact, the first ever solar panels to be created and used back in the 1960's are still functioning today. This means that setting yourself up to generate your own energy in this way is excellent long-term investment.

CON: Initial costs can be high, no denying it. You will have to invest some money in this if you really want it to work. Not major bucks by any means, and certainly nothing compared to the expense of buying your panels the traditional way, but you need to be prepared to spend a little cash.

PRO: Solar panels are remarkably reliable at generating consistent energy, even in poor weather conditions. On a clear day, one square metre will grab you about 1KW of the sun's energy per hour.

CON: You may find that there are government regulations preventing you from installing your own solar panels.

PRO: Once your solar panels are up and running, they generally require very little maintenance. You just need to ensure that the covering is kept clean and that there are no other obstructions to the sunlight.

CON: Learning how to build solar panels can take significant time and energy, especially if you're unfamiliar with DIY or how electicity works.

PRO: Solar panels produce completely clean and safe energy. There is no waste, no harm to the environment, no moving parts, no noise pollution, no guilty conscience.

CON: You can only generate energy during daylight hours. This can be a real pain during the Winter months, when your energy needs generally increase.

PRO: Many governments offer tax breaks and/or energy credits to anyone using solar power. You just need to make sure you can apply for such things with a home-built system.

CON: Solar panels aren't the prettiest looking things in the world, and can appear quite odd sitting on your rooftop or lined up along the edge of your garden.

PRO: Going the DIY route means you learn how to build PV panels yourself, picking up some new skills along the way.

About the Author

As noted above, using solar panels to power your home or business does come with some drawbacks, but it may still be a wise choice for you. Find out more about how to build solar panels.