Solar Energy System Longevity
Another major concern that I hear from clients about solar is that the system is flimsy and that the parts need to be swapped out on a routine basis. This could not be further from the truth and I can’t stress enough as to how long these systems last. In fact, I will tell you just how passive these systems actually are and how low-maintenance they can actually be in places like Florida. Let’s get started.
The first major detail about solar energy systems and their panels is that the system itself features no moving parts. Unlike a car or a lawn mower that features a multitude of mechanisms in perpetual movement, the process of converting the sun's solar radiation into usable energy features with very little in the way of any moving parts. That’s because the positive and negative silicon layers found within the panel are separated by a diode that helps to produce the direct current (DC) of electricity from the sun’s rays. There are no physical moving parts within the panel and the reaction taking place is purely a physical reaction. This is no different than when the sunshine heats up your asphalt driveway, the same ultraviolet light is now being put to work, for you!
As the DC current conveys down the panels and toward the house, what is known as an inverter converts the mostly unusable DC current of electricity into an alternating current (AC). This AC current may then be used to power appliances within the home or sent back through the power grid to provide electricity to other houses. Generally, there are a few components that could benefit from the periodic checking to be sure nothing is impacting the solar system panels and their exposure to the sun. For example, making sure vegetation (vines, etc.) are not growing up the side of the house, or trees that might start off small in stature, can grow a pretty serious amount over the decades. Plan on planting species that won’t block out the sunshine for your panels and that will allow for you to use your solar panels to their full extent. Sometimes, it’s hard. Are you really intent on planting a coconut palm that can grow as much as 80 feet tall? That's okay, but let’s plan to plant that further away from the house and your panels.