Solar power, which accounted for 59% of the overall renewable energy production has witnessed an addition of 4364.65 MW as of July 31, 2023. India produced about 29 BU (billion units) of solar energy in Q1 of 2023, a 31% YoY (year-over-year) rise. The steady increase in solar power production in India over the past decade is shown in the increase in solar panel installations in residential, institutional, commercial, and other buildings.
Many homeowners are installing rooftop solar panels for home to save on their electricity bills and reduce their carbon footprint. Usually, people hear and read about purchasing solar energy systems, however, there is an option of building solar panels.
In this post, you will discover the positive and negative sides of purchasing and building solar panels to come up with the best decision.
Building a Solar Panel at Home
It is a magical fact that residential solar panels can generate green electricity by harnessing the power of sunlight. You can build your own small solar panel with several components and some basic soldering abilities.
The process of DIY manufacturing will be straightforward if you know about different solar components and have professional skills for designing a template, proper wiring, connecting solar cells, soldering the wire to the busbars, and other steps of building solar panels.
Benefits of Building Solar Panels
Cost-effective option
Building your own small solar panel can be cheaper than purchasing them. The total cost of building solar panels is based on the size of the panel and the materials used. However, it is a great choice for homeowners with small budgets.
Great experience
Constructing solar panels at home can be an exciting experience. Moreover, it will provide you with the knowledge of different technologies behind solar panels, their components, materials used, and how they function. It will provide learning as well as fun.
Customize based on your needs
When you build a solar panel at home by yourself, you can customize it based on your requirements to get the perfect system you need. You can select the type of PV (photovoltaic) cells used, the shape, and the size of the panels.
Drawbacks of Building Solar Panels
Can’t build large solar panels
Building small solar panels is good because it is simple and affordable. Creating large solar panels will consume a lot of energy and time and is more expensive than purchasing larger solar panels.
Consume effort and time
Building your own solar panels will consume lots of time. You will require learning from eBooks, online tutorials, and other sources for proper research, planning, and construction. Moreover, you will have to put your efforts into collecting all the materials used and connecting different components to form a solar panel.
No warranty
When you build solar panels at home, no warranty will be available to cover any damage or improper functioning. You need to pay from your pocket for repair and replacement if anything wrong happens with the solar system.
Expertise and experience
Constructing a solar system needs some expertise and years of experience in electronics and construction. If you don’t have that, don’t think of building a solar panel by yourself.
Purchasing Pre-Built Solar Panels
It is a smart decision to buy solar panels and enjoy cost saving through solar power with no stress of maintenance and warranty. Many reasons make people consider purchasing solar systems rather than building them.
Pros of Purchasing Solar Panels
Efficiency and convenience
Purchasing solar panels is a convenient choice. You can buy solar panels designed by leading manufacturers using premium quality materials to comply with industry standards. You will be assured that they’re fully tested based on key parameters to ensure long-term and efficient solar production.
Time and money savings
Buying solar panels saves time and provides significant long-term cost savings. Your solar system will produce electricity efficiently for 25-30 years, reducing your electricity bills. You can buy and install a system based on your requirements after doing a thorough site inspection and analysis of your power consumption needs.
When buying a solar panel, you can benefit from tax credits, subsidies, and other incentives, which can lower the installation cost. You can also take advantage of net metering or gross metering policy for more cost savings.
Warranty
When you buy or install pre-built solar systems, you can take advantages of rooftop solar solutions warranties like performance warranty, product warranty, etc. You can rest assured that your solar panels will be covered by the warranty if any product gets damaged or something goes wrong.
Maintenance
When you buy a solar panel and get it installed by renowned installers, you need not worry about its cleaning and maintenance. Some installation companies like Megamax Solar offer AMC (annual maintenance contract) services which cover regular inspections, cleaning, and maintenance to ensure optimal solar power production throughout its lifespan.
Selling a home is easier
When you buy solar systems from a reliable manufacturer and get their professional installation, it will be easier for you to sell a home for more money. Homebuyers prefer a solar-powered home when it has proper documentation for its manufacturing, installation, and financing.
Cons of Buying Solar Panels
Limited customization
Pre-built solar systems are designed based on the standard shapes, sizes, and requirements of customers. Users can’t get it completely customized to suit their needs.
Cost
Compared to building solar panels at home, buying them from manufacturers can be expensive, especially when you need a small solar system. As discussed above, the cost of solar panels is based on the materials and size of the system.
Conclusion
It is a good option to build a small solar panel if you have all the appropriate and high-quality materials and components on hand. It will be much easier if you understand the basic how-tos of building and installing solar panels and have experience in construction and electronics.
Remember, it may not come with warranties, consume time, and have a possibility of potential damage. Purchasing pre-built solar panels and getting their installation done by experienced installers is a convenient and safe option for efficient solar power production.