Cost Of Solar Energy

The cost of solar energy can vary greatly. Depending on what system you require - solar photovoltaic or solar water heaters - you will most likely find that it is the actual installation of the system itself that inflates the cost.

The reason for this is because there is not a great deal of installers available, so there is hardly any competition, which greatly increases the costs because they can charge what they want.

However, there are a number of companies, from installers to panel producers, who are looking at this problem from a different angle and are taking different routes to try to reduce the costs of purchasing solar panels.

Panel manufacturer Sharp Solar are making a panel system meant to streamline the process of installing panels, and thus lower the costs. This can only be commended!

However, you still have to get an approved installer in to fit it in most countries.

The best thing to do would be to open it up to Do-It-Yourself homeowners. We are allowed to do this in the UK but I know a lot of countries won't allow it.

Most people though - although you can discount myself in this - are decent DIYer's or know a friend who is.

This would pressure the contractors to really lower their ridiculously inflated prices when they see they have competition from DIYer's. To me, this is the obvious way forward.

Compare the cost of having a solar water heating system fitted - about £2000 ($4000) - to the cost of solar energy when in a DIY package.

There is just no comparison!

And you can install other forms of renewable energy yourself with little expense. Click here for more details how how to save heaps of money.

Useful resources

Click on solar photovoltaic energy for information on solar for electricity.

Click on diy solar heating for information on solar water heating. Click on our solar power gadgets for great gift ideas.

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