Solar electric systems are an important
part of the whole-building approach to
constructing a better home or commercial
building. Although these systems have deliv-
ered clean, reliable power for more than a
decade, several myths have evolved that con-
fuse the real issues of using solar electricity
effectively.
Myth #1
Solar electricity cannot contribute a
significant fraction of the nation’s electricity
needs.
Solar electric panels can meet electricity
demand on any scale, from a single home to
a large city. There is plenty of energy in the
sunlight shining on all parts of our nation to
generate the electricity we need. For exam-
ple, with today’s com-
mercial systems, the
solar energy resource in
a 100-by-100-mile area
of Nevada could supply
the United States with
all of its electricity. If
these systems were
distributed to the
50 states, the land
required from each
state would be an area
of about 17 by 17 miles.
This area is available
now from parking lots,
rooftops, and vacant land. In fact, 90% of
America’s current electricity needs could be
supplied with solar electric systems built on
the estimated 5 million acres of abandoned
industrial sites in our nation’s cities.
Myth #2
Solar electricity can do everything—right
now!
Solar electricity will eventually contribute
a significant part of our electricity supply,
but the industry required to produce these
systems must grow more than tenfold
over the next 10 years. In 2001, about
400 megawatts of solar electric modules
were produced worldwide. According to
an industry-planning document, in order to
supply just 10% of U.S. generation capacity
by 2030, the U.S. solar electricity industry
must supply more than 3,200 megawatts per
year. Most experts agree that with continued
research, solar electric systems will become
more efficient, even more reliable, and less
expensive.
Myth #3
Producing solar electric systems creates
pollution and uses more energy than the
system can produce over its lifetime.
Producing solar electric systems uses ener-
gy and produces some unwanted byproducts.
However, most solar electric systems pay back
the energy used to produce them in about
one year. Because the systems generally last
30 years, during the 30 years of a system's
life, it is producing free and clean electricity
for 29 of those years.
Production of solar electric systems is
regulated by rigorous safety and pollution
control standards. In addition, during the
lifetime of a solar electric system, pollution
that would have been emitted by conven-
tional generation of electricity is avoided.
For each kilowatt of solar electric generating
capacity, the pollution avoided by not using
fossil fuels to produce electricity amounts to
9 kilograms of sulfuric oxide, 16 kilograms of
nitrous oxide, and between 600 and 2,300
kilograms of carbon dioxide per year. The
annual amount of carbon dioxide offset by
a 2.5-kW rooftop residential solar electric
system is equal to that emitted by a typical
family car during that same year.
SOLAR ELECTRIC
Myths about Solar Electricity
A Winning Combination—Design, Efficiency, and Solar Technology
The area required for PV
systems to supply the United
States with its electricity is
available now from parking
lots, rooftops, and vacant
land.
