Jul. 21, 2025
Solar panels, especially with an off-grid solar system, reduce the commercial project reliance on the grid, helping save money on electricity.
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Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) are certificates that can be received in some US states and sold for money. For example, for each 1,000 kWh (kilowatt-hours), you can earn 1 SREC.
Since some utility companies are required to use a certain amount of their energy from renewable sources, they’re willing to buy it from solar system project owners.
At the moment, the states where SRECs are available include:
New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, District of Columbia, Ohio, Delaware, North Carolina, California, Illinois, and Virginia.
Utility-scale projects produce economic development advantages due to the creation of wide-ranging job opportunities. The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) found that the solar industry accounted for nearly 280,000 jobs at the end of , demonstrating a continuous increase.
It doesn’t just include the construction phase – solar farms develop long-term employment opportunities. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimated in their study that renewable energy jobs, including solar PV, could reach 42 million by worldwide.
Since solar panels don’t have any moving parts that could wear off, they require little maintenance. Project owners should still regularly clean them and monitor their performance. For example, NREL found that solar panels can lose as much as 7% of energy in some parts of the US and as much as 50% in the Middle East due to dust annually.
However, gentle cleaning even a few times per year is enough to not let dust accumulate and block sunlight.
Solar panels may be disrupted due to some weather changes, such as cloudy days, but they’re suitable for use in any climate. This includes winter, contrary to popular belief. If snow is cleaned off when accumulated, the sun can still reflect off the snow and even enhance the amount of light that reaches your solar panel.
In fact, solar panels could lose around 0.43% of their power with every degree Celsius when the panel gets hotter than 25°C (77°F) according to a study by International Finance Corporation (IFC). So lower temperatures can even be a benefit for solar panels.
For residential systems, solar panels are considered a valuable upgrade, helping increase property value. According to research by Zillow, homes with solar panels tend to sell for around 4.1% more on average than those without them.
The study claimed that it translates to an additional $9,274 on average. However, other factors come into play, such as the home location or solar energy system size.
While the solar energy pros outweigh the cons, there are still some to take into consideration. Let’s review the main disadvantages.
Solar panels cannot convert all sunlight into electricity – this is known as conversion efficiency. Most of the sunlight hitting PV cells gets lost during the conversion process. Light either gets reflected or turned into heat instead of getting converted into electricity. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, most panels have 21% efficiency.
Another factor limiting conversion efficiency is recombination. It happens when charge-carrying electrons encounter charge carriers (holes) or defects in the PV material, which don’t have electrons. During recombination, the energy turns into light or heat instead.
To improve PV efficiency, it’s beneficial to use bifacial solar panels. They have cells on their underside to catch reflected light. According to a study by Kurz and others, bifacial panels can have more than 56% higher efficiency than their monofacial counterparts under favorable conditions.
Researchers have also developed new technologies, such as multi-junction PV cells, which increase efficiency to more than 45%. Manufacturing costs, material availability, and other factors need to be addressed before this technology becomes accessible for commercial use.
Solar intermittency and storage challenges
Another issue with solar energy is solar intermittency. It refers to the inconsistency of solar energy generation as it isn’t available at all times due to daylight hours and weather conditions.
Solar power users need other power sources to use after sunset, and utilities cannot rely on solar alone to provide electricity for their customers.
There are a few methods to improve solar reliability, including:
Net metering. It’s a system that allows solar power users to sell energy that they haven’t used. The solar power system feeds unused energy back into the grid and the utility company offers credits that the customer can use to cover the cost of electricity from the grid after dark.
Off-grid solar system. An off-grid system is independent from utility companies, helping store enough energy to cover unsuitable weather conditions. However, they require large battery tanks, resulting in much higher initial costs.
Fortunately, battery technologies are improving, with initiatives like the Battery + roadmap that calls for more efficient, cost-effective, and safer next-generation batteries. Combined with smart energy management software that optimizes electricity use based on usability, such developments could result in more affordable solar storage.
Another disadvantage of solar energy is that its efficiency depends on the geographic location. Naturally, the closer the solar power system is to the equator, the more solar radiation it receives and the more energy PV cells can produce.
However, in areas with low levels of solar radiation, such as cloudy, rainy, or higher-latitude locations, solar panels may not produce as much energy. Pollution, foliage, elevation, and other factors also play a role in how much solar energy hits PV panels.
While solar panels are sustainable, they still degrade over time. Most panels still retain 80% of their electricity production capacity after 30 years but their recycling causes concerns. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that some solar panels that contain too much lead or cadmium are harmful to the environment, making them hazardous waste.
Additionally, mining of necessary minerals and manufacturing or transporting panels may produce pollution, adding to the overall carbon footprint of solar energy.
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Further reading:Lastly, researchers have also discussed the heat island effect that large-scale solar power plants cause. This contributes to rising local temperatures.
Although solar panels leave an environmental impact during their life cycle, research is advancing in this area.
Recent research has focused on solar panel recycling, with some studies producing promising results for the reuse of silicon from old solar panels.
NREL highlights research efforts that could increase the lifespan of solar panels to 50 years or more. This effort requires experimenting with different cell and module technologies and working on panel packaging.
With the impressive growth of solar energy in recent years, the future looks promising. Researchers and companies are actively trying to address many of the problems slowing the solar PV industry, and governments continue to offer incentives and create policies that focus on making clean energy more accessible to everyone.
You have several options when it comes to installing a solar system at your home or business. You must first decide where you will install your solar panels. Most property owners believe that installing solar panels on their roof is the best option. However, if it isn't, other options, such as ground-mounted solar panels, exist. If you don't have a perfect roof but do have a large, open space with plenty of sunlight, you might be a good candidate for these panels.
Ground-mounted panels, like anything else, have advantages and disadvantages. Continue reading to find out what they are.
Ground-mounted solar panels, as the name implies, are a free-standing solar array mounted on the ground, either atop one pole or on a sturdy metal frame. Because they are installed on the ground rather than on your roof, these solar panels are commonly referred to as ground-mount.
Similar to rooftop solar panels, ground-mounted solar systems use photovoltaic technology to convert sunlight into electricity. Ground-mounted solar panels, on the other hand, are installed on the ground at a 30-degree angle to maximize light absorption and thus output.
Ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems use the same types of solar panels as rooftop systems, but they are installed in a different way:
● The racking system in a rooftop solar installation is designed for an existing structure. When using ground-mounted solar panels, however, the support must also be built. This structure's height can range from a few inches above the ground to several feet.
● The electrical connections and protection devices in both types of PV systems are the same. The main difference is that ground-mounted systems require more wiring because they must be located far enough away from your house to avoid any shadows cast by it.
● Similar to rooftop installations, 60-cell solar panels are commonly used in homes, while 72-cell panels are typically used in solar farms.
Roof-mount and ground-mount solar panels will produce the same amount of electricity if the same sunlight conditions and total wattage are used. A ground solar panel installation, on the other hand, can be designed with an orientation and tilt angle that maximizes the sunlight captured, making the system productive.
The tilt and orientation of a rooftop solar array, on the other hand, are limited by the slope of your roof. A tracking mechanism, which keeps the PV panels angled toward the sun all day, can also increase the energy production of a ground-mounted solar panel system.
You can increase your electricity output and save money on your electric bill without adding more panels. Because tracking devices are not designed for conventional roof structures, solar tracking is not an option for most rooftop installations.
The following are some critical advantages of ground-mounted panels:
Ground-mounted solar panels outperform rooftop PV cells in terms of power per square foot. Ground-mounted systems deliver power at around a 22% efficiency ratio to rooftop solar panels, which deliver power at around 18-19% efficiency. Furthermore, because of the availability of space, ground-mounted panels are easier to automate and expand their energy production capacity.
When there is less resistance among the panel components, the efficiency of the solar energy system increases. The heat island effect and concentrated heating from rooftops and adjacent buildings reduce the efficiency of rooftop solar panels. Ground-mounted panels, on the other hand, are closer to the ground. The sufficient air passage beneath the panels allows for consistent cooling throughout the day, preventing resistance phenomena and losses.
One disadvantage of installing solar panels on your roof is their accessibility. A roof is one of the least accessible areas of the house; while installing roof-based solar panels may be convenient, maintaining them will be difficult. By leaving the panels on the ground, the owner can easily clean them after a snowstorm or during the fall. Ground-mounted systems require far less effort to replace old or faulty solar panels than roof-mounted systems, making it easier to spot problems before they impact your energy production.
Furthermore, ground-mounted solar panels are much easier to inspect for electricians or inspectors. This reduces the overall cost of keeping the solar panel system in good working order.
Ground-mounted panel installation is a straightforward procedure that involves digging holes in the ground and cementing the panels into them. It's more complicated than putting them on your roof, but it means you don't have to give up any roof space to get solar power.
Additionally, compared to rooftop solar panels, ground-mounted solar panels can be more discrete. This means they can be installed on a surface such as a porch where there isn't much space above the roofline. Because of their small stature, they can be installed closer to a house than in conventional rooftop installations.
Installing rooftop solar panels exposes your home to lightning risk and increases the likelihood of an electrical fire. This occurs as a result of lightning directing a large amount of high voltage to your home. Furthermore, rooftop solar panels increase the risk of damage or fire due to faulty grounding.
However, with ground-mounted solar panels, your home is much less likely to experience electrical hazards. This is typically due to the fact that ground-mounted solar panels are placed closer to the ground. As a result, they are less likely to experience grounding issues, which typically occur as solar panels age.
Now for the disadvantages of ground-mount solar that you should be aware of.
Most homes lack the necessary space for a ground-mount system. In addition to the system's footprint, you also need a space that is sufficiently clear to prevent the system from being shaded. The solar panels may be more susceptible to tree shade because they are closer to the ground. A 10-foot tall tree next to a two-story home, for example, has no effect on the roof, but the same tree on the south side of a ground mount system would.
Before beginning to construct a ground mount, you might need to obtain permission to erect a new structure on your property, depending on where you live and the zoning laws in your area. Depending on your specific circumstances, this could take a few days or a few months!
While panels installed on the roof are installed directly to the rafters already on your roof, a ground mount will necessitate the construction of a new structure to meet your needs. As a result, when compared to a roof solar system, there is some additional upfront cost.
In some cases, there are some concerns about ground-mounted solar and its environmental impact. Large systems may necessitate the removal of vegetation and overhanging trees, as well as crop removal in order to install solar. Pole-mounted systems can reach sufficiently high altitudes to avoid interfering with crops or animals.
If you have plenty of open space, a slightly higher budget, and a way to keep the vegetation around your solar system in good condition, a ground-mount system may be the best option for you. Higher upfront costs are frequently offset by higher lifetime savings because the efficiency outweighs the cost. Of course, each project is distinct. We'd be delighted to collaborate with you on various scenarios to compare. We frequently design stand-alone ground-mounted solar systems, but we also frequently present roof-mounted and ground-mounted hybrid systems.
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