Minnesota Solar Truths

MORE THAN ENOUGH ENERGY FOR EVERY HOME

The average single family home in Minnesota has more than enough sunlight falling on its property to meet its energy needs every single day all year long. Of course, not all buildings have optimal conditions. But, the fact is, if you have a large south-facing roof with minimal shade, sunlight can be harvested to help power your home electrical needs. Solar panels are silent, non-polluting, generators with a continuous supply of free fuel.

MORE SUN THAN JACKSONVILLE OR HOUSTON

Did you know, in an average year, we have more sunlight falling on the ground in the Twin Cities than they do in Jacksonville or Houston? Another interesting fact is that Minnesota gets more sunlight per square foot than the country of Germany. This is an important comparison because Germany uses more solar energy than any other country. If they can do it, so can we.

THE POWER OF SUNLIGHT

Detractors of solar energy like to cite a common fact about solar power: solar cells are inefficient - they harvest only about 17% of the sun energy they receive. While this is true, it ignores the important fact that sunlight is free, readily available everywhere, and the supply is unlimited. Contrast this with the reality that you're your average gasoline car is not any more efficient than a solar cell but you have to continually pay for the fuel. And the car dies within 10 years, while the solar system carries on for at least 30. Consider also the fact cars are polluting all the time we are running them.

COLDER IS BETTER - MINNESOTA WINS!

It seems like solar cells were invented for Minnesota. Here's an interesting fact: solar cells work better as they get colder. A typical solar electric system loses power as it heats up. The opposite is true as well: solar panels actually produce more energy as the temperature drops. If you compare the outputs of a module in Arizona operating at 100 degrees (F) with the identical module in Minnesota at 0 degrees, you'll see the Minnesota module producing about 10% more power.

Credit: energy-news-blog.blogspot.com