Solar power can be a great alternative to paying for power from the utility company, but what are the costs? Solar power costs not only include the system itself, but also the cost of instlltion and maintenance. Before we begin to discuss the cost of a solar system, we need to know what solar cells are and how they work.
Solar cells are connected together to form an array of cells that can collect energy from the sun's rays. This power is collected in the form direct current (DC) through the photovoltaic solar cells. The power is then either stored in batteries for future use and/or is converted to alternating current (AC) through the use of an inverter. The invereter in relatively inexpensive and makes the power into useable household power.
A typical 5-kilowatt solar cell system can cost upwards to $40,000. As a barometer to waht this translates into price per kilowatt hour, it comes to approximately 25 cents per kilowatt-hour. Solar systems come with up to a five-year warranty when installed by a professional. These systems are capable of performing up to 30 years when properly maintained.
