Get matched with top solar panel pros in Atkinson, IL

Solar panels should get at least four to six hours of direct sunlight daily. It’s even better if sunlight reaches panels between the peak hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This is enough to power a home, depending on your solar system’s size and energy needs. Remember that panels will generate some power under cloudy skies or in the shade, and many systems compensate for lower sun exposure by drawing energy from the grid or battery storage.

Solar batteries can be a great investment to help maximize your solar savings and make your system and home more valuable, but they’re most beneficial to customers who don’t have access to net metering. If your state or energy provider doesn’t provide net metering, batteries can be a great way to offset consumption even when your panels aren’t producing power. They also come with the added benefit of providing electricity through blackouts, so they’re valuable in areas prone to severe weather that could cause frequent blackouts. Your installer can help you decide if batteries are worthwhile.

Solar well pumps range from needing 200 watts of power to as much as 12,000 watts for heavy-duty pumps. Since the most common and cost-friendly solar panels are 100-watt panels, you’ll need between two and 12 panels. The average is between two and eight panels for standard pumps. Based on the average cost of solar panels ($1 to $1.50 per watt), you’d pay between $200 and $1,800 for your well pump solar panels—not including installation.

Although solar panels harness the sun's power, they come at an environmental cost. The manufacturing process requires large amounts of water and involves hazardous materials like cadmium, silicon, and gallium arsenide. These materials don’t pose safety hazards while the panels are in use but can pose a problem when left in landfills. Over time, hazardous materials can leach into the environment. This is why recycling solar panels whenever possible is better than taking them to landfills.