Don´t go Solar!
Solar power is often hailed as a clean, renewable energy source that can help combat climate change. However, like any technology, it has its downsides.
Although solar panels may be an option in some countries, especially those dependent on combustion for electrical generation, this is not the case in our beautiful paradise. As I´ll try to explain, considering solar power as a sustainable energy source in our country is nothing but a myth and may take you through an expensive and no sense investment.
Here are my top 11 negative aspects of solar power. Although I´m specifically thinking about my country while I write these lines, you may find some of these statements valid for other latitudes:
1. High Initial Costs: The upfront cost of installing solar panels is significant, often requiring thousands of dollars. This can be a barrier for many households and businesses. Let´s consider that the kw/hr. cost in our country is about $0,26 in its daily peak and may go down to $0.16 at the time of redacting this essay. This is a very low cost compared for example with average energy cost in the USA. ($19 to $34)
2. Dependence on Weather: Solar power generation is highly dependent on sunlight. This means that energy production can be inconsistent, especially in regions with frequent cloud cover as in our tropical country.
3. Energy Storage Issues: Storing solar energy for use during non-sunny periods is expensive and inefficient. Current battery technologies are not yet advanced enough to provide a cost-effective solution. And at this point I´m not even getting into the pollution that batteries cause during their production, transportation, productive lifetime and disposal!
4. Space Requirements: Solar panels require a large amount of space to generate significant amounts of electricity. This can be a challenge in densely populated areas or for small properties. Batteries on their side require extra built space for storage.
5. Environmental Impact of Production: The manufacturing process of solar panels involves the use of hazardous materials and produces greenhouse gases. Additionally, the disposal of old panels can lead to environmental pollution if not managed properly. Costa Rica doesn’t even have the necessary infrastructure to dispose or recycle panels and batteries in an environmentally friendly way.
6. Maintenance Costs: Solar panels require regular maintenance to ensure they operate efficiently. This includes cleaning, repairs, and potential replacements, which can add to the overall cost.
7. Resource Intensive: The production of solar panels requires significant amounts of raw materials, including rare earth elements, which have high environmental and social impacts. All solar panels and batteries are produced far from our country and transportation has its share on pollution and carbon dioxide generation.
8. Geographic Limitations: Not all regions are equally suitable for solar power generation. Areas with less sunlight hours, like the tropics, may not benefit as much from solar energy. Topography also plays an important role due to the shade they make during the first and last hours of the day, and our country is mostly mountains, volcanoes and hills, with a few valleys.
9. Economic Dependence on Subsidies: Solar power often relies on government subsidies to be economically viable. This can create financial instability if policies change or subsidies are reduced.
10. Regulatory Challenges: In Costa Rica, the implementation of solar power has faced regulatory hurdles, such as the controversial "sun tax" which charges solar users for accessing the traditional electrical grid. This must discourage the adoption of solar energy. Plus, private energy generation rules are not clear and may change unexpectedly. At this point the government won´t pay the amount of energy you return to the grid.
11. Costa Rica´s energy is already green: Costa Rica is well known for its sustainability policies. Energy is generated from renewable resources, like hydroelectrical powerplants or geothermic powerplants in a range that goes from 95% to 99.98%, in the last 10 years, depending on the amount of yearly rainfall. So, why try to make “sustainable” something that is already sustainable?
Solar power may have some benefits, specially in the few places in CR where CNFL, the Costa Rican public energy company, is not present. (Actually, this would be the only case in which I would consider going solar). It is important to consider all the listed downsides when evaluating going solar and its overall impact on your investment. Maybe in the future things may change with advances in technology, regulations and sustainability, but right now my professional advice is: Don´t go solar!