A large share of the questions our solar customers ask trace back to the same myths. Let us go through them.
1. "It does not produce in winter."
It does, just less. In December, monthly yield is 2-3 percent of the annual total, but diffuse light still produces power, and on clear cold days panel efficiency is actually better.
2. "You will have power during a blackout."
A grid-tied inverter shuts down during an outage for safety. Backup power requires a hybrid inverter, a battery and a backup output.
3. "Net metering still exists."
Not for new systems. Gross settlement applies: energy drawn from and fed into the grid is priced separately. That is why self-consumption matters today.
4. "Making a panel takes more energy than it produces."
A modern panel pays back its embodied energy in roughly 1-2 years, over a 25-30 year lifetime.
5. "Hail destroys it."
Panels are tested with 25 mm ice balls at 23 m/s (IEC 61215). Larger hail can cause damage, which is why insurance should be sorted out too.
6. "There is no point with shade."
With partial shading, optimizers or multi-MPPT inverters can save a lot. A fully shaded roof, though, is indeed unsuitable.
7. "It only works on south-facing roofs."
An east-west layout yields about 85-90 percent of a south array, with a flatter daily curve that favours self-consumption.
8. "It is a fire hazard."
With professional installation and quality connectors, problems are very rare. Fires almost always come from poor cabling or a loose connector. That is why the installer matters.
9. "Panels degrade quickly."
Degradation is typically 0.4-0.6 percent a year. Manufacturers guarantee 80-87 percent output after 25-30 years.
10. "It produces the most in the summer heat."
It produces the most in May and June, because heating of the cells reduces efficiency (about 0.3-0.4 percent per degree). In July heat, output per sun-hour is lower than on cooler, sunny spring days.
In brief
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| No winter output | 2-3% of annual yield in December |
| Works in a blackout | Only with hybrid + battery + backup |
| Net metering | Gross settlement for new systems |
| Fast degradation | About 0.4-0.6% per year |
What to take from this
Solar is neither a miracle nor a risky experiment but a well-plannable asset for 25 years. Payback depends on the share of self-consumption, the quality of the design and the precision of the installation. Always ask for a calculated yield, not a promised one, and question any claim that comes from hearsay or an overenthusiastic quote.
Where do the myths come from?
Most myths are left over from old rules and from experience with the first wave of solar. During the net metering era the grid worked as virtually free storage, and many people still think that way. Technology and regulation have changed considerably since: panel efficiency has risen, battery prices have fallen, and settlement now rewards self-consumption. If a claim sounds too simple, ask when it dates from and what its source is.
