Perception of unreliability discourages use of solar panels

Perception of unreliability discourages use of solar panels Effects of moisture, dirt and rain on solar panels, besides the likelihood of their batteries running down earlier than expected, discourage people from investing in clean energy sources, which require substantial initial investment in most cases, they add. Mehboob says 75% of his clients in the solar water heater segment are from the house-hold sector. The alternative energy sector in Pakistan is completely unregulated, says Mehboob. He adds that it is the lack of regulation that solar panels of poor quality are increasingly being sold in Pakistan. No inspector from a government authority will ever pay you a visit to check the quality of your products and services. Green Center's engineers use the design of the place and come up with a most efficient clean energy plan with the guide of computer software. Although such panels have an average life of 20 years, Mehboob says their performance also depends on the number of hours they are utilised day-to-day. For example, according to an energy audit Mehboob recently conducted for a residential unit, a one-time investment of Rs290,000 in clean energy was likely to result in annual savings of at least Rs150,000 in coming years. Efficient air-conditioning units that Green Center imports from Malaysia, for instance, consume 40% less electricity than ordinary units being sold in Pakistan. Solar panels are part of the clean energy solution that Green Center offers its clients after conducting an energy audit of their house, office or factory. The lack of supervision and quality control, he says, has resulted in clients losing trust in the solar technology. The cost of electricity produced by solar panels is under Rs10 per unit in the long run, which is lower than the rate of electricity offered by the national grid if the expenses incurred on petrol/diesel to run standby generators during power load-shedding are taken into account. "It's not Europe where people switch to alternative energy for environmental considerations. Perception of unreliability discourages use of solar panels Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 07/04/2012