How many times have you found yourself discussing solar power during a dinner with friends, only to hear someone exclaim: “But photovoltaics are a scam!”? The myths about photovoltaics are hard to die, even though in 2025 the technology has made great strides. While the prices of traditional electricity continue to rise, many are still hesitant to invest in what could be their energy salvation.
Between batteries that last 15 years, panels that produce even in winter and fixed costs of self-produced energy, perhaps the time has come to look beyond the clichés and understand why those old objections no longer stand up to the scrutiny of current facts. Here are the 7 myths about photovoltaics (the last one is the stupidest of all, in my opinion).
Myth 1, the solar deception
“It’s a scam”, “They’re giving you noxious contracts”, “Door-to-door salesmen are all crooks”. How many times have you heard these phrases referring to the photovoltaic sector? Let’s face it: in the past, some less than serious operators have contributed to creating this bad reputation.
Today, however, the market has evolved. Serious companies offer CE certified products, use RGE qualified installers, and above all propose transparent contracts without clauses hidden in microscopic characters. The difference between a reliable supplier and a questionable one lies precisely in the clarity of the offer and the quality of the certifications.
Photovoltaics is not a scam, it is simply a sector that requires the same attention that you would dedicate to buying a car or renovating your house. You would never buy a car from someone who promises you "miraculous performance" without showing you the technical sheet, right? Here, same principle.
Myth 2 – The Losing Investment
“You’ll never get your money back,” “It costs too much,” “It’s not economically viable.” These arguments might have made sense ten years ago, when panels cost three times as much and electricity was cheap.
In 2025, With electricity prices skyrocketing (and another 19% on the horizon for 2026), the numbers have changed dramatically. A well-sized PV system produces energy at around €0,15/kWh, compared to much higher regulated rates. And let’s not forget inflation: while the cost of electricity from the grid will continue to rise, the cost of your solar power will remain fixed.
I like to think of photovoltaics as an investment with a guaranteed return: no other asset today offers you the certainty of increasing savings year after year, with electricity continuing its upward trend.
Myth 3 – Of Winter Uselessness
“It is useless in the winter”, “It does not produce when it is cloudy”, “In the cold months it is as if it does not have it”. This is perhaps one of the most difficult myths about photovoltaics to eradicate, because it is based on a seemingly logical observation: less sun, less energy.
The reality is more interesting, however. First of all, even in the months between October and March, the panels produce about 25% of annual energy. That's not a small thing! Furthermore (and this is always surprising), photovoltaic cells work better at low temperatures, as long as there is sun. A panel at 5°C with a clear sky can be more efficient than the same panel at 35°C in summer.
With the addition of a battery, then, the problem becomes even smaller: the energy produced during the hours of sunshine can be consumed in the evening or on the grayest days. It is exactly like having a tank that allows you to use the water collected when it rains, even during drought.
Myth 4 – of the ephemeral battery
“Batteries don’t last long,” “They degrade quickly,” “After a few years they’re worth throwing away.” If we’re talking about smartphones, I wouldn’t have much to object to. But batteries for photovoltaic systems are a whole different story.
With a home battery like the Beem Battery, you can store surplus energy and use it when you really need it, bringing self-consumption to previously unthinkable levels.
Let's take a home battery solution as an example, the Beem Battery: it is guaranteed for 15 years and designed to sustain 6.000 cycles while still maintaining 60% of the original capacity. Integrated management systems can be Configure in advance online, and automatically optimize performance to preserve longevity.
It’s like comparing a small car to a truck: they both have wheels and an engine, but they’re designed to last in completely different ways. Modern residential batteries are designed to cycle daily over a decade, with cooling and electronic management systems that maintain their integrity.
Myth 5 – The danger of fire
“Solar panels catch fire,” “They are dangerous,” “I read about houses burning down because of photovoltaic panels.” It's true, some news like that is circulating. But what percentage does it represent of the millions of installations worldwide?
A system built according to the rules of the art, with certified components and installed by qualified professionals, It does not present any greater fire risks than any other domestic electrical system. The safety regulations are extremely rigorous, with multiple protections and automatic shutdown systems in the event of anomalies.
The real danger is not the photovoltaic itself, but the improvised installation or the components of dubious origin. If your system is made by a serious company, the only "fire" you will see will be the (metaphorical) one of your energy independence.
Myth 6 – Of the damaged roof
“They will ruin your tiles”, “The leaks will start afterwards”, “The roof structure won’t hold up”. Once again, we are talking about a problem related to the quality of the installation, not to the photovoltaic system itself.
A professional installation includes specific fastening systems for each type of roofing, with solutions that guarantee waterproofing and structural solidity. RGE certified professionals follow rigorous protocols to ensure that the roof maintains all its characteristics, simply with a production “upgrade”.
If you consider that a good photovoltaic system lasts over 25 years, attention to installation becomes an investment, not a cost. And often, the mounting system can even protect part of the roof from weather damage.
The most stupid of the myths about photovoltaics, number 7 – the negative environmental impact
“They produce more pollution than they save”, “They are not recyclable”, “They contain rare and polluting materials”. The truth? Modern photovoltaic panels do not contain rare earth materials, are 94% recyclable and offset their carbon footprint in just 3 years of operation.
Considering that last 25 to 30 years, means that for over 22 years they have been producing clean energy that replaces that from fossil fuels. Furthermore, solar energy is the only one that is consumed exactly where it is produced, eliminating transmission losses in the electricity grid (which can reach up to 10%).
Photovoltaics is not only environmentally friendly: it is probably the most responsible energy source available to a private individual today. It does not require continuous extraction of fuels, does not produce waste to be disposed of during operation, and at the end of its life it can be almost entirely recovered.
So, can we still believe these seven myths about photovoltaics? Apparently, while we persist in repeating old beliefs, technology has already solved most of the problems that may have once been legitimate. In the meantime, our bills continue to rise, the planet continues to ask us to do our part, and misinformation continues to squawk on social media.
Perhaps it is time to ask ourselves: how much does it cost us, economically and environmentally, to remain anchored to these prejudices?
