What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy?
If you’ve been thinking about having solar panels installed at your home or at your office, this question will, no doubt, be on your mind.
But what is solar energy?
It’s energy that comes from the sun.
And, with respect to solar panels, these panels utilize sunlight as a way of producing electricity.
More often than otherwise, solar panels are mounted on a rooftop.
They are angled in such a way that they face towards the sun for as much time as possible
These days, solar panels are relied upon by many home owners as it helps to reduce their electrical utility bills on a monthly basis.
Nevertheless, if you are considering installing solar panels, there’s a lot to think over before making the investment.
And, in this article, we’ll help you to do that. Or, at least we’ll point you in the right direction.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy?
Let’s find out now.
Advantages of Solar Energy
1 Solar energy provides an energy source that is clean
There are some not-so-clean elements to solar panels. That is:
- The assemblage of solar panels requires an alternative energy source
- The transporting of solar panels also requires an alternative energy source
Otherwise, the energy from the solar panels is perfectly clean – or “green,” if you will.
Once installed, there’s no harm done to the atmosphere. And that flies in the face to relying on fossil fuels for a source of energy which is highly detrimental to our planet’s environment.
2 Solar panels operate silently
Energy creation from fossil fuels and from some alternative renewable energy sources (for example, wind turbines) is a noisy affair.
Energy creation, or generation, from solar panels is completely silent.
No sound pollution from solar panels.
And because they are silent to operate, they are more attractive to many people as an option for energy production.
3 Installation on the rooftop
Solar panels are pretty large – or, at least, if you wish to generate enough power for your home or workplace, they have to be pretty large.
Nevertheless, they can be installed on almost any type of roof. And, for the most part, roof space tends to be “wasted space.”
So, why wouldn’t you wish to install solar panels on your roof?
4 Low maintenance
The more modern solar panels do not have moving parts and, as such, require little to no maintenance to keep them operational.
Modern solar panels can last for as long as 25 years.
They do need to be cleaned a few times annually, though.
5 Availability of sunshine
Even though where you reside may not be the sunniest place in the world, you do still receive some sunshine.
There is one drawback, besides that you may not live in an area that gets a ton of annual sunshine: Solar panels do not work at night.
In case you wonder why…
It’s because it’s dark at night and there’s no sunshine.
It has been estimated that oil reserves world wide will last for a further 50 or 60 years.
Sunlight, though, will remain available forever – or at least until the planet Earth or the sun is no longer with us.
6 Renewable and sustainable energy source
Because solar energy is renewable, we don’t ever run out of it.
Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are set to expire in a few more decades from now.
Additionally, solar energy is sustainable.
In other words, we can use it now and it will in no way compromise the requirements of our future generations.
According to NASA, the sun will last for a further 6.5 billion years.
What’s more, we can’t ever consume too much sunshine so it’s not going to run out (like fossil fuels).
7 Reduction of electricity bills
To eliminate the need to pay the installation cost of solar panels straight from your pocket, you could find out about and take advantage of a financing deal.
After all, the initial part – the purchasing and installation of the panels – is fairly costly. So, you may need to consider a way to finance the deal.
Of course, over the years, you reap the cost of installation back – and a lot more besides.
What’s more, in many areas, homeowners are invited to sell any surplus energy (electricity) back to utility companies.
This is an added benefit to installing solar panels.
8 Use solar to power up remote areas
Solar energy can be captured even in the remotest areas.
Solar energy can be captured and used in areas that aren’t connected to any national electric matrix.
Disadvantages of solar energy
1 Initial cost
There’s little doubt that for many, the most disadvantageous “thing” about solar panel installation is the high initial cost.
For a single panel you’re looking at around about $1,000, and possibly above, depending on size.
Obviously, if you need a few more than just a single panel to power your home, your office, or whatever, you’re looking at a substantial upfront cost.
2 The area required for solar panel setup has to be quite sizable
If you can’t, for whatever reason, fit your solar panels to the roof, you’ll need an area of land instead.
Unless you require a lot of solar panels, this area does not have to be large. But, it’s still something that needs to be considered.
3 Effectiveness of the solar cells
Air pollution where you are? That could be a bit of a problem.
Air pollution impacts how effective the cells are at producing energy.
For homeowners, this may not be much of an issue, but if you run an industry and you’re in a city, it would, or should, be a definite concern.
4 Daytime power generation
Solar panels only produce energy in the daytime.
In other words, for approximately half of each and every day, there’s no energy production.
And, even though modern solar cell technology is advanced, if you reside in an area that does not receive much sunshine, particularly during the winter months, that, too, could be something of a problem.
5 Battery storage is costly
Batteries are charged by solar power and then this charge is used in the form of electricity in the home or business.
This means that you still get power during the nighttime.
The batteries are not only heavy, but they are large.
They need to be stored someplace.
What’s more, these batteries must be replaced on occasion. That adds to overall cost.