 Advantages Of Solar Energy
- and Disadvantages
There is something misleading about the name Solar Power. All forms of energy we know is, some way or the other, derived from the sun. Without the sun, there would be no life on earth as it provides the energy that sustains plant and animal life on earth. Like all technologies and systems, solar power, too, has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of solar power, by far, out pace its disadvantages.
The Advantages of Solar Energy
Solar energy saves you money, period. Once you recover the cost of installing the equipment, there is no running cost as the energy from the sun is totally free. As production of solar energy does not require any fuel, you are not affected by its supply and demand, and are not affected by the ever-increasing price of gasoline.
Solar energy is clean, renewable, sustainable, and protects the environment. Unlike gas, coal, and oil, the supply of solar energy is renewable, at least for the next 4.5 billion years. Unlike the traditional forms of electricity generation, it does not pollute the environs with carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide or mercury, etc.
As solar energy does not expel any pollutants into the air, it does not contribute to global warming, etc. Rather, it contributes to the decrease in emissions of green house gases. The system can operate independently, without any dependence on a power or a gas grid. Not only does solar energy reduce your electricity bill, it is available at all times and is not affected by power outages.
The solar energy systems are practically maintenance free, and once installed, can last for decades, and have no recurring costs. They are silent in operation and do not exude any offensive smells. If in future, your electric needs increase, extra panels can be added to the existing system.
The Disadvantages of Solar Energy
The main disadvantage of solar energy systems is its initial installation costs, as the semi-conducting materials are very expensive. To achieve a good level of efficiency, solar panels require a large area for installation. The location of the sun also affects the efficiency of the system, but this is overcome by installation of extra components an added cost.
Pollution in the air, as well as the presence of the clouds, affects the production of solar energy. There is no production of solar energy at night. However, this can be taken care of with a battery backup system or net metering. Net metering is a scheme, available in 40 states and Washington DC, through which your utility company buys from you the extra energy that your solar energy system produces, building up a credit on your account. |