Solar Energy Pros And Cons

By Author: Aundrea Palazzola
Total Articles: 1
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Solar energy is a renewable form of energy that is obtained from the radiation from the sun. Earth receives regarding 178 PW of solar radiation, 30% is reflected back and the rest is absorbed by land, oceans, clouds as well as air.

Unfortunately, there is no perfect energy source (yet!?). All non-conventional energy sources have advantages and disadvantages. Solar energy is not any exception; you discover advantages as well as disadvantages in solar energy too.

Pros of Solar Energy:

One of the main advantages of the power generation system based on solar radiation is lower electricity bill. At times it is impossible to completely power a home with solar energy, for various reasons (limited sun exposure, solar panels do not have a good yield). However even a partial reduction of the electricity bill is good.

Another major advantage is the absence of pollution. Solar panels do not emit any kind of pollution, however pollution as a result of solar panels is the production of these devices in factories, transportation and installation. Energy production from fossil fuels and other sources of renewable ...
... fuels (wind turbines) can be noisy, but solar energy produces electricity very quietly.

Yet another major advantage is the ability to harness electricity in remote places. A great example of this is the area in which the satellites are powered by solar cells of high efficiency.

Installing solar panels in remote places is less expensive than creating traditional electrical networks (cables). Solar energy can be very effective in a large region of the world, and brand new technologies allow more efficient energy production a day, even if the sky is overcast.

The solar panels can be installed on the roof top; this eliminates the issue of finding area for placement, as with other technologies.

When installed, solar panels need very small maintenance. The number of moving parts is small, these pieces need only a little care: inspection, cleaning, etc..

Yet another great pro of solar energy is the cost. Although the initial investment of solar cells might be high, when installed, they provide a free source of electricity that pays off in the coming years.

Making use of solar energy to produce electricity allows the user to become less dependent on classical network and other fuels.

Cons of Solar Energy:

The initial cost of purchasing solar panels is usually very high. However, in the near future you expect a drastic decrease in costs, with finding new materials as well as manufacturing technologies.

Solar panels need large space for installation, as well as their effectiveness depends on the place. A smaller area covered with solar panels will generate a smaller amount of energy.

Solar energy can generate electricity only during the day. That means that about half of the day, the solar panels are not producing energy; energy needs have to be provided from other sources.

Weather can affect the efficiency of solar cells. Overcast sky will make solar panels to create a small amount of energy (or at all).

These points lead to increased costs, requiring energy storage devices products. And in this region, we also expect progress with technological advances (finding new superconducting materials as well as technologies).

Ironically, the pollution can be a damaging factor in generating solar energy, pollution levels can affect a solar cell efficiency (smog); this is a major difficulty for location of photovoltaic panels in heavily polluted areas like big cities or industrial platforms.

Despite the cons, solar energy is a good solution for a greener lifestyle; the future will bring us even more good aspects on this field.

Find out more about green energy at http://www.greenenergyfor.me/