Solar Energy - The Advantages and Disadvantages

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Solar Energy - The Advantages and Disadvantages

Perhaps the greatest argument that could be leveled about having to use fossil and nuclear fuel is our dependence on it. Global warming, though a real serious threat, maybe something that we could only be very worried about. Singly nothing much could be done about it as it will take serious political will if it is to be addressed effectively , and for now, other countries are not cooperating. But choosing between traditional and alternative sources of energy, that is something most of us can do.



The advantages of Solar Energy:
Solar energy is abundant and free. We can count the sun to rise tomorrow and the day after that. Oil and natural gases on the other hand, are non-renewable, once the sources run out, they are gone forever. Sure, there are other areas that could still be tapped, but sooner or later they will run out as well.

Solar energy does not pollute the air. If anything, the heat coming from the sun cleans the environment and maintains the earth's eco-balance. Not so with oil. Oil, its derivatives and its byproducts are great pollutants. In fact, 22,000 pounds of carbon monoxide will need to be produced first for the oil to be processed and supply a home with electrical energy for a year.

Solar energy harnessing panels are silent operators. Except maybe for the devices that are built into the panels so they can track the sun, from the collection of the suns rays to its photovoltaic conversion, they give neither a peep nor a squeak. It is a world of difference from the cacophony of giant drills and pumps that are used to extract oil from the ground.

Maintenance for the solar panels is very minimal. Except for the mechanical parts that are optional, almost no maintenance is needed. Once it is installed nothing much that can go wrong. The energy that is derived is free. With oil there is no telling what the next pump price would be and when. Oil, being a commodity, heavily depends on market forces to set the price. Often, with the right strategies, even market forces could be manipulated that could cause volatility in pricing.

The Disadvantages of Solar Energy
The cost. While solar energy is free, the cost of installation prevents many households from installing it. Brand new solar energy systems are expensive. Although it tends to pay off over time, the initial cash outlay could run into several thousands of pounds depending on the quality and volume of generated power you require. While solar energy technology has been around since the 1950's, it is only in recent years that its development has been more rapid. While costs of installation could also be subjective depending on the purchasing capacity of a customer, the benefits that could be derived from it are enormous, although mostly in unquantifiable terms.

For mass consumption, distribution lines are needed and this remains to be a big issue. Antiquated distribution lines used to transfer electricity and other modes of fuel into the home are clogged-up in many regions, so that to deliver solar energy to them will require a different approach.

Be that as it may, the benefits from solar power far outweigh its disadvantages. It is an ideal source of energy that it may soon be the norm in power generation.