Solar Energy Advantages, Disadvantages & True Facts
Here is the comprehensive list of solar energy advantages and disadvantages. As all methods of generating electricity have advantages and disadvantages, solar energy is no different. Here are the true facts about Solar Energy.
Solar Energy is a radiant energy that is produced by the sun. Every day the sun gives out or sends out, an enormous amount of energy. The sun is a big ball of heat and light resulting from nuclear synthesis at its core. Solar energy is one of the most efficient and affordable energy alternatives available today. We have discussed here about the facts, advantages and disadvantages of Solar Energy.
What is Solar Energy?
Solar energy is the power from the sun. Solar energy is the glowing light and heat from the Sun that has been used by humans since ancient time and its uses are only human’s ingenuity. The two major types of solar energy uses that are helpful for Earth are heat and light. The total solar energy is absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and land.
Solar energy is used for mostly water heating, cooking, electricity, industrial purposes etc. There are two types of solar energy, one is Thermal energy and second one is Electric energy.
Thermal energy:
Thermal Energy is everywhere. It lights up our days. It heats the earth, our bodies and our homes. We also use solar thermal energy through passive solar designs. Thermal Energy is also used to heat water for domestic use for two ways,
- Actively Use: when a conventional heating element within the solar hot water system heats water on hot days.
- Passively: when water is preheated before it is delivered to the cold inlet of a conventional gas or electric water heater.
Electric Energy:
Electric Energy is mostly use for the power of the sun to produce electricity through solar cells, otherwise it is known as photovoltaic (PV). It can be applied in three ways given below,
- Stand-alone (Solar home): A system not connected to the network. More often than not, these systems are installed in remote areas where there is no utility-supplied power, like remote holiday cottages. It is often cheaper to install a solar energy system than lay electricity cables to the site. Excess energy can be stored in a battery for use during times where there is no sunshine.
- Grid-connected: This system where utility supply electricity for connected to the property, but the owners wishes to harvest clean free energy from the sun. Usually in a quest to live a more sustainable, environmentally friendly existence.
- Back-up: A system connected to an unreliable network or one of poor quality. These types are usually installed in areas where a lot of power blackouts happen.
True Facts of Solar Energy:
Solar energy has long been a popular conservation and ozone layer protection. Here are given some facts about solar energy, this facts will help you with your decision whether or not to install a solar energy system. Below are given true facts about solar energy check out,
General Facts:
- Solar energy can also be used for power cars, for attic fans, calculators and other small appliances. It produces lighting for indoors or outdoors.
- Solar energy is becoming more and more popular. The worldwide demand for solar energy is currently greater than supply.
- Solar energy is better for the environment than traditional forms of energy.
- You can even cook food with solar energy.
Solar energy usage facts:
- About 30% of our total energy consumption is used to heat water.
- Solar Energy is measured in kilowatt-hour. 1 kilowatt = 1000 watts.
- 1 kilowatt-hour (kwh) = the amount of electricity required to burn a 100 watt light bulb for 10 hours.
Solar energy systems facts:
- 1-kilowatt home solar system consists of about 10-12 solar panels and requires about 100 square feet of installation area.
- 1-kilowatt home solar system will prevent approximately 170 lbs. of coal from being burned, 300 lbs of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere and 105 gallons of water from being consumed each month.
- A home solar system is typically made up of solar panels, an inverter, a battery, a charge controller, wiring and support structure.
- The system usually comes with a 5-year warranty, although the solar panels are warranted for 20.
- Solar panels come in various colors.
- Relying on the battery back up, a solar energy system can provide electricity 24×7, even on cloudy days and at night.
Other Facts about solar energy:
- A world record was set in 1990 when a solar powered aircraft flew 4060km across the USA, using no fuel.
- Accounting for only 5 percent of the world’s population, Americans consume 26 percent of the world’s energy.
- Shell Oil predicts that 50% of the world’s energy will come from renewable sources by 2040.
- Electric ovens consume the most amount of electricity, followed by microwaves and central air conditioning.
- A world record was set in 1990 when a solar powered aircraft flew 4060km across the USA, using no fuel.
You can read about how solar energy work Here.
Solar Energy Advantages and Disadvantages:
Solar energy is used to provide electricity to homes, businesses, schools, universities and space vehicles used by NASA. Below given some advantages and disadvantages of solar energy,
Solar energy Benefits:
- Can be installed quickly and easily, require little maintenance.
- The solar cells are reliable and quiet, have no moving parts and lasts 30 years or more if they were covered with glass or plastic.
- The net useful energy output is high.
- Do not produce carbon dioxide.
Solar Energy Advantages:
- The initial costs discourage buyers.
- The technology is well developed and can be installed quickly.
- Owners of active and passive solar systems need regulations that prevent construction of other structures that block access for a user to solar heat or impact.
- The technological advancements in solar energy systems have made them extremely cost effective.
- Most systems have a life span of 30 to 40 years.
- Most systems do not require any maintenance during their lifespan, which means you never have to put money into them.
- The production of solar energy produces no pollution.
- Solar powered lights and other solar powered products are very easy to install. This is because there are few wiring issues and little need to ever dig supporting trenches.
- Solar cells are long-lasting and require very little maintenance.
Solar Energy Disadvantages:
- The primary disadvantage of solar energy is the upfront cost.
- Outdoor solar lighting will cost you not more than normal lighting, but large solar energy systems for your entire home can run from a minimum of $5,000 to a more likely figure of $15,000 to $20,000.
- Solar energy does not need fuel, thus saving money as well as the possibility of polluting the environment by burning fuel.
- The goal is to have a million solar roofs by the year 2010 to ease the stress on electrical grids across the nation.
- Most types of solar cells require large surface areas to achieve average efficiency, and the silicon used in many of today’s cells is also very expensive.
- Pollution and weather can further cut back their efficiency, which, of course, increases the cost over time.
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I had also realize that the installed and other upfront cost are expensive. You may pay 5, 000 or 20, 000 dollars.
I believe in saving our environment! This upfront cost are cheap in the long term when it come to energy.
“Most systems have a life span of 30 to 40 years.” I know solar energy is the best. Even though the upfront cost are crazy.
If the solar efficiency comes up to 50%.I believe it will change our world again.
I have a bad habit to disagree, but for this one, I agree with some of the information presented.