Solar Energy: An Overview
With the ever-growing danger of climate change resulting from the accelerated emission of carbon emissions, Many nations are turning to alternative energy sources that are clean and sustainable to take the place of fossil fuels.
Solar is arguably the most expensive of all the green alternative energy sources, even though prices have decreased. After weighing all the benefits and drawbacks with the belief that the prices will continue to fall as the year’s progress, this solar energy’s future power appears promising. 1
The benefits of solar energy are that it’s a sustainable option to fuel from fossil sources and has minimal impact on the environment and the capacity for any country to generate it. Its disadvantages are that it only generates energy when the sun shines and requires a substantial amount of land, and solar technologies require scarce materials.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Solar energy is now an increasingly competitive alternative to fossil fuels.
- The solar energy source is green with the most negligible environmental impact and encourages energy independence.
- However, it is governed by the time of day when the sun is shining, which can lead to a shortage of materials. It also contains dangerous materials that are similar to electronic components.
- Solar energy’s cost-effective drawbacks could be reduced to a minimum by technological advancements that boost the efficiency of storage and efficiency.
- The increase in incentives to encourage solar energy development could be beneficial.
The Advantages of Solar Energy
Sustainability
The benefit of solar energy is that it’s an environmentally sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. While fossil fuels are subject to an expiration date that could be coming up, the sun is likely to last a minimum of billion years.
Low Environmental Impact
It has significantly less environmental impact compared to the fossil-fuel alternatives. The greenhouse gas emissions it produces are negligible since the technology doesn’t require any combustion fuel. Furthermore, while the concentrating solar thermal plant (CSP) is not very efficient when it comes to water consumption, depending on the kind of technology employed, the correct technology improves efficiency, while photovoltaic (PV) solar cells don’t require water for electricity generation. 2
Solar energy technology is becoming a more cost-effective option over fossil fuels, even though it’s still expensive in specific markets.
Energy Independence
Because the sun shines worldwide, it makes each nation an energy producer in the future, thereby allowing greater security and energy independence. Solar energy doesn’t just promise to provide security and autonomy on a national scale; solar panels can also be put in on homes by individuals to offer electricity that doesn’t depend upon being linked to the larger electric grid.
The Disadvantages of Solar Energy
Intermittency
One of the significant issues solar technology faces is that energy can only be produced when it is sunny. So, overcast and nighttime days can disrupt the flow of energy. The shortage caused by this interruption wouldn’t be an issue if there were inexpensive ways to store energy since extremely sunny days could produce excess capacity. As the worldwide total for solar power continues to increase, nations such as Japan and the other global leaders in the field of solar energy technology are working on creating sufficient energy storage capacity to tackle the issue.
Land Use
Another issue is the possibility that solar energy could consume a large amount of land, causing the destruction of habitat or land for wildlife. Although solar PV systems can be attached to existing structures, larger utility-scale PV systems could require as much as 3.5 or 10 acres per megawatt. CSP installations require between 4 – 16.5 acres of land per megawatt. 3 4 However, it is possible to minimize the impact by placing the facilities in areas of low quality or existing transmission and transportation routes.
Scarcity of Materials
Specific solar technology requires rare materials in their manufacturing. However, this is the main issue for PV technology, not CSP technology. It’s not a deficiency of known reserves so much as the inability of existing production to meet future demands. Most rare materials result from other processes rather than the main focus of specific mining efforts. Recycling PV materials and advancements in nanotechnology to improve solar cell efficiency can help increase the supply; however, discovering alternative materials in more significant quantity could be an essential factor.
An Environmental Downside
One of the environmental issues associated with solar energy is that it has some of the same dangerous materials used in electronics. As solar technology becomes a well-known energy source, hazardous waste disposal is a new challenge. If the issue of proper waste disposal can be addressed, solar energy’s reduction in greenhouse emissions makes it a viable alternative to fossil fuels.
More durable than fossil fuels
- Impact on the environment less
- Helps nations become more energy-dependent
- Cost-effective
Supply interruptions
- The land is occupied by a large portion of the land
- Technology not yet widely accessible
- It will still cause damage to the environment
The estimated number of terawatts of solar energy shining on the Earth every day is 10,000 times the global energy consumption. 5
Solar Energy Examples
The world’s most giant solar power plant is in Rajasthan, India. Bhadla Solar Park Bhadla Solar Park was completed in April 2020. has been terminated by April of 2020 and boasts impressive figures. The solar park covers a total area of 10,000 acres with the capacity to install 2,245 megawatts. The investment for the project is expected to be in the region of $1.4 billion. 6
The biggest sun-powered park located of its kind in the United States is known as the Solar Star Park near Rosamond, California. The power plant consists of two separate facilities called Solar Star-1 and Solar Star-2 and has a capacity of 265MW and 314MW. Like the power plant ln India, the site was chosen because of its extensive sun exposure and low rainfall. 7
Solar Energy vs. Wind Energy
Both solar and wind energy are among the most rapid-growing source of sustainable energy. Both energy sources can help reduce pollution and provide alternative fuel options to fossil fuels; however, there are significant distinctions between the two.
The wind turbines that generate energy are more benign to the ecosystem than solar panels. Additionally, they create more power than solar panels and are installed off-shore. In contrast to solar, wind energy can be utilized all night and day. But wind is an inexplicably unpredictable energy source. Turbines can be very noisy and, much like solar cells, demand large amounts of land; therefore, they aren’t suitable in areas with a high density of people.
In the end, solar panels are the most potent and reliable power sources. They need less space, have less noise, and can be placed on rooftops or roofs in crowded areas.
Pros and Cons of Solar Energy FAQs
What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Solar Energy for Your Home?
Using solar energy to power your home can save money, boost your home’s value, and help you become energy independent and reduce your carbon footprint. However, the enormous solar panels can annoy prospective buyers. In addition, some HOA agreements might not permit the installation of solar panels in your home.
Do Solar Panels Increase Your Property Taxes?
Since solar panels can increase the value of your property, they may add to your property taxes. But, many states provide tax exemptions to residents. Visit the website of your county clerk for the most current updated information.
Can You Still Have a High Electric Bill With Solar Panels?
In most cases installing solar panels will reduce your monthly electric bill.
Are There Tax Benefits for Solar Panels?
Yes. Tax credit for solar investments in the federal government, approved in 2006, grants a tax credit of 26% for solar panels that are installed on commercial and residential properties. 8
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