Before we look at the benefits and the downsides of solar energy, let us find out what the pros and cons surrounding this green energy. First, solar energy is obtained from the sun’s radiation. The sun is definitely a powerful source of energy. Did you know that the sun provides energy to earth for one hour can meet the global energy needs for a year? We are capable of harnessing only 0,001 percent of the solar energy. There is a reasy background the use of solar energy, resulting in its becoming a trending topic, when we talk about renewable energy resources.
Whilst it has been widely criticized for being so expensive or perhaps not very efficient, solar energy has now proven so beneficial-not only for the environment but also for financial reasons. In addition because of higher energy demand, the technology for solar energy has been well improved, which turns it into a very efficient source of clean energy. If you already are in the solar energy mind and are about to make your investing on this green energy, you had better seek for service, which allows you to request quotes and also compare various systems, so that you can find the most appropriate one for you.
What are the Benefits of Solar Energy?
Well, as you may have read from the internet, solar energy comes with abundance of benefits, which include:
1/ Great potential for renewable energy source
Well, solar energy is indeed truly renewable energy source. It can be harnessed in various areas of the globe and is abundant every day. We cannot run out of this energy, can’t we? This is obviously different to the other source of energy. Solar energy is accessible so long as we have the sun, thus sunlight will be available to us for at least five billion years, when the sun is projected to die, as claimed by scientists.
2/ Decreasing Electricity Bills
Since you will meet some of your energy demands with the electricity that your solar system has produced, your energy bills are assumed to drop significantly. How much you save on your bill will depend highly on the size of solar system and your heat and electricity usage. In addition, not only will you be able to save on the electricity bill, but if you produce more electricity than you use, the extra energy can be exported back to the grid and you will gain bonus payments for that particular amount (taking into account that the solar energy system you use is connected to the grid). Savings can grow further if you sell the excess electricity at high rates during the day and you can buy electricity from the grid during the evening as the rates get lower.
3/ Various Applications
Solar energy can be utilized for various purposes. You can produce electricity or heat. Solar energy can be utilized to generate electricity in areas with no access to the energy grid, to instill water in sites with limited clean water and to power satellites in the space. Solar energy can be integrated also in the materials used for buildings. Not long ago a transparent solar energy window was introduced.
4/ The Low Cost for Maintenance
Solar energy systems commonly do not need a lot of maintenance as you merely need to keep them clean. As such, cleaning them a couple of times every year will suffice. The most reliable solar panel manufacturers give 20 to 25 years warranty. In addition, as there are no moving mechanisms included, there is no wear or tear. The inverter is commonly the only part which needs to be changed after five to ten years since it is continuously working to transform solar energy into electrical energy and heat. Thus, after covering the early cost of the solar energy system, you can expect to have very small amount of spending on the repair or maintenance work.
5/ Technology Advancement
Technology in solar power industry is advancing constantly and betterments will substantiate even further in the future. Innovations in nanotechnology and quantum physics can potentially elevate the effectiveness of solar panels and double the electrical input of solar power technology, even 3 folds.
The Disadvantages of Solar Energy
Even though there are a number of benefits pertinent to the use of solar energy, we need to be aware of the possible downsides of this eco-friendly energy source.
1/ Cost
The initial spending for buying solar system is fairly expensive. Even though the UK government has introduced some plans for promoting the adoption of renewable energy sources, for instance the Feed-in Tariff, you are still left to cover the upfront cost. This comprises of inverter, solar panels, batteries, wiring and of course the installation. However, solar technologies are developing rapidly, so it is fine to assume that the costs will be low in the near future.
2/ Weather Dependent
Well, this is definitely inevitable. Even though solar energy can still be aggregated during cloudy and rainy days, the level of efficiency will drop significantly. Solar panels are so dependent on sunlight to gather solar energy effectively. Thus, a few cloudy, rainy days can generate a noticeable impact on the energy system. You had better take into account that solar energy cannot be gathered during the night.
3/ Solar Energy Storage is Tremendously Costly
Solar energy needs to be used right away, or it will be stored in large batteries. These storing devices, which are commonly used in off-the-grid solar systems, can be charged for several hours during the day so that the energy can be preserved for use at night. This can be good solution for solar energy all day long yet it calls forth massive funding.
4/ Requires A Lot of Spaces
The more electricity you need to generate, the more solar panels that you need, since you want to gather as much sunlight as possible. Solar panels need lots of space and several roofs are not sufficient to fit the number of required solar panels which you are supposed to install.