While there are numerous advantages associated with solar energy, it is also important to consider the potential drawbacks. Fortunately, though, these are relatively minor and most people and businesses enjoy the benefits of solar energy without experiencing any difficulties.
Inherently Dependent On The Weather
Because of its dependence on natural phenomena such as the sun and the weather, solar energy is inherently subject to fluctuations in price and availability. You never know when the next bad weather event is going to occur which could potentially cause your power supply to fail or become sporadic. This may lead you to seek out alternative power sources which at least provide some degree of stability. If you are serious about being power independent, you might want to consider other options such as solar thermal energy which we will discuss later on in this article.
Noisy
Anything that produces a lot of noise is generally not considered to be a desirable element in an environment such as a home or an office. However, in some situations, especially in industrial or commercial settings, noise may be a desired characteristic and that is why many industries such as aviation, aviation equipment, and military use large amounts of noise. It is also used in some types of manufacturing, particularly in the semiconductor industry where highly precise equipment is needed to create computer chips and other electronic devices. The use of heavy machinery and high-power tools can also result in a lot of noise which needs to be controlled in some situations or it could potentially cause damage to property and persons. The presence of noise when it is not necessary is generally considered to be an annoyance and sometimes it can even be dangerous as well, especially when operating appliances such as chain saws or other types of heavy equipment. If you are in an area where a lot of noise is an issue, it might be best to consider other options such as solar thermal energy or wind energy which are much less prone to fluctuation in price and availability. These options also provide an opportunity to be environmentally conscious as they are much more energy efficient than solar energy.
Limited Location For Installing
In much the same way that the weather can be a concern when it comes to generating electricity using solar energy, location is also an important consideration. If you live in a place where it is difficult to find space for equipment or panels which are needed to generate power, you might want to consider other options such as a water tower which is essentially a giant solar heater that can collect and store sun radiation so that at night it can be used to heat water which is then distributed via an electric pipe network throughout the community. This option offers a stable and fairly inexpensive way to generate electricity even in larger quantities which would be particularly useful for businesses and communities.
Noisy Neighbor
If you’re in an area where a lot of people are living (or working) nearby, the noisiness level could become a concern. In some cases, it may even be considered dangerous. High levels of noise cause stress and sometimes it even results in physical injury or illness. If you are seeking a peaceful and quiet environment for yourself or your home, you might want to consider other options such as solar thermal energy or wind energy which are much less prone to disturbances from neighboring properties.
Inaccessible
To the average person, solar energy does not seem like a practical option for generating electricity since it is generally considered to be inaccessible. This is mainly due to the fact that to get started, you usually need to go through a lot of money which is not something that most people can afford. The good news is that there are alternatives including solar thermal energy which utilizes heat instead of light and can be used to provide heat for water and other purposes which may be of interest to the average person. In some developing countries, solar energy is even accessible to the poor which is why it is becoming such a popular and viable option for people who want cheap electricity but also need a stable and reliable power source. If you are interested in exploring this option, it might be best to contact an agency which provides loans for renewable energy projects.
Low Efficiency
One of the primary disadvantages associated with solar energy is that it is rather inefficient in comparison to other energy sources. While it is true that photovoltaic cells (PV cells) which are used to convert sunlight directly into electricity are highly efficient, the overall conversion process is rather limited. This is mainly because most commercial PV cells are designed to work in the visible light spectrum and only a small fraction of the electromagnetic waves which make up sunlight are in this range. As a result, most of the sunlight is wasted in the form of heat which is simply removed through air conditioning or in some cases even through the use of an additional solar heater. Other forms of solar energy such as solar thermal energy which we mentioned earlier on in this article are much more efficient than commercial PV cells and can convert all of the energy in sunlight into usable and productive energy.
As you can see, there are several disadvantages associated with solar energy but for the most part, these are minor issues which do not pose a serious threat to its viability as a power source. If you’re interested in exploring this energy source, you might want to contact an agency which provides loans for renewable energy projects or you might want to look into government subsidized loans for solar energy installations.