Solar energy is one of the most popular renewable energy sources currently available, and with good reason too. After all, who doesn’t love the idea of powering up your home with the rays of the sun? But as with any other new energy source, there are both advantages and disadvantages to solar energy. In this article, we will outline some of the more notable ones.
Advantages Of Solar Energy
The most notable advantage of solar energy is its unlimited clean energy supply. Since the sun will continue to shine whether we use energy from it or not, it follows that we will continue to generate power regardless of whether we choose to do so or not. This essentially means that solar energy is free, sustainable, and has no negative environmental effects. For these reasons, many countries and organizations around the world have chosen to support and encourage the use of solar energy.
Saves On Fuel
A major advantage of solar energy is that you don’t need to invest in large fuel tanks like you do when using other forms of energy. Instead, you just need to install solar energy systems in your homes. This saves you not only on the cost of the fuel itself but also on the cost of maintaining the fuel tanks over time. It also means that you get to enjoy the benefits of solar power without exposing yourself to the risks of fuel theft and/or leakage. Finally, when your solar energy system produces more energy than you consume, you can actually sell the surplus back to the power company. This is called net metering, and it’s available in most places that offer solar power.
Eco-friendliness
Another advantage of solar energy is that it’s eco-friendly. After all, wouldn’t you rather purchase energy products that are eco-friendly and have a positive impact on the environment? It’s a common misconception that solar power is harmful to the environment. In reality, it’s quite the opposite. Using solar energy helps protect our natural resources and guarantees a stable energy supply. It also encourages energy conservation and leads to less pollution. All of this can be considered a positive environmental impact.
It Has A Variety Of Applications
The last major advantage of solar energy is that it has a variety of applications. This means you can use it in a variety of situations, and it can work with a variety of devices. Because of its versatility, you can bet that it will continue to grow in popularity every year.
With all of that said, let’s now turn our attention to the disadvantages of solar energy.
Disadvantages Of Solar Energy
Although solar energy is relatively easy to use and has a variety of applications, that doesn’t mean it’s always perfect for every situation. There are several disadvantages to solar energy that you should know about. First, let’s address the issue of its unlimited supply. As we’ve established, this is one of the major advantages of solar energy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a disadvantage too. The truth is, while you don’t have to worry about running out of fuel when using solar energy, you do have to be aware that at some point, you will run out of power. When that happens, you will either have to purchase more solar equipment or seek other alternatives.
Cost
One of the biggest disadvantages of solar energy is that it is quite the expense. In most cases, a solar energy system will cost you thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars. This is not including the cost of the hardware itself, which can range from a couple hundred to a few thousand dollars. When you consider that you’ll need an inverter to connect the solar equipment to the home’s electrical system, the cost can easily reach hundreds of dollars. Even with all of that, you may still have to spend thousands of dollars to achieve efficient solar power. The bottom line is that although solar energy is a relatively inexpensive form of renewable energy, it’s still costly. If you can, you should try to avoid using solar energy whenever possible.
Maximum Capacity
Another disadvantage of solar energy is that it has a maximum capacity. This is mostly because of the way it is structured. The more solar equipment you have, the more power you can generate. However, if you get too many solar panels, you won’t be able to fit all of them on your roof due to space constraints, especially if you have a small roof. The key here is to find the right balance between having enough solar equipment and not causing yourself unnecessary stress by cramming too many panels on your roof.
Intermittent Energy
The last disadvantage of solar energy is that it isn’t always available. This is mainly due to the fact that the sun doesn’t always shine, and when it doesn’t, you can’t produce any power. Although this may not seem like a problem at first glance, it can be if you want to rely on solar energy for your home’s electricity supply. You should not only expect but also intend for your solar energy system to produce power at all times. For this reason, you should either install the system during the day when the sun is at its peak or configure it to store some of its energy for later use. In most cases, this can be accomplished by connecting the output of the solar energy system to a smaller battery, which in turn can be charged up during the day.
The key takeaway from this article is that although solar energy is a great alternative to fossil fuels, it is still a new energy source with many flaws. Before you rush out and purchase a solar energy system, it might be a good idea to do some research first and determine if it’s the best option for your needs.