Pros and Cons of Solar Energy

Solar energy is a hot topic nowadays. As we all know that the sun is the most powerful and renewable source of energy, and it can provide us with many benefits.

When solar power was introduced more than a decade ago, at that time people did not accept it immediately. They keep on discarding the concept by saying that solar is way too expensive. People were very much right at that time because when the technology was new, it was expensive. However, with the passing of time, things keep on improving so the technology. With the improvement in technology, the prices have gradually reduced, making solar affordable for many people.

Solar has gained very much popularity in the past few years due to its great benefits and usefulness.

Pros and Cons of Solar Energy

Solar energy is a renewable form of energy that we get from the sun. Sun is a nonstop source of energy that is not going to end any soon. This means we can enjoy and use the sun and its useful radiation for a long time. The radiation and heat from the sun are transformed into electricity which is then used for performing different tasks.

However, we cannot deny the reality that every product has its merits and demerits. Following is a list of the pros and cons of solar energy.

Pros of Solar Energy

1.     Renewable Energy

Solar is a renewable source of energy. It is available every day and everywhere. Sun shines all over the earth. This means solar energy is easily available no matter where you live unless you live in Antarctica! That is why it is considered to be a very useful advantage of solar energy as it can be easily available wherever the sun shines.

According to scientists, many energy sources are going to die very soon as the earth is deteriorating every day. However, according to researchers, the sun is not going anywhere for at least 5 billion years.

2.     Reduction in Electricity Bills

One of the most important advantages of solar energy and solar power systems is that it has a very positive impact on monthly electricity bills. As we know that the heat and radiation from the sun are collected through solar panels and then converted to electricity. This electricity is used to light up household products and use electricity to perform various tasks like heating water, etc.

In this way, a household does not need to use electricity from the grid and can save money on monthly electricity bills. However, the amount of money you can save on your electricity bills is dependent on the size of the solar system you install. The more panels you install, the more energy will be produced by the solar system and the less you will need to consume electricity from the grid. In this way, your monthly electricity bills will be reduced drastically.

3.     Less Maintenance Cost

Another benefit of solar energy is that its maintenance cost is very low. Many solar system manufacturing companies give a warranty of nearly 20-30 years. This means once you have installed the system at your place you only have to maintain the system by taking care of the cleaning of panels. You only have to clean the dirt from the panels once a month. You can also hire professional cleaning services once a year to get the panels cleaned properly.

4.     Increases Value of your Home

Homes with solar systems installed have greater value. The installation of solar panels in a house has countless benefits. As described above, the reduction in electricity bills with solar system installation. This increases the value of your home. According to studies, homes with solar systems installed have value increased by nearly 10%.

5.     Various Applications

Solar systems and solar energy can be used in many different applications and in many different ways. Solar energy can be used to produce electricity which is then used for lighting up various products. Similarly, solar energy can also be used for distilling water in areas that have scarce clean water. It can also be used for powering up satellites in space.

Cons of Solar Energy

1.     High Initial Cost

One of the biggest disadvantages of solar energy is that its initial cost is very high. Due to this reason, many people cannot afford to install solar systems. The initial cost is high because it involves all the wiring, inverters, solar panels, installation cost, batteries, cost of technicians, etc. that is why the initial cost becomes very high. However, with the advances in technology, it is expected that the costs will go down in the future.

2.     Expensive Storage

Another drawback of solar systems is that the storage of energy is very expensive. The solar gives you power till the sun is here. When the sun goes down, the solar energy we were getting will stop. The solution to this problem is that we have to install batteries to store the energy so that we can utilize it at night time as well. The installation o batteries will add to the total cost of the system making it more expensive.

3.     Weather Dependency

We know that solar systems work with the energy from the sun. Therefore on cloudy or rainy days, the efficiency of a solar system drops. This is considered to be a big drawback of solar systems. Moreover, solar power cannot be collected at night time.

4.     Space Requirements

Solar panels are large in size therefore; large space is required for the proper installation of the system. Moreover, the panels should be placed at a proper angle to get the most out of the radiation. This means if you do not have proper space then you cannot install a solar system at your place.

 Final Comments

Solar energy is no doubt a very useful energy source. It is very beneficial as it helps to save money and increases the value of your home as well. However, some drawbacks associated with solar should also be considered before installation.

Guest Contributor: Julie Amber