Actually, solar energy is obtained from the sun's rays. We know that the Sun is a powerful source of energy and it can be properly utilized by installing solar energy. We convert solar energy from the sun into electricity and use it in our homes and business. In this era of renewal, solar energy has become the main topic. Do you know the interesting fact that with 1 hour of solar power we can meet the requirements for 1 year, but unfortunately we are able to use only 0.001% of this energy?
Please visit our website for more information on this topic.
Solar technology is constantly improving, due to which our capacity for the abundant use of solar energy is increasing. According to a report by the International Energy Agency (), the use of solar energy has increased rapidly and the growth of solar energy is higher than all other fuels. The day is not far when we will all be able to unite and enjoy the power and other benefits produced from solar energy.
Solar cells are made of silicon and the cells combine to make solar energy (solar energy). When photons hit the solar cell, they lose electrons from their atoms. An electrical circuit is formed when the positive and negative sides of the conductor cell are connected and electricity is generated when electrons flow through such a circuit.
Now, let us know what are the top 8 factors that describe the benefits of Solar Energy:
1. Solar energy is clean & green energy
There is some pollution during electricity generation or other sources of energy and it damages the environment due to pollution. On the other hand, there is no such difficulty in the origin of solar energy.
2. Not dependent on other sources of Energy
After solar energy came into existence and its increased use, the pressure on other energy sources has come down, which is a good sign for both the ecosystem and the environment.
3. Non-maintenance
Solar power systems do not require much maintenance. Just needs to be cleaned twice every year, but it should be kept in mind that cleaning should always be done by experts who know this work well. Inverters are also a part of the system, to be replaced in five to 10 years, that is, very little is spent on maintenance and repair work in addition to the initial cost.
4. Safer than Other
Solar power is more secure than conventional power sources, whether it is for use or maintenance and repair.
5. Renewable Energy
Solar energy is actually a source of renewable energy. It can be used in every corner of the world, i.e. it is always available. Solar energy is a never-ending energy source
6. Electricity Bill Reduction
Since you will meet all your energy needs with electricity generated from solar energy, you will get relief from the huge cost of the electricity bill. How much you can save on your bill depends on your needs.
7. Maximum Usage
Solar energy is used for various purposes. Anything can generate electricity or heat (solar thermal) by solar energy. Can deliver electricity to areas without electricity, use it in factories, supply clean water, use it in household chores, use for space satellites.
8. Technology Development
Industrial growth has increased due to the ever-increasing use of solar energy and it is expected to grow rapidly in the future.
Altogether, the use of solar panels let you save electricity and get rid of huge electricity bills just by utilizing the natural energy resource i.e. Sun.
In the race to reach net-zero emissions, countries around the world are looking to scale up and eventually depend on renewable energy to substitute polluting fossil fuels. Solar is the most abundant, fastest, and cheapest energy source on Earth, and it generates minimal greenhouse gas emissions. Although this renewable energy is rapidly growing across the globe, with an increasing number of countries investing in it, there are some factors that could hinder its growth. What are the main advantages and disadvantages of solar energy and how does this valuable renewable resource work and w?
&#;
ORIENT Product Page
The vital role in which the sun plays in life on Earth has been celebrated since ancient times. Egyptians in Africa were the first people known to use solar energy on a large scale to heat their homes, designating them in a way that could store up the sun&#;s heat during the day and release it at night. Fast forward to today, societies around the world have developed innovative technologies that allow us to turn the sun&#;s energy into electricity that powers heating and cooling systems, transportation, lighting, and ventilation, just to name a few.
This energy source is growing fast: between and , solar rose from 0.06% to 1.11% of the global energy mix. In , it recorded a record growth of 22% as installations experienced a boom. Among the countries that have poured the most money into solar energy are China &#; by far the largest investor, the United States, Japan, Australia, and India. The latter aims to be a global leader in solar energy, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi committing to increase energy from renewable sources up to 50% by the end of . In Europe, Spain is one of the first countries to deploy large-scale solar photovoltaics and the largest producer of solar-powered electricity on the continent.
Global Solar Energy Generation, . Image: Our World in Data.Before we move on to some of the advantages and disadvantages of solar, it is worth answering a question: how does solar energy work?
When sunlight strikes the Earth&#;s surface, human-made innovative technologies capture their light and heat and convert these into electrical energy. This conversion happens through photovoltaic (PV) panels, which contain cells that can capture the sunlight&#;s energy. This energy generates electrical charges that move around the cell, causing electricity to flow. An alternative to PV is solar thermal panels: as opposed to PV generating electricity, thermal panels create heat. When installed on a roof facing the sun, they capture the hot sun rays which are used to heat water stored in a cylinder.
While many nations are starting to recognise the vast potential of solar energy &#; a powerful and extremely beneficial renewable source &#; there are still some downsides to it. We explore the main advantages and disadvantages of solar energy.
You might also like: 12 Solar Energy Facts You Might Not Know About
As the name suggests, solar power is a resource that never runs out. Unlike fossil fuels, the production of which requires huge efforts, time, and expensive heavy machinery, renewables convert a natural resource &#; in the case of solar power, sunlight &#; directly into electricity. Another big factor that makes renewable energy much more attractive than coal, oil, and natural gas is the significant difference in emissions, namely fossi fuels being one of the world&#;s largest contributors to the generation of greenhouse gases. Renewable energy sources are not only cleaner but also cheaper and easier to produce than any fossil fuel. But what makes solar energy particularly advantageous over other sources of renewable energy?
In fact, solar is the most abundant energy source on the planet and throughout the years, we managed to develop innovative technologies that could allow us to depend entirely on solar for the rest of our existence. Another huge advantage is that just a tiny fraction of the sunlight we get every day can provide a huge amount of energy. Indeed, the US Department of Energy argues that an hour and a half of sunlight that reaches the planet&#;s surface generates enough power to meet all of humanity&#;s energy consumption for an entire year.
Over the years, scientists have made some important advances in the development of solar technologies, notably improving the efficiency of solar panels and battery storage systems as well as their overall durability over time. According to Rhone Resch, President of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the global PV sector has been growing at an average of over 40% in the last eight years and major advances in automation, manufacturing, and throughput have considerably improved this technology. Most panels today are between 15% and 20% efficient, meaning that they are able to convert 15% to 20% of the amount of sunlight they absorb into electricity. Panels&#; efficiency has improved consistently over the past decade, a promising factor and one that contributes to continued cost reduction. Furthermore, their resistance to extreme weather has been drastically improved, bringing their average durability to about three decades with little to no loss in efficiency.
Improvements have also been made in battery storage systems, which are emerging as a key solution to effectively integrate solar renewables in global power systems on a large scale. Most of the world&#;s utility-scale storage systems are being deployed in Australia, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Small islands and off-grid communities have invested in large-scale battery storage systems to store excess energy. However, an increasing number of small-scale batteries are also being produced and they are expected to complement utility-scale applications by .
In the list of the advantages of solar energy, price is an important point. In its World Energy Outlook report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) confirmed that solar power schemes now offer the cheapest electricity in history. In its report, the Agency predicted that by , renewable energy generation will keep growing, with solar power production skyrocketing and becoming the world&#;s primary source of electricity. Solar energy is indeed praised for the relatively marginal operation and maintenance costs of panels. While the cost of panels itself is the most critical part of the overall equation, solar is definitely a cheap source of power that can considerably lower the electricity bill in the long run.
World Net Electricity Generation By Source, -. Image: EIA.Lastly, solar energy generation&#;s minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is one of the main benefits of this renewable energy source. Indeed, solar power produces no emissions during generation itself and studies demonstrate that it has a considerably smaller carbon footprint than fossil fuels over its life cycle. Even though PV modules and other components are made of materials that are mined and processed and thus generate some levels of emissions, solar is still undoubtedly a carbon-smart energy source whose lifetime emissions are insignificant when compared to coal and natural gas. In fact, a coal power plant releases on average 25 times more emissions than the ones produced by a solar power system. Similarly, a natural gas power plant, despite being less polluting than coal, still generates 10 times the amount of emissions generated by a solar array.
You might also like: 4 Indisputable Advantages of Wind Energy
Did we not just say that solar energy is getting cheaper? Well, it is true. However, there are some aspects of solar technology that are still quite expensive. Indeed, purchasing a solar system requires a significant initial investment to cover the costs of panels, inverter, batteries, wiring, and the installation of the system itself. One of the most expensive parts of the system is the batteries used for solar power storage, which can cost upwards of USD$5,000. When solar energy started being commercialised 40 years ago, the price of panels was also incredibly high. Nevertheless, solar technologies are constantly developing and this is contributing to a significant decrease in prices. Statistics show that the average global cost of solar PV modules has gone down drastically in the first two decades of commercial solar power production and it has been slowly but consistently decreasing ever since. Just a decade ago, an average 6-kilowatt hour residential solar system could cost USD$50,000 or more. However, the price has gone down by an annual average of 62% and nowadays, a typical home installation rarely exceeds UDS$20,000.
Global Average Cost of Solar PV Module, -. Image: Our World in Data.
An undoubted disadvantage of solar energy is that this technology is not equally efficient around the world. While solar power can be generated on a cloudy day, some level of daylight is still required in order to harness the sun&#;s energy, and the amount of energy that can be produced varies greatly depending on many factors, such as the amount and quality of direct sunlight that the panels receive as well as the size, number, and locations of the panels themselves. Thus, in countries that receive limited sunlight throughout the year, alternative renewable resources like geothermal energy and hydropower might work better. In Iceland, an area with little sunlight and wind, for example, these two energy sources make up 27% and 73% respectively, allowing the country to generate 100% of its energy from renewables.
As we said before, the carbon footprint of solar energy is minimal. However, this renewable still has some aspects, mainly related to land use and waste generation, that can still harm the environment. First and foremost, solar power plants require space. For example, a solar power plant to provide electricity for 1,000 homes would require 32 acres of land. This means that, in order to meet the US energy consumption needs, nearly 19 million acres, equivalent to 0.8% of the entire country, would be necessary.
Another factor to consider is the management and disposal of hazardous materials such as metals and glass needed to build some components of solar infrastructure that are energy-intensive to produce and thus responsible for the generation of carbon emissions. Building PV cells and panels also requires some hazardous chemicals and heavy metals. To avoid harming the environment, such materials necessitate careful management and disposal procedures once the solar plant&#;s life comes to an end. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) projects that by , solar energy systems could be responsible for up to 78 million tonnes of waste.
The short answer is yes. There is no such thing as a &#;perfect&#; energy source. From nuclear and fossil fuels to renewable resources, all of them have many advantages but also some disadvantages, solar energy included. However, as we are quickly running out of time in the race to reach zero emissions, it is crucial that all countries begin to seriously evaluate which sources of energy can bring the most benefits. While solar energy might not be the best solution for northern countries for the lack of sunlight they receive throughout the year, and some of its disadvantages such as the extensive land use that the installation of solar panels requires might not make it the best candidate for everyone, this renewable resource, along with all others, certainly has undeniable potential and it still a better alternative to environmentally unfriendly fossil fuels, beyond being the best chance we have at stopping global warming.
If you enjoyed reading about the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy, you might also like: Can We Build Solar Power Systems in Space?
Our non-profit newsroom provides climate coverage free of charge and advertising. Your one-off or monthly donations play a crucial role in supporting our operations, expanding our reach, and maintaining our editorial independence.
About EO | Mission Statement | Impact & Reach | Write for us
For more Solar Panel Production Lineinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
Donate now