Solar energy is one of the most abundant types of renewable energy source available, it is also known as the radiant light or heat that is coming from the sun. The technologies that are used in harnessing solar energy are solar heating, solar thermal electricity, solar photovoltaic, solar architecture and artificial photosynthesis. These solar technologies can be either passive or active, depending on how they are able to capture light energy. Active solar technique harnesses the energy from the sun with the use of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal. The passive solar techniques orient building to the sun and design spaces that circulate the air. It is said that the earth’s atmosphere, ocean and the land absorbed approximately 3, 850, 000 exajoules. The solar energy is truly helpful in giving and providing electricity in many useful things, but aside from the useful effects of it are the disadvantages that can affect many people. To know the positive and negative sides of using solar energy, here are the things that you need to know.
Advantages of Solar Energy
Solar energy are useful in generating electricity, the energy from the sun can be convert into usable electricity. The most common tool that is used in converting sunlight into electricity is the photovoltaic cells, which utilize a semi conductor that absorb the radiation that is coming from the sun.
- It can be used as simple technology that can be helpful in heating water (solar water heaters).
- Solar energy is safe and that it does not cause any kind of pollution.
- It can last forever, it is estimated that the world’s oil reserves will last or about 30-40 years.
- Solar energy are produced free of charge.
- Solar energy promotes a clean environment and is a renewable energy source.
- There is only little maintenance that is needed to keep the solar cells running.
- There are no moving parts in the solar cell that is why there are no worries that it can be damaged.
- Can be more helpful in giving power to calculators and other low power consuming devices.
- This kind of energy can be use even in remote areas.
- They are silent producer energy and do not create much of the noise.
- Solar energy is free.
Disadvantages of Solar Energy
Even though solar energy is free, the installation of it will be more expensive and can result in a time lag of many years just to match energy bills that will match initial investments.
- They are very expensive to build and some of the solar power stations do not actually match the power output of similar sized conventional power stations.
- Solar energy requires the energy of the sun and because of that it cannot be created during at night and are only limited to some of the countries climate.
- Solar energy is used to charge batteries so that the solar powered devices can be used even at night but because batteries can often be large and heavy there is a tendency to replace it from time to time.
