ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY
Several villages, cities and governments are trying to lower dependency on traditional sources of energy and are using wind, water and the sun instead. Every variant has something different to offer, thus a tabulation of solar energy pros and cons is useful to determine its place among other options.
Solar energy is a fast-evolving market, and that should count as one of the foremost advantages of solar energy. Much technological advance has been made in solar products in the century and a half since the idea was first conceived. It's in the interest of the consumer to create a balance sheet on the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy.
SOLAR ENERGY ADVANTAGES - THE ECONOMIC ANGLE
Indeed, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the pros and cons of solar energy is the fact that solar power is a renewable source. This is one of the advantages of solar energy that fits both the financial and the environmental bill. Let's tackle the monetary aspect first.
While improvements in solar systems have made solar power more financially accessible, the initial payment is nonetheless high. However, as solar energy becomes more affordable with each passing year, another one of solar energy advantages is that after the initial payment is recovered, solar energy is actually cost-free. The electricity bill decreases, and savings are long-term. Moreover, government incentives definitely sweeten the deal; case in point: the National Solar Mission. Another one of the economic advantages of solar energy is no zero transmission / transport cost, since the energy is produced when consumed.
Taking the economic angle a little further, much of India's dependence on foreign oil can be reduced, which in turn would save crores of rupees. India has excellent solar insolation figures - around 3000 hours per year, which can be put to use in an ultimately cost-effective and sustainable channel. For India, at least, the advantages of solar energy far outweigh the disadvantages of solar energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
what are some advantages and disadvantages of solar energy?
what are some advantages and disadvantages of solar energy?-
ANSWER:
Advantages:
(1) lower marginal cost for increasing energy production (you don't have to build a new coal fired facility to achieve a small increase in power production);
(2) fewer issues with greenhouse gas production
(3) distributed power production;
(4) some independence from the grid.Disadvantages:
(1) dependency on insolation (it works better in Arizona than in the Yukon);
(2) initial installation cost for individual homeowner (but this is changing with new financing methods);
(3) sensitivity to weather
(4) it may require neighbors to be cooperative by not growing trees that block rooftop solar arrays;
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QUESTION:
Why is solar energy a renewable resource and also some advantages and disadvantages of using solar energy?
Please tell me some disadvantages and advantages of using solar energy. I also need to know why it is a renewable resource. Can you also tell me how much of of solar energy is left and how long it will last. Thank you so much. [Tell me some websites to vist about this information]-
ANSWER:
First, its all a guess but the sun will continue to shine for about another 2-4 billion years. So for all practical purposes, its eternal.
Solar energy depends on sunshine, one disadvantage is cloudy, overcast, rainy, snow etc. days. No sunshine, no real energy. Another difficulty is converting solar energy, solar panels generate direct current (DC) and this has to be converted to AC current to run appliances, etc. in your house. In order to store solar energy, batteries are required, so the DC current from the solar panels can charge the batteries, and then the DC current must be converted to AC.
Solar panels are not cheap but the price is coming down. They also don't last forever and can be damaged by hail, etc.
The good news is, solar energy is clean, not pollution except for the manufacture of the panels and for the moment, sunshine is still free.
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QUESTION:
the disadvantages of windmills and disadvantages of solar energy.?
hey i'm doing a debate in my high school science class and its about alternative energy. my group is doing wind energy and there aren't really that many disadvantages that i could find. one disadvantage was that it kills hundreds of birds. what point should i back it up with if the opposing team mentions it? also what are some good points that i can through at the opposing team? their doing solar panels/solar energy.-
ANSWER:
Where did you get the idea that wind mills kill birds ? Not so, the trouble is that you youngsters are told stories like the killing of birds.Fact is they are not used enough, China has more wind farms and enough to power a very large industrial city out in the no mans land of China. This country tells you kids what they want you to buy into, called" wagging the dog " dis-information, just look at the oil spill. We we're told that the leak was pouring out at approx 5 thousand gallons- reality was that it was sending more then five times this amount.
So in the long run the only disadvantage is that they're not enough wind farms in use, so you do some more in-depth searching on wind farms and this will get you a winning team to work.
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QUESTION:
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using direct solar energy ?
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using direct solar energy to heat buildings and water, and to produce energy.-
ANSWER:
The sun is providing free energy every day. How much energy depends mainly on the latitude and to some extent on climate. The question that you are asking is to evaluate our use of this energy to heat buildings and water and presumably other uses.Advantages:
This energy is free at source and is totally renewable, as far as we know for thousands of years.
Disadvantages:
To harness this energy we need to employ materials and resources and to use our ingenuity to provide technical solutions appropriate to the economic and physical situation and location. There is a capital cost and possibly maintenance costs.
The actual harnessing of the energy can only happen in daylight hours so there may be problems of storing the energy at night.
The advantages are greatest in hot sunny climates but the need for energy is often greater in colder, northern or southern latitudes.
Methods
What are the methods that we can use? Where are the different methods most appropriate?
Buildings
For buildings we need to consider internal climate control and hot water supply and for both these we can use passive and active methods. It is also much easier to incorporate suitable provisions into new domestic, commercial and public construction, although significant improvements can be made to existing buildings.
Passive methods: The four methods for domestic construction in the northern hemisphere that make use of greenhouse effect are:
South facing windows (large windows on south, small or none on north side) other elevations as appropriate with solar shading or solar glazing and thermal insulation.
South facing roof space: usually pitched roof used as a solar collector. May need small fan and duct to circulate hot air.
Conservatory: South side glazed volume.
Trombe wall. South glazed wall with heavy masonry or concrete wall painted black.And for larger buildings one might use a climate wall i.e. glazed external wall with significant air space between external and internal wall (internal wall can be fully or partially glazed or incorporate thermal mass for storage of heat)
Active methods use solar voltaic panels or solar collectors with water pumped to storage or direct use. Thermosiphon systems, where the storage tank is placed above the collector, do not need a pump and are therefore regarded as a passive system. Standard units are used for hot water supply throughout the Mediterranean countries and middle east. The use of thermal chimneys is also an anchient passive method of internal climate control with modern uses.
This is a very big subject and I have only touched on a brief outline. One could also discuss earth sheltering, construction methods, sustainability, low technology methods for emerging third world countries such as solar ovens and all sorts of related subjects.
Although all the above information is from my own personal knowledge, I have used references in the past such as Wikipedia, (on line encyclopaedia) the Energy Trust Website (a non- profit making Trust based in London) and for low cost energy saving
technology: http://www.energygreed.com/. This site offers a manual for building your own solar power array and wind turbine, with sources for free batteries and claims to save you 80% on electricity costs. In the future I think we will have better gas fired boilers that are not only more efficient like condensation boilers, but combine heating and power generation, so that you will be able to sell back your surplus electricity to the national grid in Britain or the power utility company in USA and Canada. Meanwhile we have to rely on the present technology and in cold climates improved insulation or more heavily insulated new construction, double or triple glazing. Solar methods can be quite useful depending on the payback period. Heat pumps with ground collection systems usually take longer to payback and depend on your having a large volume low energy heat source such as a large pond or coils in the ground. Wind energy is another useful method, and although intermittent can have an acceptable payback period.
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QUESTION:
what are the advantages and disadvantages to solar energy?
need three advantages and and three disadvantages for using solar energy-
ANSWER:
Advantages:1. Green- no toxic emissions at all
2. Perpetual resouce- will ALWAYS be there unlike fossil fuels.
3. Can be used anywhere in the worldDisadvantages
1. Sun is part of weather which is unpredictable
2. Expensive- need solar panels which are pricy
3. Can't operate at nightHope this helps
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