As you may well know, energy sources are essential to our society’s working and progression. We are dependent on them to get fuel and electricity for much of the technology we use.
This means the cars that we travel in, the air conditioners we use and components like an electrical contactor in our circuits.
However, due to the extensive use of non-renewable energy, our planet is in trouble and energy crises loom on the horizon. There is a need for better sources of energy to prevent such a situation from occurring.
One such energy source is solar energy, which is harvested from sunlight using solar panels. This technology has improved extensively in recent years, and many households have adopted it. Yet, only a fraction of the population uses it?
This begs the question, is solar energy a viable energy source? What are its advantages and disadvantages? We will discuss exactly that in this article.
Advantages
Renewable
The main advantage of solar energy is that it is an entirely renewable energy source. This is because sunlight is available throughout the year and will not run out for a few billion years.
Therefore, solar panels can harness this energy throughout, ensuring you have power all the time.
Compare this with sources like coal and oil, which are available in limited reserves. Eventually, they will run out, especially with how extensively they are used, so it is better to move on to solar energy.
Reduces Electricity Costs
If you are someone who pays the bills in your house, you will understand how extensive the electricity bill can be. For many people, this is a cost that they cannot always afford especially considering the state of the economy.
This is where investing in a solar energy system can help out.
Solar panels will generate electricity for you that will be stored in your house and that you can use at no extra cost. In this way, you will be able to cover large chunks of your electricity bill, ensuring savings for you in the long term.
Less Maintenance
Solar energy systems require significantly less maintenance once installed. This usually involves cleaning the solar panels that you can do yourself or by hiring an expert.
Typically, an extended warranty is available with these systems, so you won’t have to worry about them breaking down. There are no moving parts involved, so there is significantly less wear and tear.
Disadvantages
Initial Costs
Solar energy systems may lead to many long-term savings, but the initial costs for installing one are relatively high.
This includes the price of the equipment, installation, panels, batteries and wiring.
For many people who do not have money saved up, this can feel like a not worthwhile investment.
However, the price of this technology will likely go down as it evolves with time and becomes more mainstream.
Unreliable
Solar energy can be unreliable at times because it is dependent on the weather. This is because the amount of sunlight available will depend on how cloudy and rainy it is.
Therefore, during winter, solar energy systems may not be as reliable due to less energy available due to weather and less daylight.
In this way, solar energy systems are more effective paired with traditional electricity grids. However, large batteries that store solar energy can somewhat counter this problem.
Expensive Storage
Batteries used in solar energy systems are helpful, but they can be pretty expensive. These batteries are large in size and are not like the traditional batteries we are familiar with. Replacing these batteries can be costly if one uses them extensively too.
It is recommended to use solar energy during the day instead of the night to reduce the chances of this happening since people use more electricity during the day.
To sum up
The world needs alternative energy sources due to the environment’s dangers and potential energy crises. Solar energy is one such energy source that can be such an energy source.
It has already seen use in many households but is it yet to become the norm. We have looked at various advantages and disadvantages to determine whether it is a viable energy source.
Looking at them, do you think we should work to make solar energy the mainstream energy source? Let us know what you think. Thank you for reading! We hope this article proves insightful into this wonderful energy source and technology.