Solar energy pros and cons are a hot topic today. As the earth’s most plentiful energy source, the sun holds enormous promise as a clean and dependable way to power our world.
When the sun’s radiant energy is converted to heat and electricity, it can provide energy to residences, businesses, and even vehicles.
Now might be a good time to learn about solar energy advantages and explore adding a solar energy system to your home. Then you can decide: Is solar energy worth it?
When considering home energy options, it is important to understand how solar energy works. When sunlight hits a solar panel, a photovoltaic cell turns that light into direct current (DC) electricity. An inverter then converts it to alternating current (AC), which is what most devices in your home use.
What Is Solar Energy?
Solar energy is electrical or thermal energy harvested from sunlight. Solar panels contain photovoltaic (PV) cells made up of semiconductor materials (such as silicon) to absorb elemental particles from the sun called photons.
When absorbed by the panel, the photons release electrons from the atoms of the semiconductor material and the flow of these electrons within the cell creates an electric current we can direct to our circuits.
Solar panels can be placed anywhere with an abundance of sunlight, such as open fields or rooftops. The more light the panels sit exposed to, the more electricity production potential.
The sun’s constant barrage of energy in the form of photons can be collected, transformed and used to power our world—but for you, the question may be more about cost-effectiveness.
Is solar efficient enough to power your home or business? Below are the pros and cons of this process and what solar’s availability and cost mean for consumers.
Pros and Cons of Solar Energy
| The Advantages Of Solar Energy | The Disadvantages Of Solar Energy |
| 100% inexhaustible energy, which is renewable and free | Intermittent energy |
| No toxic or polluting emissions into the air | High initial cost |
| Reduces the use of fossil fuels | Location of the home |
| Reduces Electricity Bills | Weather Dependent |
| Subsidies for self-supply | Solar Energy Storage is Expensive |
| Reduces the need to rely on the electricity grid or natural gas | Uses a Lot of Space |
| Environmentally Friendly | Time-consuming |
The Advantages of Solar Energy
- Solar energy is 100% inexhaustible energy, which is renewable and causes no greenhouse gases to be emitted after installation.
- No toxic or polluting emissions into the air;
- Reduces the use of fossil fuels.
- Increasingly competitive energy source;
- Reduces the need to rely on the electricity grid or natural gas;
- Subsidies for self-supply;
- Solar Panels Are Low-Maintenance, they can last 25 years or longer. Solar energy systems generally don’t require a lot of maintenance. You only need to keep them relatively clean, so cleaning them a couple of times per year will do the job.
- Solar energy is a truly renewable energy source. It can be harnessed in all areas of the world and is available every day. We cannot run out of solar energy, unlike some of the other sources of energy.
- Creates jobs by employing solar panel manufacturers, solar installers, etc., and in turn helps the economy.
- Excess electricity can be sold back to the power company if the grid is internally tied
- Solar energy enables energy independence and the ability to live off the grid when all the electricity generated is sufficient for the home/building.
- Can be installed practically anywhere; on a field to a building
- Use batteries to store extra energy for the night
- Solar energy can be used to heat water, power homes and buildings, and even power cars
- Safer than traditional electric power
- Efficiency is constantly improving, so the size of solar available today will be even more efficient tomorrow.
- Aesthetics are improved, making the solar panel more versatile compared to older models; i.e., pressure, flexibility, solar shingles, etc.
- Federal grants, tax incentives, and rebate programs are available to help with acquisition costs. Some of which can be deduced using a solar calculator.
- No digging is required as the solar can stand near or at the installation site.
The Disadvantages of Solar Energy
- The high initial cost for material and installation and long ROI.
- Weather dependent on cloudy days does not produce as much energy.
- Solar energy storage is expensive, it has to be used right away, or it can be stored in large batteries.
- Needs lots of space as efficiency is not 100% yet.
- Devices that run on DC power directly are more expensive.
- Location of the home, depending on geographical location the size of the solar panels varies for the same power generation.
- Solar panels are not being massed produced due to a lack of material and technology to lower the cost enough to be more affordable.
- Solar-powered cars do not have the same speeds and power as typical gas-powered cars.
- Lower solar production in the winter months.
Should We Still Invest in Solar Energy?
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.
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.
It still a better alternative to environmentally unfriendly fossil fuels, beyond being the best chance we have at stopping global warming.