The advantages and disadvantages of solar energy refers to the benefits and risks of using technologies to capture and use light energy from the sun.
Of all the solar energy that reaches the Earth:
43% is used to heat the atmosphere and the ground; 35% is returned to space when reflected on Earth; 22% is used in the water cycle: evaporation, precipitation and condensation; 0.2% is used in wind generation; and 0.02% is used by plants in the photosynthesis process. Solar energy Advantages Disadvantages For society Use of urban space. Low maintenance cost. Diversity of applications. Technological development High initial investment cost. Requires storage systems (batteries). Low energy production efficiency. Lack of information and technical support. For the environment Alternative energy. Renewable energy. Low emission of greenhouse gases Depends on the climate. Variability of sunlight. Affected by air pollution. For the planet Use of desert regions. Worldwide availability. Access in remote places. Large tracts of land for large-scale production. Disposal and recycling of toxic materials. Ideal production sites (deserts) far from population centers.
Solar energy: advantages
1. Renewable energy source
The energy coming from the sun is limitless in practical terms.
2. Energy alternative
Solar panels (photovoltaic systems) can be used in homes, industries and other facilities, thereby reducing dependence on energy from fossil fuels.
3. Diversity of applications
We can use solar energy for different purposes:
To generate electricity: through photovoltaic systems (solar panels). To generate heat: through thermal systems, solar energy is used to heat water and facilities.
The applications depend on the technology involved.
4. Use of urban space
The installation of photovoltaic or thermal systems can be carried out on urban constructions, roofs of buildings and houses, thus taking advantage of this space for the generation of electrical and/or thermal energy.
5. Low maintenance cost
The maintenance of solar energy collector systems is low once installed.
6. Technological development
The technological development of the solar energy industry is constantly advancing. One of the aspects to improve is the manufacture of photovoltaic cells that are more economically attractive, more durable and more efficient.
7. Use of desert regions
Deserts are considered insufferable regions, practically abandoned due to the difficulty of surviving when not adapted. However, they are an excellent option for the use of solar energy throughout the year.
For example, the El Romero Solar plant in the Atacama desert in Chile produces energy equivalent to the consumption of 240,000 homes and provides 100% of the energy required in the Google data center in Chile.
8. Low greenhouse gas emissions
Electricity that is generated by solar power is virtually pollution free when compared to fossil fuels. The emission of greenhouse gases is reduced for two reasons:
Once installed, the operation of photovoltaic systems does not release greenhouse gases; By obtaining energy by this means, you are stopping the use of fossil fuels.
9. Availability worldwide and beyond
The International Space Station gets its power from solar panels (NASA Credits).
Solar energy is available all over the world: the sun illuminates every corner of the Earth. Even in outer space. For example, the solar arrays on the International Space Station provide all the electrical power required by members of the various expeditions.
10. Access to electricity in remote places
In some places where access to the public electricity grid is restricted, the use of photovoltaic systems is an acceptable option. For example:
to operate irrigation systems in fields, to light roadways, to operate emergency call booths on highways, for navigation systems and buoys, to operate hydraulic pumps, and for electric fences.
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Solar energy: disadvantages
1. Large tracts of land
The technology to collect and produce electricity on a large scale from solar energy requires large tracts of land, so it would compete with land for agriculture or forests. For example, the El Romero Solar plant comprises 776,000 photovoltaic modules that cover an area of 280 hectares in the Atacama desert in Chile.
2. High investment cost
The initial purchase investment of the photovoltaic system is high, since it requires, apart from the photovoltaic modules, the inverter, the charge regulator, the wiring, the batteries and the installation.
3. Weather dependent
On cloudy and rainy days the efficiency of solar energy capture decreases considerably. For example, on the rainiest days of winter, less than a tenth of what can be obtained on a bright summer day is generated.
4. Variability of sunlight
The angle at which sunlight hits a particular region varies throughout the day. In stationary solar energy collection equipment, it is difficult to make full use of solar energy throughout the day.
Sunlight also varies depending on the time of year. For tropical countries, the number of daylight hours is approximately the same throughout the year; however, countries in temperate zones receive less daylight hours during autumn-winter.
5. Population centers far from power generation centers
Ideal production sites, such as deserts, are very far from large population centers. Although these sites provide the most efficient power generation, distributing this power to consumers presents a logistical problem. For example, El Romero Solar, in the Atacama Desert in Chile, is located 645 km from the capital, Santiago.
6. Disposal and recycling of toxic materials
The biggest environmental problem associated with photovoltaic systems is the use of toxic chemicals such as cadmium sulfide and gallium arsenide in their manufacture. These chemicals are highly toxic and persist in the environment for centuries, making locating and recycling cell materials a serious problem.
7. Low efficiency of energy production
Of all the solar energy that reaches the photovoltaic panels, on average only one fifth is transformed into electricity. Although it is possible to increase the efficiency with different materials, the economic cost is very high. However, the efficiency may not exceed 30% due to the physics of current technologies.
8. Affected by air pollution
Air pollution, smog and dust interfere with light transmission. Thus, in cities with notable air pollution, the efficiency of solar panels will be reduced.
9. Depends on backup systems
To maintain current electricity consumption levels, it is required to have a backup system:
storage system: as batteries, to store energy when there is sun and use it when there is no sun.
backup systems: either using an electrical generator or connected to the city’s conventional electrical system.
10. Lack of information and technical support
There is a lot of ignorance about how solar-powered power generation systems work and how much they produce. This is reflected in the fact that few companies have dominance of the systems market.
If any equipment or solar panels are damaged, private users rely exclusively on the technical support of the vendor companies, whose technical knowledge is very limited.
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References
DeGunther, R. Alternative Energy for Dummies. Wiley Publishing. 2009.