Disadvantages of solar energy
Solar energy, or rather the energy that is produced by the sun has been benefiting the earth and life on earth since time immemorial. Mankind has been using the solar energy in one form or the other since its existence. Mankind has been using the energy of the sun to dry clothes and make foods for thousands and thousands of years. However the idea and the concept of generating power or electricity form solar energy are very recent and it has been applied in our daily lives only recently. You will be amazed to know that though the sun is as far as 150 million kilometers away from the earth, but yet just the tiny fractions of the energy of the sun that reaches the earth is enough to produce power to meet all our needs for many times.
However as every coin have two sides, everything has its own pros and cons. Similarly the energy that we get from the sun also has its own share of advantages and disadvantages. However the fact is that the numerous advantages of solar energy overshadow the disadvantages of solar energy. Almost all of us have a general overview of what is solar energy. Solar energy travels to earth thorough space in separate packets of energy, which is referred to as photons. The energy that the sun provides or the solar energy is basically all about harnessing the power of the sun to produce energy. You will be amazed to know that the amount of solar energy that sun provides in a day is enough to sustain the energy needs of the whole world for one whole year.
However as mentioned before, solar energy has also its own share of disadvantages. One of the major and primary disadvantages of solar energy is the initial investment that is required to exploit or harness the energy of the sun. Though the use of solar energy for generating power is increasing with every passing day, but the fact is that the technologies of solar energy still involves high costs, compared to other technologies like fossil fuel, which are more readily available. With the decrease in the price of solar energy panels, the use of solar cells in order to produce or generate power is likely to increase. Another drawback regarding the installation of solar energy is that the solar energy system needs a spacious area in order to work efficiently and provide enough electricity. This can be a problem where space is short or expensive, like in the case of inner cities.
There are some disadvantages of solar energy that can be sited. One among them is that pollution can cause problem to the solar energy panels, as pollution is likely to degrade or damage the efficiency of many cells. Clouds can also pose the same problem, as it can block substantial level of photons, which are contained within the rays of the sun. One major drawback of solar energy is that, it is only useful while the sun is shining, however the use of solar battery chargers can overcome this problem. Another advantage of solar energy is that, the position of the sun can affect performances due to possible obstructions from the surrounding or nearby buildings and landscapes. So though the advantages are undoubtedly more in number, but still there are certain disadvantages of solar energy as well. |
