A Look at the Other Side: The Disadvantages of Solar Energy
If you are young
enough to not have witnessed the energy crisis
that have stuck the global nation during the
late 1970’s, then you are in luck. Can
you imagine what will happen if the world
will face the same dilemma today? Fortunately,
there are a lot of alternative energy sources
aside from natural gas and oil in order for
the rest of the world to not depend on Middle
Eastern countries for their rich supply of
oil. These alternative energy sources are
more environment-friendly and the good news
is that, unlike the traditional energy sources,
they are renewable. Renewable in this case
means that Mother Nature can easily supply
the primary source of energy.
Take solar energy, for example. Solar energy
is obtained from sunlight which is then converted
into electrical energy that is being used
for homes, offices and other commercial establishments.
This type of energy is renewable since there
is an endless supply of sunlight, as long
as it is daytime. Solar energy utilizes the
power of the sun which provides life to all
the living things on Earth.
Now, there are several advantages of using
solar energy. Aside from being renewable,
solar energy is also produced without emitting
greenhouse effect which is a major contributor
to global warming. Cost and maintenance is
also a major advantage, since a solar energy
system installed in a home would cost almost
next to nothing in terms of maintenance right
after the system is installed.
However, just like any other form of energy
source, there is a downside or disadvantage
to using solar energy. If it costs less to
maintain the system, the initial installation
costs are quite steep which is why a lot of
homeowners are still hesitant in doling out
money to have a solar home energy system installed.
Also, in order to power an entire home using
solar energy, the area required to build photovoltaic
cells or solar panel systems is quite large.
There should be a large enough area covered
for a solar energy system to run efficiently.
In the same vein, the larger the solar energy
panel system that needs to be built, the higher
the costs of installation. Here, you need
to buy expensive semi-conducting materials
to be able to harness the power of the sun
and convert it into electrical energy which
is sufficient to meet your power supply needs.
When designing a complicated solar energy
system, it is a must to consider the most
ideal location of the panels so that you can
take maximum advantage of the position of
the sun during the different times of the
day. Another distinct disadvantage of solar
energy systems is that the power is only as
strong as the rays of the sun. If there is
a lot of interference in the form of clouds,
smog or air pollution, the production of solar
energy may be affected. However, in spite
of these disadvantages, the positive things
about solar energy still far outweigh the
negatives, so it still a viable option especially
for residential use
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