If you are reading this system, you either want to be informed about solar power or you want to use solar power in some capacity. Solar power is the paramount source of “alternative energy.” (I place alternative energy in quotation marks because I believe that, within two generations, oil will become the alternative power source for mankind.)
Solar energy is unsurpassed by any other form of energy. The reasons for using solar power over any other form of energy are numerous:
• It is delivered everywhere, every day.
• It is completely free to use, collect, and store.
• It is free from transportation costs.
• It is free from pollution.
• It is an unlimited resource.
• It is the most reliable source of energy.
By comparing the advantages and disadvantages of solar power, you can see that solar has many advantages and few disadvantages. The advantages of solar power are obvious:
• Stable
• Reliable
• Abundant
• Free for everyone (after the costs of the equipment and setup)
• Available everywhere
• The most cost-efficient form of energy, if used correctly
• Clean power (zero emissions, zero health risks)
• Zero CO2 emissions during use
• Preserves our natural environment, air quality, and limited water supplies
• No delivery costs
• No pollution
• Almost maintenance free
• Eligible for tax rebates when you set up solar panels
• You can profit from your extra solar energy
• Generates local jobs
• Provides greater energy security over the long term
The disadvantages of solar power pertain only to one form of solar energy - photovoltaic (PV) solar power :
• High initial cost
• Production of solar panels creates pollution
• The sun is not always available, so solar is an intermittent power source
• Disposal issues of old solar panels
The first two listed disadvantages of PV solar will soon be less important, as solar costs are decreasing. I am often verbally assaulted when I claim that solar energy is the most cost-effective form of power, past, present and future. But this is not only my opinion- it’s a fact. Individual solar projects can result in both personal and financial rewards in addition to cost savings.
In addition, the introduction of commercially available thin-film solar technology will change how solar energy is used. The promise of thin-film solar is a dramatic reduction in cost and speed of production, as thin-film solar’s retail purchase price is 80 percent less than that of current PV solar panels.
Solar energy is unsurpassed by any other form of energy. The reasons for using solar power over any other form of energy are numerous:
• It is delivered everywhere, every day.
• It is completely free to use, collect, and store.
• It is free from transportation costs.
• It is free from pollution.
• It is an unlimited resource.
• It is the most reliable source of energy.
By comparing the advantages and disadvantages of solar power, you can see that solar has many advantages and few disadvantages. The advantages of solar power are obvious:
• Stable
• Reliable
• Abundant
• Free for everyone (after the costs of the equipment and setup)
• Available everywhere
• The most cost-efficient form of energy, if used correctly
• Clean power (zero emissions, zero health risks)
• Zero CO2 emissions during use
• Preserves our natural environment, air quality, and limited water supplies
• No delivery costs
• No pollution
• Almost maintenance free
• Eligible for tax rebates when you set up solar panels
• You can profit from your extra solar energy
• Generates local jobs
• Provides greater energy security over the long term
The disadvantages of solar power pertain only to one form of solar energy - photovoltaic (PV) solar power :
• High initial cost
• Production of solar panels creates pollution
• The sun is not always available, so solar is an intermittent power source
• Disposal issues of old solar panels
The first two listed disadvantages of PV solar will soon be less important, as solar costs are decreasing. I am often verbally assaulted when I claim that solar energy is the most cost-effective form of power, past, present and future. But this is not only my opinion- it’s a fact. Individual solar projects can result in both personal and financial rewards in addition to cost savings.
In addition, the introduction of commercially available thin-film solar technology will change how solar energy is used. The promise of thin-film solar is a dramatic reduction in cost and speed of production, as thin-film solar’s retail purchase price is 80 percent less than that of current PV solar panels.