 Disadvantages Of Solar Energy
- and Advantages
Those thinking of cutting their ties with the electric company and relying on the sun to provide electric power should consider the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy before having the wires removed. The immediate thought is not receiving a monthly electric bill and playing a role in saving the environment from the pollution of fossil fuel power generators, but there are other considerations that may make the move to solar power less attractive.
The first thing to consider is the initial cost of installation to provide enough power to the home and make the return in lower utility bills worth the investment. This cost can be approximated at ,000 for every 1,000 kilowatts of power generated. While no monthly bill from the electric company may be one of the advantages of solar power it can also be a disadavantage since if your solar energy system fails you will be left in the dark. The main components of a solar power generation system consists of solar panels, storage batteries, a power inverter and a charge controller to prevent damage to the batteries as well as to keep them fully charged.
As prices for photovoltaic cells fall, the initial installation will reduce the initial cost, but at its current rate, the average annual cost, considering the five-year life expectancy of many of the parts, will be about ,000 per year before a return on the investment is realized. However, other advantages and disadvantages of solar power can help make the decision easier.
Environmental Concerns Push People To The Sun
For those conscious of the need for conservation of fossil fuels and to reduce their negative effects on the atmosphere, the advantages and disadvantages of solar power are outweighed by the environmental benefits. The average person uses under 900 kilowatts a month, requiring about 170 pounds of coal. This results in about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide being pushed into the atmosphere every year. It also requires about 100 gallons of water every month.
With the appropriate size solar panel array and sufficient battery backup, solar power can be used 24-hours a day, seven days a week. However, extended periods of bad weather resulting in the sun not penetrating the clouds, the batteries may run low leaving the home without power. However, the advantages and disadvantages of solar power are also overcome in remote areas with little or no access to the power grid. Without the availability of solar power, having electricity would not be possible in these areas.
Solar Energy Facts
Solar power is essentially part of a large nuclear power plant, with the main supply coming from about 93 million miles away and the sun supplies enough energy in one hour to supply the entire world for about a year. Once people begin to understand the solar energy facts they begin to understand that it may become a viable part in providing a renewable energy source.
Currently, typical solar cells operate at an efficiency of about 15- percent with some less expensive cells operating at eight percent efficiency. It is these solar energy facts that are making some people reluctant to embrace this technology. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions as well as lower the dependence of oil and coal, as well as other fossil fuels make it attractive to environmentalists, but the low efficiency rating of the current crop of photovoltaic collectors that keep it from growing beyond its current annual growth of about 25 percent.
The average home will use about 1,000 kilowatts per month and it will cost just under ,000 for a solar electric system to meet that demand. Spread out over five years, the warranty period of most of the systems components, brings the cost down to about ,000 per year. Considering the solar energy facts, the average of 7 a month may be higher than the current bill, but if the components last longer or the costs of components continue to fall, so will the average monthly cost of solar power.
Global Solar Energy Use Is Increasing
In 1985, solar energy installation added just 21 megawatts to the power grid while in 2006 at was producing 1,744 megawatts, a significant growth in an industry using components with just a 15 percent efficiency rate. However, according to solar energy facts, with a one-year growth of 33 percent in 2006, the United States continues to push for greener power supplies.
Other countries are also pushing to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels with Japan offering loans for solar power systems and German, also offering loans to homeowners, also, based on solar energy facts, allows homes generating at least 1,000 kilowatts to sell the electricity exceeding their requirements back to the power company.
As more people realize the annual savings on electric costs can realize a profit after five years of their initial investment, they are taking more interest in solar energy facts and how they can provide power to remote locations with no accessibility to traditional electricity suppliers. |