What are the Pros & Cons of Solar?

By Shannon Bell
1/14/2010

What are the Pros and Cons of Solar Energy?
Solar energy has been gaining interest among many people as an alternative to conventional power resources. The high costs and pollution associated with commodities such as oil, gas and coal are becoming more evident all the time. More research is being conducted on solar energy than ever before. While it has many benefits, it also has a few disadvantages.
What are the advantages and drawbacks of solar energy?
Advantages:
After paying for solar panels, it costs nothing to harness the energy of the sun to help power homes and the electric devices associated with them. As long as the sun shines, your solar panels will convert the sunlight into electricity.
Fossil fuels are a finite resource, and their costs are constantly increasing. Political conflicts with countries that are main suppliers of these resources can result in massive price hikes. Sunlight is a constantly renewable supplier of electricity.
You can install as few or as many solar panels as you need, depending upon your energy requirements. As long as you live in an area with sufficient sunshine, you may be able to generate a significant amount of power.
If you live in an area that is not part of an electrical grid, you can still use solar energy to power your home.
Solar energy does not cause air pollution. Unlike fossil fuels, solar energy does not release pollutants into the air. Its production is also quiet and odor-free, unlike that of fossil fuels.
It is possible to store solar energy by way of backup batteries. It can be stored for short periods, or even longer. Many companies are developing "power towers" that are capable of storing electricity generated by the sun for considerably longer periods of time.
Disadvantages:
The amount of electricity produced by the sun depends upon the amount of sunlight received in a given area. If you live in a region that does not have a great deal of sunlight, or is prone to pollutants in the air, your solar panels will not generate as much power.
The initial installation of solar panels can be expensive, even though the investment will pay off over time. Also, you will need an ideal location for your panels. If you plan to install a large number of panels, your property must be able to accommodate them.
Solar energy is not produced at night, although some energy may be stored in batteries.
Solar panels may be damaged by the elements. If you live in an area with severe weather conditions, you may have a more difficult time in determining the ideal placement of solar panels.
About the Author
Shannon Bell writes for http://www.residentialsolarpanels.org/ a non commercial blog focused on her Photovoltaic experiences to help people understand how and why they should save energy investing in solar power. She writes on Solar Power for Homes to help people learn how to start save energy from the scratch and then apply those experience to the next level.