As all other energy sources solar energy also has its own pros and cons.
The various pros of solar energy are as given below:
• Pollution free – The most important advantage is that it does not produce any harmful gases or effluents during power production. This is important in current context of growing importance of ozone layer depletion and global warming etc.
• Renewable source of energy – solar energy is the harnessing of energy received from the sun, thus it is renewable, and does not get over when used, unlike other fossil fuels which become lesser and lesser over time and becomes extinct completely.
• Energy can be harnessed in remote areas – The best feature of solar energy is that it can be harnessed in very remote areas, where every other form of energy production is risky or not possible at all. An example of this is the production of electricity in satellites.
• Does not require special area/place to install – Installation of solar panels does not require special or large areas, the panels can be installed in the roof tops of buildings.
• Free source to produce energy – Solar energy need not be bought, it is free of cost. The installation process is the only stage where money is spent.
• Dependence on fossil fuel is reduced – the emergence of solar energy has reduced the high dependence on the fossil fuels which is becoming very costly.
• Reduces health costs – increased use of solar energy reduces the cost spent on health indirectly because there is no emissions like carbon, sulphur di oxide, etc and also acid rains.
• Independent working – once installed the solar panels work on their own and do not require any manual operation.
• Low to no maintenance – maintenance cost of solar panels is meagre. Sometimes no maintenance is required.
The cons of solar energy are given below
• Initial cost – the cost of installing solar panels on houses is very high. It is sometimes of the tune of $10000 or above for good efficient cells. This makes it to be looked upon in a disadvantageous position when compared to coal and other conventional power production methods.
• Time of production – energy is produced only when suns heat is available i.e., during the day, also during cloudy days the production of power is very low on nil during nights.
• Weather dependent – during rainy and winter seasons the production of power is very less. This creates problem in areas where the seasonal changes are pronounced, making the cost of installation a waste.
• Effect of pollution – in locations where the air is polluted power production is seen to be reduced because the efficiency of solar cell becomes less.
