Disadvantages Of Solar Energy

Solar energy has become a popular subject in the last few years and there have been significant advancements toward making it a more practical alternative energy solution. Like with most things, however, it is not without its drawbacks. Some solar energy disadvantages are even cause for serious concern and consideration. ELECTRICITY REQUIRES SUNLIGHT The one factor that most brings solar energy's effectiveness and stability into question is the issue of weather. In many portions of the world, it stays cloudy most of the year. Without prolonged exposure to full and direct sunlight, power output will be drastically reduced. The places that will benefit the most from solar energy are tropical and desert climes where there are very few clouds and strong sun. Nighttime also raises efficiency concerns. In some portions of the world, it stays dark for a very long time during certain seasons. AIR POLLUTION Air pollution is a huge problem in many large cities throughout the world. This poses a problem when using solar panels as a main energy source. Smog acts to block out the sunlight much the same way that clouds do. Although the decrease in available sunlight isn't quite as severe as with dense cloud cover, it may still be significant enough that all of the other solar energy disadvantages make it unfavorable as a primary power source. COST Although the price of home solar panels has been decreasing somewhat recently, they are still very expensive. The size and number of panels and storage batteries you will need depends on the type and number of devices you wish to power, as well as the size of your home. To many people, this could be one of the biggest solar energy disadvantages. You can power an energy efficient television, some lights and a few other things with only a couple of small panels. However, even this can run tens of thousands of dollars. If you want to run a refrigerator, air conditioner, electric stove or even a microwave with solar, you'd best be prepared to shell out some serious cash. BATTERIES REQUIRED The batteries used to store power are among the biggest solar energy disadvantages. Storage batteries are a lot like car batteries and are equally expensive. Because you have to use several of them for even a small solar installation, they can take up a lot of space. Batteries are also made using numerous toxic and highly corrosive chemicals. Furthermore, these batteries emit hydrogen gas as a byproduct which carries a serious explosion risk.Here are a few other disadvantages worth mentioning: * Solar panels require quite a large area for installation to achieve a good level of efficiency. * The efficiency of the system also relies on the location of the sun. This problem however can be overcome with the installation of certain components and newer technology. * No solar energy will be produced during nighttime although a battery backup system will solve this problem. This in turn drives the initial cost of the system up.