Pros and Cons of Solar Energy - The Facts

Aug. 9, 2009 - PRLog -- We all know that living off the grid is a great way to lower your electricity bills, generate cleaner energy, and preserve the earth's non-renewable fossil fuels. But everything in this world has two sides to be considered. Solar energy is a great source of renewable source of energy. Let us look at the pros and cons of solar energy and how it affects our lives.

The Advantages Of Solar Energy

Starting with the pros of solar power, it is unlimited and inexhaustible. We are never going to run out of solar energy till the sun keeps shining. This makes using solar energy harmless on the ecology of the earth. Solar energy doesn't cause pollution. There are no side effects of using solar power, apart from the negligible effects of producing the equipments required for a solar power unit.

Unlike the non-renewable sources of energy, sunlight is available everywhere, all around the world. Hence the transportation cost seen in the case of fossil fuels is all eliminated. Sunlight can be used for solar energy in any part of the world, although the intensity may vary. Sunlight is free, making the natural resources for solar power absolutely free. This makes solar electricity usage almost free of cost, apart from the negligible running and maintenance costs.

The technology required to use solar power is not very complicated and solar power systems can be easily installed. Maintenance is very simple and requires almost no supervision or monitoring. The units are quiet and function without causing much disturbance.

The Disadvantages

Solar power systems are very costly to set up. This initial setup cost is the chief reason for it not being used by anyone and everyone. The intensity and the availability of sunlight is not always optimum and can vary with weather, season and the time of the day. Solar power needs to be effectively stored for such conditions when the sun is unavailable to provide the required energy. Solar power is not a feasible option for all locations where there is prolonged periods with no sunlight.

Solar power requires adequate space to be set up for the best results. Without enough clearance area, it may not be possible to capture the sunlight effectively for proper power generation.

These are the pros and cons of solar energy. While the pros of solar power are numerous, the only significant disadvantages seen are the high installation cost and the space requirements that sometimes put solar power out of the reach of many people who want to use it. Go to http://www.squidoo.com/renewableenergyforhome to see my reviews of solar power and wind power products and see which ones are the best value.