Advantage And Disadvantage Of Solar Energy

I am 12th class CBSE student and got an assignment to make project on the topic Solar Energy want details about this concept. Will you please provide me list of Advantage and Disadvantage of Solar Energy and also provide me list of some gadgets which is running through solar energy?

[Shaleen]

Solar power is the conversion of the energy from the sun to usable electricity.

Advantages of solar Energy:

1. Solar energy is free although there is a cost in the building of ‘collectors’ and other equipment required to convert solar energy into electricity or hot water.
2. Solar energy does not cause pollution. However, solar collectors and other associated equipment / machines are manufactured in factories that in turn cause some pollution.
3. Solar energy can be used in remote areas where it is too expensive to extend the electricity power grid.
4. Many everyday items such as calculators and other low power consuming devices can be powered by solar energy effectively.
5. It is estimated that the worlds oil reserves will last for 30 to 40 years. On the other hand, solar energy is infinite (forever).

Disadvantages of solar Energy:

1. Solar energy can only be harnessed when it is daytime and sunny.
2. Solar collectors, panels and cells are relatively expensive to manufacture although prices are falling rapidly.
3. Solar power stations can be built but they do not match the power output of similar sized conventional power stations. They are also very expensive.
4. In countries such as the UK, the unreliable climate means that solar energy is also unreliable as a source of energy.
5. Large areas of land are required to capture the suns energy. Collectors are usually arranged together especially when electricity is to be produced and used in the same location.
6. Solar power is used to charge batteries so that solar powered devices can be used at night. They also need replacing from time to time.

The following is a list of products powered by sunlight, either directly or through electricity generated by solar panels.

Solar air conditioning
Solar balloon
Solar charger
Solar backpack
Solar cell phone charger
Strawberry Tree
Solar chimney
Solar calculator
Solar-powered compacting trash can
Solar cooker
Solar dryer
Solar-powered fan
Solar furnace
Solar inverter
Solar keyboard
Solar lamp
Solar pond
Solar road stud
Solar street light
Solar traffic light
Solar Tuki
Solar-powered flashlight
Solar notebook
Solar-powered calculator
Solar-powered desalination unit
Solar-powered pump
Solar-powered fountain
Solar-powered radio
Solar-powered refrigerator
Solar-powered Stirling engine
Solar-powered watch
Solar-pumped laser
Solar roadway
Solar Spark Lighter
Solar still
Solar tree
Solar vehicle
Solar balloon
Solar boat
Tûranor PlanetSolar
Solar bus
Solar car
Solar golf cart
Solar panels on spacecraft
Solar sail
Solar thermal rocket.
Tracker
Windmill
Fan
Computer