Two Advantages of Solar Energy

Can you tell me in details about the Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy on human beings and other things too?

[Kiran Chandar]

Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun harnessed using a range of ever-evolving technologies such as solar heating, photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, solar architecture and artificial photosynthesis.

Solar energy is an important source of renewable energy and its technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way they capture and distribute solar energy or convert it into solar power.

Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic systems, concentrated solar power and solar water heating to harness the energy.

Passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air.

The International Organization for Standardization has established a number of standards relating to solar energy equipment. For example, ISO 9050 relates to glass in building while ISO 10217 relates to the materials used in solar water heaters.

Advantages of Solar Energy
 Solar energy is a clean and renewable energy source.
 Solar energy causes no pollution.
 Solar cells make absolutely no noise at all.
 Very little maintenance is needed to keep solar cells running.
 Once a solar panel is installed, solar energy can be produced free of charge.
 In the long term, there can be a high return on investment due to the amount of free energy a solar panel can produce, it is estimated that the average household will see 50% of their energy coming in from solar panels.
 Solar energy last forever whereas it is estimated that the world’s oil reserves last for 30 to 40 years.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy
 Solar panels can be costly to set up resulting in a time-lag of many years for savings on energy bills to match initial investments.
 Solar power is used to charge batteries so that solar powered devices can be used at night. The batteries can often be large and heavy, taking up space and needing to be replaced from time to time.
 Solar power stations do not match the power output of similar sized conventional power stations; they can also be very expensive to build.
 Electricity generation depends entirely on a countries exposure to sunlight; this could be limited by a countries climate.