Solar Energy - Advantages & Limitations

Solar Energy - Advantages & Limitations 

Solar Energy - Advantages

1. Even though the initial capital expenditure for setting up a solar energy plant is high, the running cost is almost negligible. Besides, there is no fuel cost - Sunlight is available free of cost, unless Govt. decides to charge taxes for that also ;)
2. Solar energy is green energy - There is no pollution, no carbon emissions (hence doesn't contribute to increase of global warming), there is no felling of trees, stopping of rivers, hazardous radiations, etc. In short, solar energy is clean, green and environmentally friendly energy. 
3. Passive solar energy (light coming from the sun) can be used to directly light-up buildings and factories (during the day), and save electricity - that routinely happens in green-buildings and factories.
4. Solar PV (Photovoltaics) is a technology that helps us convert solar radiation (sunlight) into DC (Direct Current) using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. This direct current can power DC appliances directly or can be converted into AC using an inverter and can be used to power household/industrial electrical appliances that run using Alternating Current (AC).
5. The raw material required for making Solar panels (silicon) is available abundantly in nature.
6. Solar energy is an excellent option for providing electricity to remote and rural areas that either do not get power or gets low-quality power. Solar energy is the best option for electrifying villages, remote offices, agricultural pumps, cell-phone towers, remote ATM machines, etc. 
7. Since solar energy can be produced anywhere, it is frequently employed near the location where energy is actually required - this avoids transmission losses, which are considerable. 
8. In countries that are closer to equator, abundant sunlight is available almost throughout the year. Solar energy can be produced even on cloudy/rainy days. 
9. Solar power can be stored in batteries and be used during the nights/later on. 
10. Average life-span of a solar module is 25 years and there are many solar panels that are still working beyond this period. Many manufacturers offer a performance warranty of 80% (max power output) for 25 years. 
11. Grid-interactive solar energy solutions that can export unused solar energy to the mains/utility companies are available. With net-metering, utility companies actually pay for every unit of (unused) solar-generated electricity exported by the consumer. The biggest advantage of net-metering is, consumers don't need to buy batteries as excess power is always exported. 
12. The efficiency of solar cells keep increasing every year. For the same price, higher capacity solar panels are available today (when compared to 2-3 years back) and the space requirements have also reduced. 
13. Bulk-manufacturing and economies of scale have already brought solar energy affordable to the masses - the prices will only reduce further in the future. 
14. Solar panels are available in varying capacities from 3W to 250W (approx). Smaller solar panels enable applications like solar lanterns, solar lights, solar mobile/electronic chargers, etc. In many places, solar lanterns have replaced kerosene lanterns - especially in poorer countries. 
15. BIPV - Building Integrated PhotoVoltaics uses a type of solar panel called Thin Film solar panel that is flexible and can be integrated in various locations/positions of a building that gets sunlight exposure. Power can be generated in facades, tiles, rooftops - you name it. 
16. Solar panels can be installed in unused spaces like rooftops, sides of the external walls, etc. 
17. Solar panels have no moving parts - hence they are highly reliable.
18. Solar panels are outdoor rated, can withstand climatic extremes, can be fixed permanently over a firm mounting.
19. Solar panels are generally self-cleaning (during rains, etc.).
20. There are solar-wind hybrid systems that generate power throughout the day and they are available in small sizes, if required, for individual usage. 
21. Solar water heaters directly transfer the sun's heat into water - since normal water heaters consume a lot of electricity, solar water heaters can be used to save on energy bills. 
22. There are large-scale CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) plants that reflect sun's heat into a central collector which in-turn generates electricity. In such cases, energy can be stored as heat (using molten salts) to generate electricity even in the nights. 
23. Solar energy can power batteries that power electric cars - There are electric cars that run only using solar power. In fact, there are solar powered boat and solar powered airplanes, as well!
24. Many Governments across the world offer subsidies, tax credits and other incentives to offset the high (initial) solar panel costs. 
25. Many new jobs are created - both for manufacturing and maintenance of solar power plants. 
26. Solar energy is nothing new - Solar PV is a tried, tested and proven technology. Today, there are many established manufacturers, supply chain and system-integrator/installation networks. 
27. If consumers use DC powered appliances, they can use the DC power generated by solar panels directly (and hence avoid losses and intermediate conversion equipment). Yes, there are many DC powered appliances in the market, now. 

Solar Energy - Limitations

1. The initial capital-expenditure involved in setting up solar energy plants is quite high. Even by middle-class standards, solar panels (that generate any considerable energy for usage) are quite expensive. 
2. Solar panels generate only DC (direct current). Inverters are required to convert this DC current to AC current. Some energy is lost during conversion. If batteries are used, charge controllers and other equipment might be required in order to regulate the electricity. These additional equipment increase the cost. 
3. Solar energy is not produced during nights. During rainy seasons and overcast-skies, the amount of energy produced is lower than what is produced during clear-skies. 
4. Batteries can be used to store solar energy, but they are quite expensive. Besides, batteries need replacement every few years - this increases the running cost, if batteries are used. 
5. While silicon, the raw material required for making solar modules, is available abundantly in nature, the process involved in converting it to solar cells is very complex/resource intensive. Increase in computers/mobiles/tablets and other electronics compete for silicon, as well.
6. Large-scale solar projects often require a lot of land. However, waste-lands can be used for this purpose. If solar plants are located in remote locations (they often are, due to low real estate costs), the setting up of transmission and evacuation equipment for transmitting power can be very expensive and require additional land and sometimes felling of trees, etc.
7. Manufacturing of solar panels require considerable amount of energy and that can result in carbon emissions if the power is not drawn from clean energy sources. 
8. Solar panels are not bio-degradable. Disposing solar panels (which is basically e-waste) may become an issue in the future, unless e-waste recycling technologies are employed, and are reachable. 
9. Since the solar energy segment is quite volatile, even large solar panel manufacturers find it difficult to sustain in business (mainly due to competition and frequent price decreases). 
10. Very few companies/homes/organizations have experimented with solar energy as the primary (and only) source of energy. Most installations are aimed at complimenting the power from the grid (for lower electricity bills) or for covering up the short-fall or for emergency usage (during power cuts, etc).