The Pros & Cons of Solar Energy

Written by Rohit Grover
Cover Image for The Pros & Cons of Solar Energy

Harnessing solar energy can make a huge difference to the energy requirements of the entire world. Solar energy has proved to be extremely useful for the environment as well as consumer pockets. Along with many benefits, there are few downsides of solar as an alternate energy source. We have listed all the pros & cons of solar energy which needs to be considered before taking the plunge into the solar energy world.

Pros of Solar Energy

Renewable Energy Source

Solar energy is a renewable source of energy. It is clean energy and can be harnessed everywhere.The source of energy is abundant and will not run out, unlike coal and other non-renewable sources.

Reduces Electricity Bills

The biggest motivation to use solar energy apart from the environment is electricity bills reduction.Since you use solar energy to meet the energy needs, the electricity bills reduce substantially. Solar energy has the major benefit of bill reduction as the source of energy is absolutely free.

Plenty of Uses

Solar energy has various applications. Apart from electricity generation & water heating, solar energy is being used in many gadgets such as solar lamps, solar water heater etc. It is also used to power satellites in space.It has application in water distillation and water pumping also.

Technological advancements

The solar power industry is witnessing constant technological advancement. The quality of solar panels is improving rapidly. Maximum panel wattage currently in use is 540watts. Panels with wattage of 600 watts are ready to be launched in the market. Few companies have achieved the efficiency of 25.4% up from the previous high of 21%.

Works in all climates

It is believed that solar doesn't work in cold climates. But the fact is solar panels are more efficient in colder temperatures as the voltage produced is not reduced by excess heat. In summers, longer hours of sun exposure help in generating more electricity. The new age panels like monocrystalline panels are more efficient and produce electricity with low light as well.

Solar Net metering policy

Governments all over the world are incentivising the use of solar energy. The solar net metering policy allows users to get credits for surplus electricity. These credits can be used by consuming grid electricity when solar is not producing(at night).

Solar PV system has a long lifespan

Solar panels have a very long lifespan. They can work for many years and withstand harsh weather. They can last up to 25 years and still work with 80% of the original efficiency.

Carbon footprint reduction

Generating electricity using non-renewable sources produces a lot of carbon emissions. Using fossil fuels releases gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, etc. Solar energy replaces non-renewable energy with clean energy, eliminating emissions,thus reducing the carbon footprint.

Low maintenance cost

Once a solar PV system is installed, there is almost nil maintenance cost. The solar system doesn't require much maintenance. It only requires cleaning, which can be outsourced to solar specialised cleaning companies at a very nominal price.

Cons of Solar Energy

Cost

The initial cost of installing a solar system is high. The cost comprises solar panels, inverters,batteries,structure & installation. But the benefit it offers and the electricity bills it saves covers this cost in a short period of 4-5 years. There are also many finance-options available where you pay the loan through your savings.

Weather-Dependent

Solar energy depends on the sun to generate electricity. Although solar panels produce electricity during cloudy days, the efficiency of the panels is not the same as on sunny days.

Solar Battery is expensive

In order to store solar energy at a later stage, solar batteries are required. Using these batteries you can go off-grid. These batteries store the energy produced during the day, so that it can be used at night. Solar batteries make a solar system a good solution, but this solution is expensive right now. But you can still use solar energy without getting a solar battery and get a battery later when it becomes more economical.

Roof not friendly for solar

In order to collect sunlight, you need solar panels. The number of solar panels required depends on the amount of electricity you want to produce. To consume solar energy you need to have space on roofs. If you don't have enough shadow-free space on your roof to suffice your electricity needs, you can still use solar by installing fewer panels.

There may be a case that your rooftop is not fit for solar. The efficiency of rooftop solar depends on factors like building orientation, shade on the rooftop, and the roof type. All these factors should be considered before planning a solar PV system.

Installation expertise required

You need expert installers to install a solar system at your house. You cannot do it on your own. To overcome this disadvantage, you can use our services as we have many years of experience in solar panels installation.

Sub-standard quality of Panels

A lot of solar panels are available in the market. There is a huge difference in the efficiency of different models. A lot of inferior quality solar panels are lurking in the market. Selecting good quality panels is very important for the efficiency of your system.

There are many pros & cons of solar energy. But pros can easily outnumber cons. You can definitely consider getting solar by looking at the benefits it provides.

Also read: 6 Major Environmental Benefits of Solar Energy