Advantages and disadvantages of solar power
Advantages of Solar Panels
The 122 PW of sunlight reaching the earth's surface is plentiful compared to the 13 TW average power consumed by humans.
Solar power is pollution free during use. Production end wastes and emissions are manageable using existing pollution controls. End-of-use recycling technologies are under development. |
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Facilities can operate with little maintenance or intervention after initial setup.
Solar electric generation is economically competitive where grid connection or fuel transport is difficult, costly or impossible. Examples include satellites, island communities, remote locations and ocean vessels. |
When grid connected, solar electric generation can displace the highest cost electricity during times of peak demand (in most climatic regions), can reduce grid loading, and can eliminate the need for local battery power for use in times of darkness and high local demand; such application is encouraged by net metering. Time-of-use net metering can be highly favorable to small photovoltaic systems.
Grid connected solar electricity can be used locally thus minimizing transmission/distribution losses (approximately 7.2%).
Once the initial capital cost of building a solar power plant has been spent, operating costs are low when compared to existing power technologies.
Disadvantages of Solar Panels
Limited power density: Average daily insulation in the contiguous U.S. is 3-7 kWh/m2 usable by 7-17.7% efficient solar panels.
Intermittency: It is not available at night and is reduced when there is cloud cover, decreasing the reliability of peak output performance or requiring a means of energy storage. For power grids to stay functional at all times, the addition of substantial amounts of solar generated electricity would require the expansion of energy storage facilities, other renewable energy sources, or the use of backup conventional power plants. There is an energy cost to keep coal-burning power plants 'hot', which includes the burning of coal to keep boilers at temperature. However, natural gas power plants can quickly come up to full load without requiring significant standby idling.
Locations at high latitudes or with substantial cloud cover offer reduced potential for solar power use.
Like electricity from nuclear or fossil fuel plants, it can only realistically be used to power transport vehicles by converting light energy into another form of energy (e.g. battery stored electricity or by electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen) suitable for transport.
Solar cells produce DC which must be converted to AC when used in currently existing distribution grids. This incurs an energy penalty of 4-12%.
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