Solar Panel energy is a renewable energy source, unlike fossil fuels (non-renewable energy sources) such as coal, oil, and gas, which, according to recent data, can be restored, but at a very low rate, which in the future will no longer be enough to supply energy the entire population of the planet.
2. Inexhaustibility
Solar energy is inexhaustible, it cannot be produced too much, and it will always be enough for absolutely everything needed by mankind for many more generations.
3. The amount of energy
The amount of energy from the Sun to the Earth annually comes to about 1 billion terawatt-hours. While humanity produces about 20 thousand terawatt-hours per year, that is, 0.002% of the solar energy that comes to Earth.
4. Quiet
The noiselessness of solar energy systems is achieved due to the fact that there are no moving parts in them. Such as in a high-power wind turbine, where there is a rotor.
5. Large area of use
Solar energy is something that can be used for remote regions of any country where there is no centralized energy supply. This energy can be used as a heating element, as an auxiliary equipment to increase the production of fresh water in the distant settlements of Egypt, and of course, it is one of the main sources of energy for the International Space Station (ISS) and satellites, since in space the power of solar radiation is much higher than on the surface of the earth.
6. Economy of operation
By using Solar Panel in Australia as an alternative source of energy, building and private homeowners can save a lot. A decisive factor in the area of service is that maintenance costs are very low. To maintain solar panels, you only need to clean them a few times a year, while the manufacturer’s warranty starts from 10 years.
7. Ubiquity
solar energy comes to those places where the sun shines, that is, absolutely to all parts of the planet. Both to the equator and to northern latitudes, which makes it possible to extract solar energy everywhere.
8. Ecology
Ecology is one of the most acute problems in the modern world. Humanity is struggling with the environmental problem with all its might. But the predominant use of non-renewable fuel leads to extensive environmental pollution. A huge amount of waste is stored in vast areas, which already adversely affects nature and human health. While solar energy is the most environmentally friendly energy since when installing solar panels and all related equipment, there is practically no emission of harmful substances into the environment.
9. Advanced technology
Solar energy does not stand still. Every year there are new developments in better materials, and the efficiency of the solar panel is increasing. Which allows solar panels to take up less space and generate more and more energy. Modern developments in the field of solar panel manufacturing technology will increase efficiency in the foreseeable future by up to 50%
The disadvantages include the following
1. Great cost
This is a common reason for refusing to purchase solar panels, as they require a large initial investment and people cannot afford it. But in many developing countries, the government helps its citizens to purchase and install solar power plants, giving them loans and helping them complete all the necessary paperwork for this. In this area, Russia is very far behind, and therefore it is a problem for a large percentage of the population.
2. Environmental pollution
As mentioned earlier, solar energy is the most environmentally friendly energy we see. But for its extraction, it is necessary to produce solar panels. During the production of which greenhouse gases and chemical compounds are emitted into the atmosphere, which is dangerous for the environment and humans.
3. Low power per square meter
One of the most important parameters of electricity is the average power density per square meter (m2), which is measured in W/m2, and the amount of energy that can be obtained per unit area. For solar energy, this figure is on average 170 W / m2, this value is higher than that of all renewable energy sources used, but in comparison with traditional energy sources (oil, coal, gas, nuclear energy) this figure is much lower. Which leads to an increase in the area of solar panels for the production of 1 kW of energy.
4. Intermittent cycle
The sun does not shine at night, and on cloudy days the amount of energy produced is significantly reduced. Which in many cases makes solar energy not the main source of electricity. But even taking into account these factors, solar energy remains much more stable than, for example, also widespread wind energy.
5. Problems of energy storage
Batteries are needed in this industry to store energy and periodically smooth out uneven energy from solar panels. Their main disadvantage is the price, since large-capacity batteries are quite expensive, and not every person can afford such a price. A partial solution to this problem is that the peak load occurs during daylight hours when almost all the necessary energy is generated by solar panels.
6. Used elements
The manufacture of a solar panel requires materials that are rare earth, which increases their cost and makes them very difficult to manufacture and recycle. As a result, this leads to a significant increase in the price
The concept of Solar energy in Australia-efficient homes has been popular for many years in European countries such as Germany, Italy, Japan, USA, Spain, China, France, Czech Republic, Belgium and Australia. Although these countries receive much more sun than most of Russia, this can be compensated by increasing the number of solar panels and batteries.
An example of an energy-efficient or zero-consumption house can be seen in the figure below. Where all AC and DC appliances will be powered by solar panels.
Scheme of a private house with power supply from solar panels
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