Solar Power Advantages and Disadvantages - Part 1

Solar power - turning the energy of sunlight into usable electricity - is increasingly being considered as an alternative to fossil fuels. Fossil fuels may soon be depleted, we worry. Countries controlling these resources may refuse to share with other countries. Costs may spiral out of control. Solar power seems to be an answer.

Advantages and disadvantages of solar power both exist, of course. As with everything, solar power is not a panacea. Solar power is not a perfect solution to the growing demands for electrical power.

Look at the advantages and disadvantages of solar power only briefly, and you may choose to reject it. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of solar power in more depth, and you may be among those who choose to invest in it.

Advantages of Solar Power

In this article, we have space only to consider the advantages of solar power. We will leave the disadvantages for future consideration. Here then, in no particular order, are some definite advantages of solar power.

* Clean: Solar power is produced without pollution. It is environmentally friendly. There are no emissions or greenhouse effect.

* Free: Once the initial investment is made, solar power is free. There are no monthly bills for its use. It will not increase in price.

* Available: No one country controls this energy. It is available to everyone worldwide.

* Quiet: Production of electricity is a silent process. No noisy generators are required. No turbines spin to produce it.

* Aesthetically pleasing: Solar power requires no electric energy lines to spoil beautiful scenery. There are no high towers required.

* Reliable: As long as the sun continues to shine on Earth, energy from the sun will renew each day. It will not be depleted.

* Maintenance-free: Solar power systems have few moving parts and require almost no maintenance. They are known to last for many years, performing cleanly and silently.

* Emergency-effectual: When storms or other natural disasters cause power outages, this power is still usable. Power lines may go down, but it will not. In earthquakes, electricity continues to pour into the battery in homes that use solar power. After the storm, solar power is ready for use without days of line repairs.

These are only a few of the advantages of solar power. These advantages relate mostly to its use in the home. In our next article, we will continue the list, considering Portable Solar power.