Solar Power - What’s Its Benefits?

As our planet’s population increases, and people worry about running out of energy, there appears to be renewed interest in solar power. What’s its benefits? What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?

Ancient Wisdom

Before the invention of electricity, people understood the advantages and disadvantages of solar power.

* They knew the advantages and disadvantages of solar power for drying clothing. On sunny days, clothing dried outside. On rainy days, it did not.

* They understood the advantages and disadvantages of solar power for preserving food. Apple slices dried in the sun. They did not dry when solar power was hindered by a bank of snow clouds.

* Solar tea was another lesson in the advantages and disadvantages of solar power. On a bright, sunny day, a jug of water containing a few tea bags soon produced tea. On cloudy days, it did not.

Recent Wisdom

Scientists began experimenting with the advantages and disadvantages of solar power more than 100 years ago. Believing the earth’s supply of coal would soon give out, they looked for an alternate source of energy with which to heat homes and run machinery for the industrial age.

It gradually became apparent that if we could harness even a minute fraction of the energy that reaches our planet from the sun, we could meet all of our power needs - multiplied. We would need only about one hundredth of a millionth of a percent of the available energy! In fact, global energy needs for an entire year could be met with just one minute of solar energy.

Solar Power - What’s Its Benefits?

Solar power offers a number of benefits.

* Adaptable - can power homes, factories, cars, satellites, and more.
* Clean - no pollution involved in its use.
* Convenient - no need to stretch miles of wires.
* Cost-effective - once built, it is far cheaper than current power.
* Desalination - changing sea water into healthy drinking water
* Free - we all like that word. Solar power costs nothing.
* Heat - can heat food, water, swimming pools, and buildings.
* Inexhaustible - until the sun dies, there will be solar power.
* International - no one country can control it.
* Light - provides light to isolated places, islands, ships, etc.
* Maintenance - very low maintenance after installation.
* Supplemental - coupling to other energy saves money.
* Water purification - especially in third world countries

There is no doubt that solar power offers many benefits. And while the advantages and disadvantages of solar power are clear, the advantages appear to outweigh the disadvantages.