Question

What are the advantages and limitations of solar energy?

Answer 1

We know that the energy sun is a powerful source of energy, yet we are not utilizing its power as efficient it can be. Solar energy is simply the light and heat coming from the sun. The most important thing is that this form of energy is inexhaustible.

Complete Step by step answer:
Advantages of solar energy:
(i) Renewable source of energy: The most important thing about solar energy is that it is a renewable source of energy. We can use its energy from any place in the world. By means of a renewable source, it means that it does not run out, unlike the other sources of energy.
(ii) Reduces Electricity Bills: Electricity harnessed from solar energy reduces our electricity bills thus saves a lot of money.
(iii) Applications: It has a wide range of applications in our day to day life, It can produce electricity and heat energy. It can be integrated into buildings. Energy resources will be available in remote villages also etc.
(iv) Low maintenance cost: It generally does not require much cost for maintaining. Most of the solar energy manufacturers provide 20-25 years warranty.

Disadvantages of solar energy:
(i) Cost: Initial setup cost for solar energy is high.
(ii) Weather dependent: Although we can harness solar energy in the monsoon season, the efficiency reduces. They are dependent on sunlight.
(iii) Space: It uses a lot of space if we want to produce a large amount of electricity some roofs won’t be big enough to accommodate.
(iv) Pollution: Though solar energy produces less pollution, still the production of the solar photovoltaic system uses some toxic and hazardous products which can affect the environment directly.

Note: Apart from solar energy, there are other renewable sources of energy we can use in our day to day life. Some of them are wind energy, Hydro energy, biomass energy etc. This also has only less pollution which is safer for our environment.