The Solar Energy: Understand Its Advantages and Disadvantages
The biggest of
the advantages of solar energy is that there
is literally so much of it here on Earth,
because the rays of the Sun hit our planet
every second. In fact, sometimes there seems
to be an overabundance of sunlight so that
we feel uncomfortable. But the same solar
energy that can make you want to head for
a pool or the beach to cool off is the same
solar energy that could be the solution to
our constant energy crises – provided
we find the right ways to harness solar energy
as a fuel source.
Another of the advantages of solar energy
is that it comes to us free of charge. This
means that when we use the known solar energy
technology like the Photoelectric or Photovoltaic
solar cells (or solar panels), we can use
as much of the solar energy around us as we
like and we never have to worry about high
bills to pay at the end of the month. It is
one of the blessings that nature gives us
that could help solve many problems for us,
provided we are smart enough to know how to
formulate those solutions.
Surprisingly, even though solar panels are
not 100% efficient yet at processing sunlight
into electricity, solar energy furnaces can
use the power of mirrors to harness sunlight
to focus it onto a small surface. The solar
energy that is directed onto the small surface
is quite hot and powerful (hot enough to reach
temperatures as high as 33,000 degrees Celsius.)
It is so powerful that a solar energy furnace
facility in Odellio, France, can even use
the solar energy from these mirrors to conduct
energy-intensive scientific experiments.
Solar energy systems technology has progressed
so far already that even man-made satellites
in outer space can use solar energy systems
as their power source. This is very important
because other sources of power will inevitably
run out of an adequate power supply. Without
solar power systems to fuel these orbiting
satellites, many of our modern communication
systems would never be realistically usable
(like the satellite TV service many average
people might be familiar with because it provides
many hours of entertainment to us.)
The only possible disadvantages with dependence
on solar energy systems are if sunlight is
inadequate at the moment (like when it is
nighttime or the sky is cloudy), there is
not enough surplus solar energy stored for
future use, and if the cost of constructing
solar power systems gets too high to be affordable
or economically feasible. Another possible
disadvantage that could hamper use of solar
energy is if the Sun itself should die early,
and lose that vital solar energy radiation
that we need – but if the Sun were to
disappear, life on earth would definitely
come to a catastrophic end because many earth
systems would stop working in the absence
of the Sun and its radiation.
This far in the history of solar energy, it
seems the advantages outweigh the disadvantages
of solar energy applications. So if you can
afford to invest in solar energy systems,
by all means do so.
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