10 Disadvantages of Solar Energy |

Did you know that the energy that the sun supplies to the planet for one hour is enough to fulfil the world’s energy demands for a year?

Without a question, the sun is a strong energy source, and while we can only gather a percentage of this energy, harnessing this power via the installation of solar panels may have a huge impact on the globe.

Solar energy has shown to be incredibly useful – not just for the environment but also for the economy – despite being often criticised for being expensive or inefficient.

The Sun is a massive energy source, and the sunlight is by far the most abundant source of energy that Earth receives.

Solar power is the conversion of solar energy into thermal or electrical energy. Solar energy is the most environmentally friendly and plentiful renewable energy source currently accessible.

The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun.

So, what exactly is solar energy, and how does it work?

It’s solar energy. Solar cells and solar panels are examples of renewable energy technologies that capture the sun’s energy to produce light, heat, hot water, and power generation for homes, companies, and industries.

Solar energy has the most potential since it is an unlimited source of energy that will continue to create solar power as long as the sun exists.

Solar energy is completely free, widely available, and creates no pollution, emissions, or noise, implying that it has no carbon footprint.

Solar energy is one of the most extensively used renewable energy sources on Earth, out of all the renewable energy sources accessible.

However, no matter what energy source you investigate, there are always drawbacks. The following are the major drawbacks of solar energy as highlighted by Engineers Rail:

So, without wasting any more of your time, I’ll go right to the point, where you’ll learn about some of the drawbacks of solar energy.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy-

Although there is a lot of nice stuff spoken about solar energy every day, people should be aware of the cons of solar energy before investing in any financial means. The following is a list of the major drawbacks of solar energy:

1. High Initial Investment-

Solar panel installation requires a significant upfront expenditure, which not everyone can afford. We might argue that solar panels are now more inexpensive than they’ve ever been… Nonetheless, they are not free.

Unfortunately, this is a disadvantage of solar panels; but, as prices fall, the future looks bright. Solar panels are currently rather costly, but with new government initiatives and cutting-edge technology, they are becoming increasingly inexpensive.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

Related Article- Solar Energy |13 Benefits of Solar Energy in India |

2. Low rate of Energy Conversion-

Even the most sophisticated solar panels convert only around 20% to 25% of the sun’s energy into electricity. It only goes to show how much room there is to improve technology in order to harness the full power of the sun.

However, numerous factors must be addressed, including the orientation of the panels and their position.

Electricity generation is solely dependent on a country’s exposure to sunlight, which may be limited by the climate of that country.

3. Weather-Dependent-

Only when sunlight strikes the panel’s face and is converted into energy can energy be produced. As a result, there will be no energy created if the sun does not shine.

Even though solar energy may be gathered during overcast or rainy days, the solar system’s efficiency is reduced. Solar panels must be exposed to the sun in order to collect solar energy. As a result, a few wet, overcast days can have a significant impact on the energy system.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

3. Expensive to Store Solar Energy-

Solar energy may either be utilised immediately or stored in big batteries. These solar batteries, which are utilised in off-grid solar systems, may be charged during the day and used at night.

This is an excellent method for utilising solar energy throughout the day, but it is also extremely costly.

However, batteries are costly, and others argue that instead of investing in batteries, it is better to receive electricity from power station at night.

Solar technology is continuously evolving, and it is probable that storage may become more accessible and inexpensive as time goes by.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

4. Need Significant Amount of Space-

Because you want to capture as much sunlight as possible, you’ll need additional solar panels if you want to create more power.

The majority of solar panels are mounted on a roof or in a garden. The size of your roof, however, may limit the number of panels you can install and consequently the amount of energy you can generate.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

5. Inconsistency and Dependability-

The continuous absorption of sunlight is required by solar systems. This implies that there is no energy creation while the sun is not shining. During the night and during the winter, electricity generation is most affected.

The majority of individuals now have battery backup systems, which store energy for use when the sun isn’t shining. However, adding backup systems to a solar panel installation might increase the overall cost.

It doesn’t bring much value to solar energy technologies in the end.

 

6. Green House Gases Emission-

Despite the fact that pollution from solar energy systems is far lower than pollution from other sources of electricity, solar energy can be connected with pollution.

The transportation and installation of solar systems have been linked to greenhouse gas emissions.

During the manufacture of solar photovoltaic systems, several toxic ingredients and hazardous items are employed, which might have an indirect impact on the environment.

Solar energy, on the other hand, pollutes the environment significantly less than other alternative energy sources.

Despite the fact that solar panels create green, sustainable energy, this becomes a drawback. Overall, I believe they continue to do more benefit than harm.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

7. Mobility Complications-

To make use of the enormous, unoccupied, sunny area atop building rooftops, solar panels are frequently constructed. The panels that are put on your roof are very much permanent.

Solar panels are trapped in one place unless you choose to spend extra to have them removed, de-wired, and transferred to another area.

Solar systems are not moveable, so if you buy solar but later decide to sell, you’ll have to leave your system behind.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

8. Non-replaceable with Conventional Energy Source-

Solar energy cannot be depended on to fuel a country’s economy due to the sun’s unpredictability.

Solar energy technologies are still under development, but experts believe that they will be able to provide electricity to the majority of the world’s population.

We will continue to rely on fossil fuels as our primary energy source until then. Also, Solar power stations do not produce the same amount of energy as conventional power plants of comparable scale, and they can be highly expensive to construct.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Image: Freepik.com

9. Need Special Rooftops-

Solar panels cannot be installed on all rooftops. Because of their brittleness, wood and slate roofs, for example, are difficult to place solar panels on.

Because asphalt is both flexible and resilient, it is the perfect roofing material for solar panels. Solar panel compatibility is also affected by the roof’s pitch, shape, size, and orientation.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

10. Environmental Hazardous during Mass Production-

Solar panels offer clean, renewable electricity, but the manufacturing process can be harmful to the environment. Solar panels manufactured in large quantities may result in the combustion of fossil fuels and the generation of plastic trash.

Sadly, this is one of the solar panels’ downsides that is often neglected. They are not suitable for large production since they are not environmentally friendly.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

Related Article: Hydro Energy Vs Solar Energy: Which One is Better?

 

Wrapping Up-

In conclusion, while solar power has certain visual, economic, and technological downsides, many of these may be addressed via careful planning and servicing.

That’s all for now; perhaps you learned something about the Disadvantages of Solar Energy, as explained above.

I hope you enjoyed your visit; if so, please consider using the preferred sharing buttons provided below to assist people in need with your fingertip, for sharing is, after all, a kind of caring.

Also, Engineers Rail should be bookmarked for future reference.

Do you want to learn more? Here are some recommended articles for you to read:

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Advantages of Solar Energy:10 Benefits of Solar Energy

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