Tuesday, January 13, 2015

The Usefulness Of Understanding The Pros and Cons of Solar Panels

by Kimberly Perry

Solar panels, also known as solar PV is one way whereby electricity is produced through the conversion of solar radiation into D.C (Direct Current) by way of semi conductors that have the photovoltaic effect. By the year 2010, this type of electricity was used in approximately 100 countries and the statistics are rising day by day. Since the invention of this method, improvements in technology have made the costs of manufacturing this type of electricity reduce drastically. This has in turn resulted in a price reduction in the retail cost.

Electricity has many pros and cons too. For starters, we will look at the pros of this electricity. One such advantage of solar PV is that the electricity produced is very silent and clean. Since the fuel used here is sunshine, the PV systems don't pollute the air or water. In addition to this, there is no harm caused in terms of depletion of natural resources and endangerment of human or animal life. One more significant benefit of using solar PV is the peace of mind they give by their quietness.

The space you'll need for the generation of this type of electricity is normally very small. Unused rooftops can provide enough needed space for generating the solar PV. Another advantage is that solar energy is a renewable source of energy. In addition to this, solar energy is very beneficial since all people can access it and doesn't matter which country you are from. This greatly reduces the inconveniences normally associated with transportation. Besides, the use of solar energy reduces our dependence on oil which is mostly imported.

A solar PV system can be constructed in any size to cater for specific needs in question. Additionally, it is usually very portable and one can move with it with little inconveniences. When your energy requirements grow, you may easily add more modules to the system to cater for the energy requirements. Apart from these advantages, solar energy has some cons that should not be overlooked. It is therefore very important to be aware of the disadvantages of solar energy to be able to maximize this type of energy to the fullest.

One of the many overlooked disadvantages of solar PV is the toxic chemicals that are used in the production. In the production of solar energy, arsenic and cadmium (which are very toxic chemicals) are used. However, their effects may be regulated by proper disposal and recycling.

Nonetheless, their effects can be harmful if not taken care of well and in due time. Another disadvantage of solar energy is the high cost for its production. The cost of production is high as a result of the advanced technological equipments used in manufacturing and conversion of the energy. As the manufacturing and conversion efficiencies continue to be more efficient, cost is expected to rise proportionately.

Another disadvantage of solar PV is its variability factor. This means that it is very unreliable because it is highly dependant on sunshine. In the event there is no sunshine, a power shortage is consequently expected occur.













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