Advantages
Overall Price
Although solar energy can be significantly more expensive than using other energy methods such as coal and natural gas, the overall cost of using this type of fuel lowers at a quick rate, making it cheaper overall. In the past 2 years alone, the price of solar fuel has decreased by 30 percent, and will continue to do so. In the 1980's, the cost to of solar panels was $1/kilowatt-hour, and has since dropped to nearly 20cents/kilowatt-hour. Although this is still approximately double in price than what most people pay who are not using solar, a percentage of this payment is returned to solar users in forms of subsidies. Because of this, solar power owners save on average over 20 thousand dollars over the span of twenty years.
Subsidies
As I stated before, the government gives money to individuals who use solar panels in forms of subsidies. Usually, solar taxes are awarded to solar fuel owners based on the quantity of energy that their utilities are producing. Once a system is completely installed and ready to use, the investment tax credit is awarded, and is approximately 30% of the initial cost of installation, including off the incoming revenue.
Environment
Using solar fuel has minimal impact on the environment because it produces no carbon, methane or particulate emissions that fossil fuels do. Fossil fuels can pose serious environmental and health hazards, in fact they release approximately 21.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide back into our atmosphere every year. On the other hand, solar fuels emit absolutely no pollutions that would put our planet or bodies at risk. Another way of looking at it is from a landscape point of view. The more fossil fuels are used, the more fossil fuel plants are going to need to be built. This means tearing down trees and other vegetations in order to build. None of this would be necessary if more people were to use solar fuels.
Available and Applicable
Solar fuels are easily available; in fact there is 10 000 times more sunlight at our disposal than what is currently being used. Putting it into perspective, only 0.02% of correctly captured sunlight would be enough to replace every other currently used fuel source on a daily basis. And not only is this fuel source available, it's also applicable. Solar systems are built to last approximately 50 years and can be used to power hundreds of different utilities, everything from the heating of water, to lighting up a room, to powering our motor vehicles.
Although solar energy can be significantly more expensive than using other energy methods such as coal and natural gas, the overall cost of using this type of fuel lowers at a quick rate, making it cheaper overall. In the past 2 years alone, the price of solar fuel has decreased by 30 percent, and will continue to do so. In the 1980's, the cost to of solar panels was $1/kilowatt-hour, and has since dropped to nearly 20cents/kilowatt-hour. Although this is still approximately double in price than what most people pay who are not using solar, a percentage of this payment is returned to solar users in forms of subsidies. Because of this, solar power owners save on average over 20 thousand dollars over the span of twenty years.
Subsidies
As I stated before, the government gives money to individuals who use solar panels in forms of subsidies. Usually, solar taxes are awarded to solar fuel owners based on the quantity of energy that their utilities are producing. Once a system is completely installed and ready to use, the investment tax credit is awarded, and is approximately 30% of the initial cost of installation, including off the incoming revenue.
Environment
Using solar fuel has minimal impact on the environment because it produces no carbon, methane or particulate emissions that fossil fuels do. Fossil fuels can pose serious environmental and health hazards, in fact they release approximately 21.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide back into our atmosphere every year. On the other hand, solar fuels emit absolutely no pollutions that would put our planet or bodies at risk. Another way of looking at it is from a landscape point of view. The more fossil fuels are used, the more fossil fuel plants are going to need to be built. This means tearing down trees and other vegetations in order to build. None of this would be necessary if more people were to use solar fuels.
Available and Applicable
Solar fuels are easily available; in fact there is 10 000 times more sunlight at our disposal than what is currently being used. Putting it into perspective, only 0.02% of correctly captured sunlight would be enough to replace every other currently used fuel source on a daily basis. And not only is this fuel source available, it's also applicable. Solar systems are built to last approximately 50 years and can be used to power hundreds of different utilities, everything from the heating of water, to lighting up a room, to powering our motor vehicles.
Disadvantages
Cost
Although the cost of solar energy is getting more and more affordable, the cost for the solar systems, at the moment, can be between 15 and 50 thousand dollars and single panels can be between 150 and 400 dollars each, depending on their efficiently and the purchased warranties. However, these prices are lowering by approximately 15 percent every year, and by going solar, substantial amounts of money will be saved in the long run. Subsidies are also awarded, making the overall cost decrease even more drastically. The only disadvantage is the initial cost.
Inside pollutants
The materials that are inside of the panels such as lead, sulfuric acid and cadmium are pollutants, and if the panels were to leak or break, they would be considered a threat to the environment. However, with care and caution, solar panels are designed to last approximately 50 years, and the chances of the pollutants escaping are slim.
Sun damage
Similar to anything else left out in the sun, panels can eventually become damaged because of ultraviolet radiation. Weather conditions such as rain, snow, wind and hail are also hazards. Warrantees are available in case of these types of damages; however that is an extra cost. Anything can be damaged, but with care and caution, these systems function properly without issues for up to and over 5 decades.
Size/Appearance
The sizes of solar panels have got to be large in order to capture the sufficient amounts of photons needed to produce enough energy needed on a day to day basis. Because of this, solar systems can he a hassle to try and fit onto a properly, and even if space isn’t an issue, solar panels can be somewhat of an eye sore. However, if more and more people start to use this fuel source, seeing these in people's yards would soon become a norm. Also, the appearance shouldn’t matter if the system is environmentally friendly.
Unreliable
Depending on the location, solar panels can be unreliable because of weather conditions. Solar systems do require a substantial amount of sunlight to produce the required day to day energy. Things such as clouds or fog can prevent the solar panels from receiving enough photons. Conditions like these should be taken into consideration before purchasing solar panels. Another inconvenience when it comes to solar fuels is that they cannot continue to produce energy at night, obviously because there is no sunlight.
Although the cost of solar energy is getting more and more affordable, the cost for the solar systems, at the moment, can be between 15 and 50 thousand dollars and single panels can be between 150 and 400 dollars each, depending on their efficiently and the purchased warranties. However, these prices are lowering by approximately 15 percent every year, and by going solar, substantial amounts of money will be saved in the long run. Subsidies are also awarded, making the overall cost decrease even more drastically. The only disadvantage is the initial cost.
Inside pollutants
The materials that are inside of the panels such as lead, sulfuric acid and cadmium are pollutants, and if the panels were to leak or break, they would be considered a threat to the environment. However, with care and caution, solar panels are designed to last approximately 50 years, and the chances of the pollutants escaping are slim.
Sun damage
Similar to anything else left out in the sun, panels can eventually become damaged because of ultraviolet radiation. Weather conditions such as rain, snow, wind and hail are also hazards. Warrantees are available in case of these types of damages; however that is an extra cost. Anything can be damaged, but with care and caution, these systems function properly without issues for up to and over 5 decades.
Size/Appearance
The sizes of solar panels have got to be large in order to capture the sufficient amounts of photons needed to produce enough energy needed on a day to day basis. Because of this, solar systems can he a hassle to try and fit onto a properly, and even if space isn’t an issue, solar panels can be somewhat of an eye sore. However, if more and more people start to use this fuel source, seeing these in people's yards would soon become a norm. Also, the appearance shouldn’t matter if the system is environmentally friendly.
Unreliable
Depending on the location, solar panels can be unreliable because of weather conditions. Solar systems do require a substantial amount of sunlight to produce the required day to day energy. Things such as clouds or fog can prevent the solar panels from receiving enough photons. Conditions like these should be taken into consideration before purchasing solar panels. Another inconvenience when it comes to solar fuels is that they cannot continue to produce energy at night, obviously because there is no sunlight.