Solar Energy Pros and Cons List

As energy costs only continue to rise higher and higher, home and business owners have stepped up their search for more viable forms of energy. Solar energy has risen in importance as its usage becomes increasingly feasible. The following is a glimpse into the pros and cons that come with the usage of solar energy.

List of Pros of Solar Energy

1. Friendly To The Environment
The harnessing of solar energy typically does not cause any sort of pollution, at least not on a level that should be cause for alarm. While there are emissions caused during the installation and manufacturing of solar energy system, they pale in comparison to the emissions caused by more traditional forms of energy. Solar energy is also able to reduce our reliance on these energies.

2. Lowered Electricity Costs
Not only does solar energy reduce our traditional energy reliance, it also lowers our overall electricity costs. Installing solar panels on your home leads to savings of over $100 per month on your utility bills. More and more states are instituting programs where homeowners can apply for solar panel financing, reducing their upfront costs and allowing them to realize savings immediately.

3. Sustainability
Unlike fossil fuels and gasoline, solar energy can never run out. The sun rises each day and is not scheduled to burn out for several billion years. Instead of continuing to rely upon outdated sources of energy and compromising the viability of future generations by refusing to plan for the future, solar energy allows users to wean off themselves off fossil fuels.

List of Cons of Solar Energy

1. Expensive Storage
At the present time, all forms of solar energy storage are quite expensive and it will be years before scientists and solar energy experts are able to perfect a storage system that is not a drain on the wallets of those who use it. While batteries can be used and they do help defray some of the costs, they are prohibitively expensive and do not fully take load and demand into account.

2. The Sun’s Presence Is Intermittent
For obvious reason, we do not have continued, uninterrupted access to the sun, which can make solar energy usage problematic, especially for those who do not live in areas where the sun shines on a consistent basis. Trying to predict the weather and prepare for the inevitable cloudy days can also be challenging. While solar power is more reliable than wind power, it is still spotty.

3. Materials Are Hard To Find
Solar cells tend to be constructed from obscure materials that are very costly and not very easy to come by. Home and business owners who wish to construct solar cells of the thin film variety may find that procuring the materials is especially challenging.