Solar power has recently had a massive surge in popularity. You may be wondering, is solar power right for me? There are several essential things to know when considering what power source is appropriate for your setup. Solar power has many advantages, such as reducing your carbon footprint, reduced rates on electricity bills, and being energy independent for living off-grid. Still, there are also disadvantages that need some investigation. So, what are the advantages of solar energy? What are the disadvantages of solar energy? Read on for a thorough report of the pros and cons of solar power.
What are the Advantages of Solar Power?
The are many advantages to solar energy. Here we are addressing the most significant points about the this renewable energy source.
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Environmentally Friendly
When investigating the pros and cons of solar power, the fact that it produces no emissions is one of the biggest draws. Using solar energy is one of the most environmentally friendly power sources. The only thing needed to power a solar energy device is a lovely, sunny day. Solar energy produces no emissions, which is environmentally friendly for those wanting to live a green lifestyle. It burns no fossil fuels, which reduces your carbon footprint, and is an entirely renewable energy source. Energy from the sun is free and inexhaustible.
The average five-person family with two cars produces 58,109 pounds of CO2 per year. As a matter of fact, by using solar power to run your home just 25% of the time. You can decrease your households’ CO2 output by nearly 6% per year. That’s the equivalent of 175 gallons of gas.
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Long Term Savings
In a home with solar power as an alternative energy source, electricity costs can be reduced significantly. Depending on your area’s energy costs, using solar energy to power your home just 25% of the time can save you $400 or more per year. With just this partial usage, you can save a significant amount of money and keep all those gallons of fossil fuels out of the atmosphere.
Moreover, that’s if the only energy-saving action you take is using solar power. Therefore, no matter how much your home solar generator system costs. It will save you money over time. Who doesn’t like the idea of saving money?
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Energy Independent
There is no better option to power your devices than solar power for those wanting to live off-grid. The energy independence of not having to go into town and purchase gasoline frees off-grid livers. The time saved in finding places to purchase gas, time spent changing oil, and indoor use capabilities will give those living off-grid more time and freedom to enjoy the great outdoors. When you may be miles away from emergency services, the safety provided by solar panels over traditional electric current camping generators can give an extra layer of comfort.
Solar energy use is welcome almost everywhere. The low maintenance operation required of solar power is helpful both for users and park personnel. The reason is that there is rarely anything more needed for successful operation other than keeping the panels clean. Solar power also reduces the electricity bill. This is not only helpful for your own bank account but also that of the park owners. Electricity is often included in the cost of campsites. So bringing along your own power source will result in extra profit for camp owners.
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Safe Use
Solar generators are incredibly convenient, as you can use them safely both indoors and outdoors. Because they do not use fuel, they produce no toxic fumes or dangerous products that can be harmful to humans and pets’ health. Also, solar power options have no moving parts. So there are no worries about pets or small children getting injured. Additionally, using a backup power source indoors is significantly more convenient in a power outage situation. Rather than having to gas up and maneuver a portable electric generator outside, in the dark, or inclement weather. You can easily transport your portable solar generator from room to room in the safety and warmth of your own home.
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Quiet Operation
The quiet operation of using solar power is welcome by all. It creates a more tranquil environment than using a fossil fuel generator, which can be noisy and disruptive to others around you. Many campgrounds have quiet time or noise regulations that limit the usefulness of many generators. Unless you own a silent generator, charging your camera or flashlight in the middle of the night isn’t going to work. Most fuel-powered generators range from 50 to 85 decibels (dB) of noise. Every increase of 10 decibels makes a doubling effect on the human ear. This makes an 85-decibel noise rating nearly unbearable at close range.
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Low Maintenance
Once solar panels are correctly installed or set up, they will run 24/7 with no maintenance from you. During the day, the sun’s rays will charge your batteries. Then at night, the battery powers your electronic devices. As long as there is enough sunlight during the day, you will rarely have anything to worry about regarding your power source. If you’ve ever used a gas-powered generator, you know the challenges of changing the oil, managing the gas, making sure all the moving parts are in good working order. Plus, ensuring it is not too loud for anyone around.
What are the Disadvantages of Solar Power?
However, that’s not to say that solar power has no drawbacks. Below, we will look into the disadvantages of solar energy.
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Power Limitations
While solar power options have tons of great features, we would be remiss if we did not address the drawbacks. The first disadvantage is the power limitations of solar energy. Solar power options are limited by their wattage output and battery storage. This can affect what devices you can power and how long you can keep them running. The recharge time for many solar setups is relatively slow. So, if you are out of battery power, it could take a significant amount of time to recharge.
Additionally, solar power leaves you entirely dependent on the sun. The only way to charge devices and batteries with solar energy is to have a bright, sunny day. If you reside in an area with lots of rain or cloudy days, your power supply may be limited. There is no way to charge solar devices at night. When the days get shorter due to seasonal changes, power may be limited. If you live in a windy, sandy area or one that experiences snow, be prepared to clean your solar panels often. They are less effective and may not be effective at all when covered with sand, dirt, leaves, or snow. You can learn more by comparing solar vs generators.
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Upfront Cost
There is no way to get around it. Upfront costs of solar options at this date and time are pretty expensive. Make no mistake; solar energy will save money in the long run due to reduced monthly costs. However, getting everything up and running posits a hefty price tag. This price tag can be a deterrent to many people or even those with better-than-modest incomes. That said, many communities offer tax subsidies for those using solar energy. And as production is increased, streamlined, and more widely adopted, costs may go down.
While this makes solar energy more accessible, it can be frustrating to see prices fall after you have already paid a high premium to be an early adopter. Until production costs of sun-powered options go down, relying on solar power is unattainable for many due to the upfront costs.
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Requires Space
The technology surrounding solar power is getting much better. But we still have a long way to go before you can pull a device out of your pocket that will power your whole home or campsite indefinitely. Currently, solar power takes a lot of space. If you are looking to power an entire home with energy from the sun, look forward to nearly every inch of roofing covered with giant solar panels. Whether in a huge RV or a tiny off-grid tent, solar energy still takes a lot of space during camping.
Since solar power needs so much time and solar energy to charge, the batteries need to be massive to safely store enough juice to power needed appliances long term. Also, large batteries are important to provide the resources necessary to power a home or even a large RV. When considering a solar option for a power source, battery storage and the space needed to collect solar rays should be a significant consideration.
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Susceptible to Damage
Because of the large surface area needed to house solar operations, panels are susceptible to damage. Any kind of large tree could cause falling debris that can damage the sensitive mechanisms that solar energy requires. Intense cold, heat, falling acorns, and even sleet or hail can cause damage due to the vast surface space needed to power large-scale operations with solar power. Additionally, if your solar setup is portable, such as that in a small solar option, safe storage methods are essential. Padding is vital for the safe storage of these delicate panels, which takes up even more space when keeping them safely stored.
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Manufacturing Process
So many people turn to solar energy because of how it is beneficial to the environment. Although the above section is touting the benefits of solar power for reducing emissions and your carbon footprint. However, the manufacturing process of the materials needed to harvest the sun’s energy does have some environmental impacts. The conversion of the sun’s rays into electricity is called photovoltaic. Photovoltaic panel production is sometimes associated with toxic waste, native habitat destruction, unsustainable production habits, and carbon emissions. Therefore, while using solar energy is more environmentally friendly than burning fossil fuels, panel production still has ethical environmental issues that we should consider.
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Recycling Impact
In addition to manufacturing concerns is what to do with solar energy options once they have outlived their usefulness. The energy production of solar power decreases with time. The average solar panel lasts between 20 and 30 years. So, what do you do with solar panels once they are no longer able to be used? Some recycling companies are emerging to strip old panels of valuable components, but the process can be expensive.
Solar panels contain glass, aluminum, silicon, copper, silver, tin, lead, and several other components. Most of these elements can not be broken down through natural measures. Ingredients such as lead and tin can leach into the ground and contaminate soil and drinking water, making it toxic to humans. Therefore, recycling old solar power options is essential in being environmentally friendly. While more companies that offer solar recycling are increasing, much still needs to be done to keep these items out of landfills. You can lean more about the evolution of solar energy here.
The Verdict
The pros and cons of solar energy are many. Solar power is a big part of the future and saves the environment. But it still has many kinks to work out before being claimed as completely environmentally friendly. While you can drastically reduce your monthly bill with solar power, the upfront cost may be beyond the means of many individuals and families. While there are no emissions or burning of non-renewable sources when using solar energy, the manufacturing of panels still causes major environmental concerns. So, while the personal impact of solar power may seem beneficial in the short term, the environmental cost of producing solar options at this date and time could be a cause for concern.
Those wanting to live off-grid or often take camping vacations will love the freedom and sustainability of solar power. Solar power also offers the convenience of being low maintenance with no moving parts. Safety could be another option to favor solar energy. Fewer ones have less chance of injury, and other loved ones and pets will avoid exposure to toxic fumes, gasoline, engine oil, and other harmful substances. As a result, the pros and cons of solar power are variable things.
