Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Power

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By Litany Notch

People have been exploring alternative energy substitute due to the ambiguity of oil prices and unceasing demands for energy. On that note, solar power has been delineated as a great power option. With the help of modern technology, one could easily set up their own solar power system.

Just like any other energy sources, solar power might be an asset or a liability. Before anything else, you should first evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of solar power installation. Will it be more to your advantage or you might be wasting your time?


Solar energy is at the top of the list of these energy sources in the future, because the sun is something that is not likely to disappear in the near future.

Advantages of Solar Power

· Unlimited energy resources: The sun is the main source of solar power therefore its resource is immeasurable.The sun emits enough energy every hour to satisfy the energy need of the entire globe for a year. Moreover, the sun has more than enough energy resources to be harnessed and with the help of the advancements in the field of science and technology, now converting the sun's energy into useable electric power is already possible.

· Say goodbye to electric bills: Energy from the sun is totally free of charge. It is very cost-effective since you will be able to save a lot of money once you start using energy through solar power. No need to use fuel or other forms of gasoline hence you don’t have to spend even a dime to get the power going.

· Silent operation with minimal maintenance: After the first installation, there is no need to worry about its maintenance and it will definitely last for a long time. Solar power system operates silently and does not emit a foul smell.

· Eco-friendly: Solar power is a clean and renewable source of energy. It does not emit any forms of pollutants that may degrade the environment.


Disadvantages of Solar Power

  • Start-up cost is too costly: Despite the technological advancements, the cost of photovoltaic panels remains very expensive. The size of photovoltaic panel is dependent on the amount of energy to be used and its location in relation to the sun. Although some companies are trying to give consumers a more reasonable price, however its cost remains relatively high up to this day.
  • Dependent with climate conditions: Since solar power is very much dependent with energy collection from the sun, efficiency of power collection is greatly affected by weather condition. In addition, power can only be harnessed when there is sunshine therefore, no energy can be collected during the night.
  • Accountable for a large storage space: Installation of solar power system requires a larger area to be able to ensure its effectiveness.

The advantages and disadvantages of solar power system only serve as a guideline to those who are looking for a good substitute for their current source of power. It is very much evident that you could greatly benefit from the use of solar power though you can never disregard the fact that it has its limitations as well.


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Solar Panels

Sunforce 50048 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit
Amazon Price: $279.95
List Price: $599.99
Sunforce 50033 15-Watt Solar Charging Kit
Amazon Price: $90.63
List Price: $0.00
Instapark® 100W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel, 100 Watt
Amazon Price: $319.99
List Price: $399.99
Solartech SPM040P-N 40-Watt 12-Volt Polycrystalline PV Solar Panel
Amazon Price: $146.99
List Price: $189.97
Instapark® 130W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel, 130 watt
Amazon Price: $364.90
List Price: $549.99
Sunforce 39810 80-Watt High-Efficiency Polycrystalline Solar Panel with Sharp Module
Amazon Price: $499.95
List Price: $699.99
GudCraft 12-Volt 20 Watt Solar Panel
Amazon Price: $95.00
List Price: $149.00

Solar Power - Your Comments

nms profile image

nms 2 years ago

good hub...u have good points.

Courtney 2 years ago

A great hub for sure, kinda makes you think of how much money we could be saving. If only we make the iniatil investement to do so thanks for the info. :)

jazzuboo profile image

jazzuboo 2 years ago

Yeah, it's the start up cost that kills me too. I would absolutely love to switch to solar, but it's just unrealistic at the moment. You would think the costs would have come down by now, the technologies been around for quite a while.

I wonder sometimes, whether oil companies are using their clout to keep the price of these sort of things up in order to keep us on the oil train...

James A Watkins profile image

James A Watkins Level 8 Commenter 2 years ago

I would love for solar power to be the answer.  In fact, all of our energy is a form of power from the sun, including oil.  But I read it would take a solar panel field the size of Arizona to power one state on a good day.  So it may not be the difference maker.  But it certainly can help.

Csanad profile image

Csanad 2 years ago

Very informative hub. However, I would like to make a minor correction, Solar cells do pollute the environment a little, as they are manufactured in factories. I would suspect that biomass energy is the cleanest (before making them into energy, which pollutes, they are plants and so decrease CO2). Thanks again for the great info.

jimbobby 2 years ago

cheers mate. this helped me out loads with some homework, but I also found it very interesting and it enlightened me on some important facts :)

Brian Long profile image

Brian Long 2 years ago

great hub. I really enjoyed reading it and it was very informative. Thanks

Brumnick 21 months ago

Solar Panels are definitely the future - great hub!

arctech_sky17 20 months ago

_ thanks for the info.

Godbless us..

dmillshub profile image

dmillshub 16 months ago

Nice hub, I like the pros/cons approach, well done!

adair_francesca 14 months ago

Thanks for the great hub. Solar panels are really promising and must be considered by all people. Although we know that solar panels have their own downside but still no one can deny the fact that it can give numerous kinds of benefits.

lime light power profile image

lime light power Level 1 Commenter 10 months ago

Hmmm... I realize this hub was originally written quite some time ago (almost two years). Since then solar panel prices have dropped drastically, while still not quite at grid parity, we are gettin' closer.

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