Solar Power: Pros and Cons

Solar Power may appear to be a perfect source of energy, but is there cons to this seemingly Utopian power source?

Solar panels are renewable and they do save the Earth, but there is more to them than just a perfect energy sources. They have cons, not just pros. So what's wrong with this blue panels that's helping our one and only Earth?

Pros

"Solar power is going to be absolutely essential to meeting growing energy demands while staving off climate change." -Ramez Naam

Solar panels still have pros. So, what are the good things about solar energy?

• Solar energy is a renewable source of energy. It won't run out, unlike fossil fuels, as long as we have the sun. The sun won't die in 5 billion years, scientists say.

• Solar energy is cleaner that fossil fuels. It helps the environment and doesn't ruin natural habitats.

Cons

"There's a limit to how much you can deploy renewables, like wind or solar. People will talk about getting up to 30 percent of America's power from renewables, but you can't get to 100 percent because of their unreliability." - Nathan Myhrvold

Solar panels also have some negative things about them. So, what are the cons of solar energy?

• The more energy you want to produce, the more space you need for the solar panels. Solar panels need a lot of space and some roofs are not big enough.

• Solar panels can get very dirty. For example, dust, dirt, pollen, bird droppings, and snow can cover on the solar panels, blocking out the sunlight.

• If you want to use solar power, you won't always be bright and sunny. Solar panels are dependent on sunlight to make solar energy. Although solar energy can still be used in cloudy and rainy days, but it's not as efficient

So, now you know that solar panels and solar energy aren't perfect. They do help the environment, though, so consider using them instead of fossil fuels. Especially if you want our Earth to be a healthy, habitable place for yourself, your children, grandchildren, etc. to live in. For now, at least try to use less energy when you don't need it.

For more about the pros and cons of solar panels, visit our page for research on this website.