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<a href="/content/rew/en/index.html">Home</a> <a href="/content/rew/en/solar-energy/featured-

articles.html">Featured News</a> Advantages and disadvantages of Solar Photovoltaic – Quick Pros and
Cons of Solar PV

Home

Featured News

Advantages and disadvantages of Solar Photovoltaic – Quick Pros and Cons of Solar PV

Advantages and disadvantages of Solar Photovoltaic – Quick Pros and Cons of Solar PV

December 19, 2012

By Dino Green

seafrvsvdy

Dino Green

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are undoubtedly what comes to peoples’ minds when they talk about
solar energy. Considering that in an hour, the sun radiates solar energy enough to cover for human
energy consumption for a year, then going green with solar PV panels is perhaps in the right direction!
However, with solar energy systems’ technology, we are still behind in capturing this naturally free vast
amount of energy provided by nature.
Herein you can review some basic advantages and disadvantages of solar energy panels (PV panels) – for
an extended analysis on this you may refer to pros and cons of Photovoltaic systems and pros and cons
of Home solar panels

Advantages of solar PV – in a nutshell

PV panels provide clean – green energy. During electricity generation with PV panels there is no harmful
greenhouse gas emissions thus solar PV is environmentally friendly.

Solar energy is energy supplied by nature – it is thus free and abundant!

Solar energy can be made available almost anywhere there is sunlight

Solar energy is especially appropriate for smart energy networks with distributed power generation –
DPG is indeed the next generation power network structure!

Solar panels cost is currently on a fast reducing track and is expected to continue reducing for the next
years – consequently solar PV panels has indeed a highly promising future both for economical viability
and environmental sustainability.

Photovoltaic panels, through photoelectric phenomenon, produce electricity in a direct electricity

generation way

Operating and maintenance costs for PV panels are considered to be low, almost negligible, compared
to costs of other renewable energy systems

PV panels have no mechanically moving parts, except in cases of sun-tracking mechanical bases;
consequently they have far less breakages or require less maintenance than other renewable energy
systems (e.g. wind turbines)

PV panels are totally silent, producing no noise at all; consequently, they are a perfect solution for urban
areas and for residential applications (see solar panels for home)

Because solar energy coincides with energy needs for cooling, PV panels can provide an effective
solution to energy demand peaks – especially in hot summer months where energy demand is high.

Though solar energy panels’ prices have seen a drastic reduction in the past years, and are still falling,
nonetheless, solar photovoltaic panels are one of major renewable energy systems that are promoted
through government subsidy funding (FITs, tax credits etc.); thus financial incentive for PV panels make
solar energy panels an attractive investment alternative.

Residential solar panels are easy to install on rooftops or on the ground without any interference to
residential lifestyle.

Disadvantages of Solar PV – in a nutshell

[Native Advertisement]

As in all renewable energy sources, solar energy has intermittency issues; not shining at night but also
during daytime there may be cloudy or rainy weather.
Consequently, intermittency and unpredictability of solar energy makes solar energy panels less reliable
a solution.

Solar energy panels require additional equipment (inverters) to convert direct electricity (DC) to
alternating electricity (AC) in order to be used on the power network.

For a continuous supply of electric power, especially for on-grid connections, Photovoltaic panels
require not only Inverters but also storage batteries; thus increasing the investment cost for PV panels
considerably

In case of land-mounted PV panel installations, they require relatively large areas for deployment;
usually the land space is committed for this purpose for a period of 15-20 years – or even longer.

Solar panels efficiency levels are relatively low (between 14%-25%) compared to the efficiency levels of
other renewable energy systems.

Though PV panels have no considerable maintenance or operating costs, they are fragile and can be
damaged relatively easily; additional insurance costs are therefore of ultimate importance to safeguard
a PV investment.

You may also want to read:

Photovoltaic Cost and Price Relationship

8 Benefits of Distributed Solar that Prove it’s Worth More than Dollars and Cents

Podcasts

Listen Up: Future Rooftop Solar Costs — Getting to $2.50/watt

What Happens When Solar Installers Get Frustrated with Loan Options?

Subscribe to the Inside Renewable Energy Podcast on iTunes here

Videos

3@3 on Solar PV: Upsides, Downsides and Potential Challenges

3@3 on Solar PV: Solar at $0.25 a Watt explained

Get more solar videos here

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Dino Greenseafrvsvdy

Dino green is a Mechanical Engineer and a qualified accredited expert in certification of energy
performance of buildings. He is a green technology fun and an advocate of environmental sustainability.
Beyond his professional curriculum he is a contributing author in GreenEnergySavingTips.comand an
editor in RenewableGreenEnergyPower.comcurrent focus area: solar energy facts

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