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Solar Energy - Pros and Cons

The obvious and increasing need for new natural resources made people turn their eyes towards the sun. And the answer was indeed above, as solar energy has been proven to be the cheapest and viable form of energy, bringing about significant advantages.

Compared to coal or wood, the sun light is free, and the only expenses involved are those for the devices/installations meant to capture the sun rays and turn them into energy.

Their price is moderately high, but there are numerous governmental programs ensuring partial or complete funding for this type of projects. Besides, the investment should be written off in no time.

Another favorable aspect of using the sun as a source of energy is the fact that it will never run out, or at least not in the following millenniums. And the sun can be used to obtain electricity, heat, to power cars and equipment, so it can replace all the other resources that have been over-exploited throughout the last decades.

The best of all is that the use of solar energy does not involve any side effects or dangers for the user, the community or the environment. Unlike the use of coal or oil, which represents an important source of pollution for the environment, and the nuclear power plants that are often the cause of large scale disasters, the sun is safe to use on all levels.

There are, of course, opinions against the use of solar energy. Some people claim that, due to the climate and the geographic position of certain

countries, it cannot be considered reliable. But scientists are looking for a way to store energy, thus enabling the countries in question to capture the necessary sunlight within the favorable weather period and produce the energy they need for the whole year.

Another impediment is the space requirement. It has been proven that in order to cover the electricity needs of the United States for 1 year, a surface of 150,000 square km covered with photovoltaic cells would be required. The figures are indeed overwhelming, but only if we do not take into account the possibility to install the photovoltaic panels on the roofs of the existing buildings.

And there are of course the endless deserts, like Sahara, very little exploited due to their lack of resources, and yet so rich in sunlight.

Even though it might seem more expensive at first sight, solar energy remains an alternative worth exploring.

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