| The use of solar energy is versatile; it is | | | | |
| used for electricity, central heating, hot | | | | The main disadvantage of solar energy is that |
| water, cooking, for producing salt and even | | | | it's dilute. This means you have to have a |
| for desalination. The energy comes from the | | | | lot of solar collectors installed around your |
| sun's rays and is known to be very | | | | house. The energy itself is free, but the |
| environmentally friendly. However, when the | | | | solar collectors are relatively expensive and |
| sun rays enter the earth's atmosphere it is | | | | some require regular maintenance in order to |
| quite dilute. Although the advantages are | | | | work properly and efficiently. If you decide |
| clear there are also disadvantages. | | | | to go solar you need to calculate the return |
| | | | on investment in order to know if the |
| Let's start with the biggest advantage; it is | | | | investment will be worth it. |
| a clean form of energy. To produce | | | | |
| electricity or heat you only need the sun | | | | One big disadvantage is that you need the sun |
| rays. There is no need to use fossil fuel in | | | | rays to make use of it. If you are situated |
| combination with sun rays to produce | | | | in a part of this beautiful planet where |
| electricity or heat. You just need a solar | | | | there is not much sun light then this could |
| energy collector or solar power panels in | | | | be a problem. In other areas, the sun rays |
| order to convert the energy into electricity. | | | | are almost always covered in clouds making |
| | | | solar energy collectors less efficient. You |
| Another advantage is that it is cheaper than | | | | should first know if the sunshine in your |
| to use traditional electricity for heating. | | | | area is abundant for the most part of the |
| If you are using traditional electricity for | | | | year. Of course if you live in desert areas |
| heating you can save a lot of money. In | | | | like in Arizona or Mexico the sun produces a |
| return you will get lower electric bills and | | | | lot of sunshine for the most part of the. |
| it also means that you don't have to maintain | | | | |
| heaters. | | | | Lastly the sun only shines during the day. |
| | | | Therefore if you need electricity or hot |
| If you live in a remote area where there are | | | | water during the night, like many of us do, |
| no power-lines solar energy can be the | | | | it can be a problem. You will need a backup |
| solution. There are remote areas where power | | | | system like the 'old' utility grid or you |
| companies have no means to access your home. | | | | will need to store the electricity for later |
| This great alternative can provide you with | | | | use. There are battery systems that can store |
| anything from heating water, electricity, and | | | | solar energy for later use. The hot water |
| even cooking. | | | | collected during daytime is often stored in a |
| | | | tank for later use. The modern systems are |
| Another great use is for desalination in | | | | becoming more sophisticated in storing |
| areas where fresh, drinkable water is scarce. | | | | electricity or hot water. If you are still |
| The brine is evaporated and leaves the salt | | | | using your grid, the produced electricity can |
| crystals in the bottom of the basin. The | | | | be pumped back into the grid. |
| water in turn condenses back in another basin | | | | |
| where it is now drinkable. | | | | Solar energy is very clean and is a good |
| | | | alternative for traditional electricity. |
| The advantages mentioned above are tremendous | | | | Although this is true it is also good to |
| but there are some disadvantages. These | | | | mention the disadvantages. If you are |
| disadvantages also need to be discussed to | | | | considering using solar energy you must read |
| paint a better overall picture. | | | | this first to make a balanced decision. |