With the Earth in her current state, more and more companies are turning to alternative forms of energy as a way to reduce their carbon footprints. In fact, the global solar market grew 29.3% in 2017 alone, as nations around the world are installing 98.9 gigawatts of new capacity. One of these alternative energy resources is literally our sun. The single greatest and most important star in our solar system. In this article, you will find 3 pros and 3 cons of utilizing solar energy.

Pros 1. Renewable

Among all the benefits of using a solar system, the most important thing is that solar energy is a renewable energy source. Solar companies use this energy source because it can be harnessed anywhere in the world and is, of course, available every day. Currently, there is exactly a 0% chance of it becoming impossible to use solar panels in our lifetime, unlike other alternative energy options, solar systems will be accessible as long as we have the sun.

Pros 2. Diverse Uses

A solar system can be used for many many different purposes. You can generate electricity and/ or heat. Most reputable solar companies use solar energy to produce electricity in areas that don’t have access to the energy grid or to help bring distilled water to regions with limited clean water supplies, as well as to power satellites that we launch into space. A solar system can also be integrated into building materials. Not long ago, for example, Sharp introduced solar energy windows.

A solar system generally doesn’t require a ton of maintenance. You really only need to keep it clean. Therefore, cleaning your solar system a few times per year will keep you running at peak performance. However, when in doubt, you can always rely on your solar company, which typically will offer a cleaning service. Another benefit to using a solar system is that there are no moving parts. If your system starts to act up, it is always best to have your solar company come check it out. Solar systems are cheap to maintain, but only if done so properly. With so many pros, it seems difficult to imagine there is a downside to solar energy, however, there are a few things to consider.

Cons 1. Use of Space

For greater energy production, the more solar panels you’re going to need. Solar panels require a lot of space and unfortunately, some buildings just aren’t big enough to fit the number of solar panels that you would like to have/ that you would need to produce the goal amount of electricity or heat. An alternative is to install some of the panels in your yard but they also need to have access to sunlight. So if you don’t have the space for all the panels that you want/ need, you may have to settle for installing fewer solar panels to satisfy a small portion or just some of your energy needs.

Cons 2. Weather

The efficiency of your solar system drops when it is rainy or cloudy since solar panels require sunlight to effectively produce energy. This is less than ideal since a few cloudy, rainy days can have a noticeable effect on the amount of energy being produced and consumed. It is also important to note that solar energy can’t be collected at night. Inconsistent energy production is going to be the biggest challenge when using a solar system.

Cons 3. Green Energy?

Using solar energy is, of course, better than burning fossil fuels, but it’s not entirely green. Pollution related to solar energy systems is far less when compared to other sources of energy. However, the transportation and installation of solar systems are associated with the emission of greenhouse gases. This means that there are some toxic materials and hazardous products used in the manufacturing process of solar systems. So really it is the production of the solar system, not the system itself that creates pollution. Either way, solar energy pollutes less than other alternative energy sources.