Why are solar panels necessary?

Discover why solar panels are a vital part of fufillin our energy needs

Although there are numerous other methods of generating electricity, solar panels have a number of considerable advantages for both the consumer, the producer, and the environment.

Uses of Solar Panels

Solar panels are used to power all sorts of electronic equipment, from solar-powered handheld calculators that will function as long as sunlight is available, to remote solar-powered sensor arrays in bouys, and even some experimental vehicles and boats. Solar panels are also placed on outdoor lighting structures - the solar cell is charged during daylight hours, and at night, we get free electricity to keep our streets well-lit and secure. Solar panels are used extensively on satellites, where array of solar cells provide reliable power for the satellite's electrical systems.

Solar Power plants, which are large collections of solar panels arranged to generate commercial electricity, are becoming more and more frequent these days. While still between 2-5 times as expensive to produce as electricity from fossil fuels, electricity generated from solar panels is free, nearly infinitely abundant, and non-polluting. Many environmentally-minded communities across America have set up solar power stations to help generate private or commercial solar energy.

Powering homes with solar power has also been a major part of the solar revolution the last two decades have seen. Solar panels can be placed on the roof of homes, businesses, or remote research stations, and can be used independent of or in conjunction with the local power grid.

Advantages of solar panels

Solar panels are clean - while generating electricity from sunlight, solar panels produce virtually no pollution, whereas burning fossil fuels releases large quantities of toxic gases into the atmosphere.

For the consumer, solar panels can free the individual from reliance on the power grid and the monopolistic energy supplier. Once you make the initial investment in hardware, you will have free electricity for years to come.

Fossil Fuels are limited - Although fossil fuel reserves are expected to run dry within the next century, solar power is clean, abundant, and will remain a renewable resource that can meet all of Earth's energy needs for billions of years to come.

Portable Solar Panels

Portability is a major advantage of the common small watting rating solar panel, which can be used in numerous electronic and handheld devices when off the electricity grid, or when lugging around a generator would be impractical or wasteful. Portable or device-mounted solar panels can power solar-powered calculators, laptops, and even small motorized vehicles. The applications are limitless, but as you will see, the costs of using solar panels are not to be trivialized.

Drawbacks of solar panels

Admittedly, while solar power is certainly much cleaner than the burning of fossil fuels, and moderately cleaner than the production of nuclear power, solar panels are very pricey and in many years demand for solar panels exceeds supply. When we ask ourselves - why are solar panels necessary, we must consider the costs of production as well as the costs of using much more harmful means of producing electricity. Solar Panels also require more square yardage per kilowatt for the power-generating facility than fossil fuel power plants or nuclear power.