Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy

What Is Solar Energy?

The energy obtained using the energy of the rays of the sun is called solar energy. In its most common form, solar energy is produced using solar panels. Thanks to the panels placed side by side in large areas, for example, on the roofs of houses, it is possible to achieve clean and environmentally friendly solar energy.

In addition, and on a much larger scale, solar power is sufficient enough to power thousands of people. Solar thermal power plants generate solar energy using various technologies. Turbines running on solar-heated water and centers similar to nuclear power plants continue to be widely used.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy?

Like all types of energy, solar energy has its advantages and disadvantages.

Benefits include lower energy bills, environmental friendliness, help achieve energy independence, low maintenance costs, and reduced network load. These profits, which are usually associated with cost and sustainability, are gaining attention as valuable factors for a carbon-free future for our planet.

Among the disadvantages of solar energy are high initial investment, the inability to use it at night, problems with energy storage due to the lack of widespread use of battery technology, the lack of places receiving sunlight, and its limited area.

Borusan Cat Solar Solutions

At Borusan Cat, as we move towards our goal of zeroing our carbon footprint, we are putting a huge focus on solar energy in our plans. After installing solar panels on the roof of our facility in Adana, we continue to implement the same application in our other facilities.

We also offer solar energy solutions to our ever-expanding customer network in all regions where we operate. We reduce our carbon footprint by reducing amortization periods through technology advancement and high-efficiency power generation. With the commissioning of each 1 MW solar energy system, we eliminate about 530 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. By combining solar, wind, geothermal, cogeneration/trigeneration, biogas, landfill gas power systems, and diesel generators into one system, we can convert them into hybrid systems. With diversified resources, we ensure the continuity of energy supply and optimize costs.

Where Is Solar Energy Stored?

Solar energy needs to be stored to be used when there is no sun. There are many techniques for that.

Lead-acid, lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium batteries are the most well-known types of batteries used for solar energy storage. While applications and efficiencies are shaped by demand, lithium-ion batteries, which are also used in electric vehicles, seem to be outperforming the competition for now. However, the mining and processing of semiconductor materials required for the production of batteries remain the focus of attention all around the world.

Why Do We Need to Use Solar Energy?

The sun is the greatest source of life in the world. Our existence is shaped by its warmth and light. The sun is an inexhaustible source of energy (for at least 5 billion years). The idea that we need solar energy more than we think continues to gain momentum in the fight against climate change. We need green and renewable energy, so what could be better than solar power?

Assuming the world fights the effects of climate change and tries to go carbon-free in the coming years, solar energy promises to be one of the most exciting technologies!

theBClog

Author

TheBClog consists of rich content prepared by all Borusan Cat members on topics such as sustainability, productivity, future, technology, and the business world. The stories of success shared by the Borusan Cat members meet with the world at TheBClog in Turkish, English and Russian.