Oil is not a renewable resource, so it is not wise to use it as a means of making electricity for commercial and industrial use. Depletion of oil reserves will lead to the termination of all oil-related tasks we do on an everyday basis. So it will be best to find a source of electricity from renewable sources so that there is no chance of it running out for a very long time. Solar energy is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the most efficient, affordable, and renewable source of energy. South Africa is the only country to make the most of renewable energy, and it is estimated that it will reach 8400 MW by 2030. South Africa is using solar energy to such an extent that it is used to drive the use of wind, biomass, and hydroelectric energies.
See the pros and cons of solar energy usage in South Africa below:
Pros of Solar Energy:
Solar energy is the cleanest form of electricity with a lot of benefits:
- Solar energy is the purest form of power, and its production is not harmful to our planet or life within.
- It is a renewable source of energy and sun will continue to radiate even after thousands of years, so it will never run out.
- It is more environmentally friendly as compared to burning of fossil fuels which are already scarce in number and cause major environmental changes by burning; Increasing the CO2 emissions in the atmosphere.
- South Africa has a lot of empty land in the New Cape region, so they have utilized it by planting solar cells on a large portion of their land.
- Solar power will dominate fossil fuel burning, which will be beneficial for the coming generations.
- After the initial setup cost of solar cells, there is no further cost, and it is free to use throughout its life.
- Solar panels contribute nothing to noise pollution as well making them the most beneficial and eco-friendly form of producing energy.
- Solar panel setup does not have any moving parts making it an easily maintained device, easy to clean and affordable to maintain.
- Solar panels require only open ground, Rooftops of buildings are usually left unused; Planting solar panels on building rooftops uses excess space and provides free electricity.
- Solar energy is the best source of energy for remote areas where there are no power lines or means to powerhouses.
- In this 5-10 years, Solar technology has come a long way to become more efficient with minimal energy losses, and it is set to further improve in the future.
Cons of Solar Energy:
Solar energy being very efficient, has some flaws as well:
- Although solar panels produce clean energy and contribute nothing to environmental pollution mining of lithium for the batteries used with solar panels produces a very negative impact on our environment.
- Solar Energy requires constant sunlight for progress, cloudy weather, and nighttime are the biggest enemies for solar panels as they fail to produce electricity when the smooth flow of light is disturbed.
Conclusion:
It is no doubt the pros of solar energy outweigh its cons. For every problem, there is a solution. Solar will counter all problems in the future for a better and safer future.
Read more here: https://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/solar/solar-energy/pros-and-cons-of-solar-energy/