Some of the cons to solar energy are expensive installation and batteries, depending on weather conditions, takes up a lot of space, and although low level, pollution impact does exist.
1. Pricey
The acquisition costs for a solar system are quite high. This includes paying for the solar panels, inverter, batteries, wiring and installation. However, solar technologies are constantly evolving, so it can be assumed that prices will fall in the future.
Solar energy must be used immediately, or can be stored in large batteries. These batteries, used in off-grid solar systems, can be charged during the day so that the electricity is used at night. This is a good solution for using solar energy throughout the day, but it is also quite expensive.
In most cases, it is wiser to only use solar power during the day and to take electricity from the grid at night (of course, only if your system is connected to the grid). Luckily, your electricity needs are generally highest during the day, so you can cover most of them with solar power.
2. Depending on the weather
Although solar energy can be collected on cloudy and rainy days, the efficiency of the solar system decreases. Solar panels depend on sunlight to efficiently harvest solar energy. Therefore, some cloudy and rainy days can affect the power system noticeably. Also, note that solar energy cannot be harvested overnight.
On the other hand, if you want your water heating solution to work at night or in winter, thermodynamic panels are an alternative to consider.
3. Takes up a lot of space
The more electricity you want to produce, the more solar panels you need because you want to collect as much sunlight as possible. Photovoltaic solar panels take up a lot of space and some roofs are not big enough for the desired number of solar panels.
An alternative is to install some of the panels in your garden, but they must have sunlight. If you don’t have room for all the panels you want, you can install fewer to meet some of your energy needs.
4. Associated with pollution
Although the pollution associated with solar energy systems is much lower compared to other energy sources, solar energy can be associated with pollution. The transportation and installation of solar panels have been linked to greenhouse gas emissions.
During the manufacturing process of photovoltaic solar systems, some toxic materials and hazardous products are also used, which may indirectly affect the environment.
However, solar energy pollutes much less than other alternative energy sources.
Erzsebet Frey (Eli Frey) is an ecologist and online entrepreneur with a Master of Science in Ecology from the University of Belgrade. Originally from Serbia, she has lived in Sri Lanka since 2017. Eli has worked internationally in countries like Oman, Brazil, Germany, and Sri Lanka. In 2018, she expanded into SEO and blogging, completing courses from UC Davis and Edinburgh. Eli has founded multiple websites focused on biology, ecology, environmental science, sustainable and simple living, and outdoor activities. She enjoys creating nature and simple living videos on YouTube and participates in speleology, diving, and hiking.