what are the positives and negatives of using solar energy?
484249
With ground based solar:\nPositives:\nOnce you build the panels the power is free\nLittle environmental impact\nAppeases the luddites\nNegatives:\nDownright expensive\nToo unreliable to be a major player in a power grid\nDoesn't work at night\nReduced power when skies aren't clear\nReduced power in winter and at high latitudes\n\nNow putting the solar power plant in space and beaming the power down to earth is another matter.\nPositives:\nVery clean, possibly cleaner than doing it on the ground (trade off is between making the semiconductors on Earth and dumping the waste from that or launching rockets)\nPotentially very cheap if space resources are used\nActually has a possibility of competing with fossil fuels and nuclear power for dominant power supplier\nNegatives:\nNot yet deployed so we only know of it in theory and limited tests of the microwave power transmission\nEvery year at the equinoxes there is a IIRC 74 minute blackout (not as bad as a 12 hour one though and that's only on two days)\nLuddites will probably oppose it despite the microwave beam being perfectly safe
117670
A method for making really cheap solarcells from sand and a way to transport the elctricity the generate without any loss. The amount of energy that falls on the Sahara during a year could cover the worlds entire energy needs 50 times over even using standard photocells that convert only a few percent of the light to electricity. With such an abundant and cheap energy source we could replace ALL other energysources as electricity can be converted to any other form of energy and fuel. We could even keep gasoline cars because gasoline could be manufactured from CO2 (from the air) and hydrogen (from water). There would be alot less pollution if I could invent these things.
785303
for a few it provides our electricity.  used in hospitals to treat some sick people.\nnuclear radiation from sun gives us warmth and allows plants to grow giving us food.   the unequal absorption of solar radiation gives  us wind letting us fly kites.
1168671
Well, in some cases (like solar cells) the cost can be prohibitive. Retrofitting a house with enough solar energy to participate in a buy-back program can cost $35,000, which would mean (at the current pricing structure) a 20-year ROI. Most folks in the US move every 5-10 years, so you would never realize that "payoff".\nIn other cases, like biodiesel and ethanol, the distilling process can take almost as much energy to produce, overall, as it will harness. Sure, you get portability with the non-fossil liquid fuels, but the energy to make the stuff still has to come from somewhere else, and right now, that means coal, nuke, or oil power primarily (at least in the USA).\nOther disadvantages include unreliability, slow recharge times, limited range, and limited performance when compared to fossil fuels. Even wind power (which is fairly cost-effective) is not terribly reliable, depending on a variable power supply (wind). If generation points were distributed more broadly around the country, there might be more reliable average generation, but a still day still means "no power." \nThere is no doubt that "renewable sources" are a possibility, but the state of the art right now is about at the "finger painting" level.
93905
pros: effective reutilisation\nless energy consumption for reuse\n\ncon:\n more time\nmore equipment\nmore hassle
544463
solar/wind power and electric vehicles. natural, renewable, no pollution, and noone has a monopoly on sunlight and wind.
118060
It is used to generate electricity.
116159
Solar energy (from solar panels)  converts sunlight into electricity. Solar arrays (massive groups of solar panels) can be used to produce energy on an industrial scale, but the average solar panel is still expensive and produces very little power.  However these solar arrays can be attached to the power grid like a normal power plant.  \n   Coal  fired power plants are currently the primary fuel used to produce electricity in the US.  There are also a  very few oil/gas plants used to produce power.      Solar panels can be placed on very light weight vehicles (like bikes) as a primary power source.  However since the power produced from a solar panel is pretty small,  you will never see a viable commercial solar powered SUV in the next 15 years.
964687
renewable - Wind power - cheap, available, enviromentally friendly & does not run out. Disadvantage - has to be windy/exposed, initial cost of setting up, can be considered unsightly\nTidal - Cheap, enviromentally friendly, available around the world & does not run out. Disadvantage - cost of setting up, small return for initial investment, suitable locations\nSolar - available, enviromentally friendly, relatively cheap after installation. Disadvantages - Cost of setting up, sunny location needed, storing power\nNon Renewable - Nuclear - reliable, clean, economic. Disadvantage - enviromental hazard, safety, disposal of waste\nFossil fuel Coal & gas - widely available, relatively cheap, established technology. Disadvantage - limited source, carbon emmissions, price can fluctuate
237029
Several.\n\nGeo-thermal is one of the best.  Basically, this is power derived from the heat of the earth.  Unfortunately, there are few places where this can be used.  Iceland, is a prime location for geothermal energy and they use it most effectively.\n\nWind Power:  quickly gaining in popularity, these are windmill powered turbines.\n\nSolar Power:  The sun is an excellent source of power.  Unfortunately, solar cells have been typically expensive to produce.  \n\nFuel Cells.  President Bush's pet project is to store hydrogen and use that as fuel.  Unfortunately there are some problems not mentioned by the president.  Hydrogen is the simplest element (smallest atom).  This makes it extremely easy to escape whatever container we put it in.  If you fill your cars fuel cell and let it sit for a couple of weeks, you will have an empty cell.  You need a lot of hydrogen to provide power.   You might need a bigger fuel cell than what is commonly suggested.  You might need a hydrogen tank the size of a car in order to go the distance usually provided in a sterotypical gas tank.  Benefits:  hydrogen is common and burns clean.\n\nNuclear power.  The big boogieman power source.  The sad truth is, we will have to expand nuclear power to keep up with demand if we reduce our fossil fuel consumption.  It's a necessary evil.\n\nTidal power:  Using wave action to provide power along coastal regions.  There are several of these types of power plants.\n\nHydroelectric:  using falling water from waterfalls, dams for fast moving rivers to power turbines.  One  of the best loved methods of producing "clean" power.  Drawbacks include altering the environmet and seriously affecting fish spawning.  Salmon populations have dropped enormously.
117277
There are no advantages or disadvantages, it's just a short term weather cycle.  It's like asking what's the advantage to rain?  It you're asking, it doesn't influece global warming or any crap like that.
460294
Depends on what for.  Nuclear fission is great for generating electricity.  Biodiesel has lots of promise as a motor vehicle fuel (not to mention would be great for the US Agriculture industry).  Solar power can greatly reduce the amount of power individual homeowners have to purchase from larger providers (but the initial investemnt is expensive).  Probably a combination of Fossil Fuel alternatives would be better than adopting a single alternative replacement.
719073
As taken from the EERE Solar energy basics website:\n\n"Sunlight—solar energy—can be used to generate electricity, provide hot water, and to heat, cool, and light buildings.\n\nPhotovoltaic (solar cell) systems convert sunlight directly into electricity. A solar or PV cell consists of semiconducting material that absorbs the sunlight. The solar energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms, allowing the electrons to flow through the material to produce electricity. PV cells are typically combined into modules that hold about 40 cells. About 10 of these modules are mounted in PV arrays. PV arrays can be used to generate electricity for a single building or, in large numbers, for a power plant. A power plant can also use a concentrating solar power system, which uses the sun's heat to generate electricity. The sunlight is collected and focused with mirrors to create a high-intensity heat source. This heat source produces steam or mechanical power to run a generator that creates electricity."
81355
Satellite images can help quite a bit with the solar resource. Accurate modeling can calculate how much solar energy reaches the atmosphere at any location, then aerosols and esepcially clouds diminish it - difficult estimating to what extent though. Local obstructions such as a high tree line can also affect it significantly (and winds). Analogs can be helpful (i.e., comparing measured solar energy amounts at geographically and meterologically similar locations), but can also be misleading.\n\nFor winds, you can take whatever sparse data is available and combine it with knowledge of the microclimate and modeled data. This is probably more difficult because topography and other local features can make surface layer winds differ quite a lot over small distances.
1105028
read this\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy
401394
lets start with advantages.......\n   for power generation\n   alternate to non-renewable energy sources\n   \ndisadvantages....\n  expensive\n  harmful to environment(radiation)\n  risky\n\nenergy is produced in nuclear reactor by fission mechanism......
239404
This is suppose to be common sense by now well unless you're 6 yr old then that's different. So I guess you need read this:\n\nsolar energy, any form of energy radiated by the sun, including light, radio waves, and X rays, although the term usually refers to the visible light of the sun. Solar energy is needed by green plants for the process of photosynthesis, which is the ultimate source of all food. The energy in fossil fuels (e.g., coal and oil) and other organic fuels (e.g., wood) is derived from solar energy. Difficulties with these fuels have led to the invention of devices that directly convert solar energy into usable forms of energy, such as electricity. Solar batteries, which operate on the principle that light falling on photosensitive substances causes a flow of electricity, play an important part in space satellites and, as they become more efficient, are finding increasing use on the earth (see solar cell). Thermoelectric generators convert the heat generated by solar energy directly into electricity (see thermoelectricity). Several projects have produced electricity on a large scale by using the solar energy available in desert areas. In one system, large numbers of solar batteries generate electricity for Coconut Island, off the coast of Australia. In another, oil flows through pipes that are set in reflecting parabolic troughs that can trap the heat from sunlight falling on them. The heat from the oil is then converted into electricity (see power, electric). Heat from the sun is used in air-drying a variety of materials and in producing salt by the evaporation of seawater. Solar heating systems can supply heat and hot water for domestic use; heat collected in special plates on the roof of a house is stored in rocks or water held in a large container. Such systems, however, usually require a conventional heater to supplement them. Solar stoves, which focus the sun's heat directly, are employed in regions where there is much perennial sunlight.\n\nAlso there are tons of info on this on the web just go to Yahoo search or Google and type in Solar Energy. It's not that hard.