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Solar Energy

Solar energy refers to the conversion of the sun’s rays into useful forms of energy, such as electricity or heat. It amounts to about 420 trillion kilowatt-hours, and is several thousand times greater than all the energy used by all the people. Solar energy is harnessed by capturing the sun's heat (through solar heaters) or light (through photovoltaic cells). It is estimated that one square kilometer (about 0.4 square miles) of land area receives some 4000 kilowatts (4 megawatts) of solar energy every day enough for therequirements of a medium-sized town.

 

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Renewable

  • Abundant

  • Sustainable

  • Environmentally Friendly

  • Good Availability

  • Reduces Electricity Costs

  • Shared Solar

  • Silent

  • Financial Support from Government/State

  • Low Maintenance

  • Technology is Improving

Cons

  • Expensive

  • Intermittent

  • Energy Storage is Expensive

  • Associated with Pollution

  • Exotic Materials

  • Requires Space

How It Works

World's Use of Solar Energy

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