ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION AND USE

Abstract

The energy released through nuclear fusion on the Sun expands into space in the form of electromagnetic radiation. A total of 1.5x109 TWh reaches the surface of the Earth. About 30% of the energy returns into space by reflexion, whereas 70% of the energy is absorbed on the Earth’s surface (1,05x109 TWh). This amount is greater than the total coal and oil reserves taken together. Using solar energy has its specificities. First, the energy of the Sun records great fluctuations during the day and year. Second, there is a great daily, seasonal, yearly and meteorological variability of the Sun’s radiation accompanied by a very low congruence of the production and consumption of the energy of the Sun. Third, there is a low degree of the conversion of the Sun’s energy to electrical energy. The growth of production and an ever-increasing mass use of solar systems, especially so in China, will for sure exert an influence on a reduction in the prices of these systems in the future. Due to its specificity, the surplus of produced solar energy has to immediately be used or stored in the batteries that are still a major cost of the construction of solar systems. It is more frequently the case that the current surplus of produced solar energy is delivered to electrical power enterprises “to be stored”, whereas the same is taken from the electrical grid during the time of a deficit.