SOLAR ENERGY USE CASES, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANGES AND WHY THE USE SHOULD BE ADAPTED.

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Solar energy is a renewed form of energy that has been promoted over the year to replace the current hydroelectric power we use. For hydroelectric power, the energy is generated by the turning and rotation of turbines by water to produce electricity.

Solar energy is energy that is gotten from the sun. In this type of electricity, the light or energy gotten from the sun is converted into electricity by devices known as solar panels.

Solar panels are the devices that we use to generate the energy gotten from the sun into usable energy.

Now let's discuss some of the uses of solar energy.

• Solar energy is used for providing electricity to lightning devices.

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We have seen the use cases of solar energy in most cases. Sometimes it's just that we don't notice them. Street lights these days have been integrated with the use of solar energy and hydroelectric power. In these cases when there are lights outs solar energy takes over. Solar energy is stored in the afternoon as the street light is off and then used in the night time.

• Solar energy is used for solar water heaters.

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We have come to terms that the energy produced by the sun which we turn to solar energy is as good as the energy which we produce from hydroelectricity thus they can be used to power up similar gadgets.
The solar water heater is not like the normal water heater which we plug into the socket and then press a switch to use it. But rather it has a dedicated solar panel which is used in heating the water which is stored in the tank of the heater. As the sun is being collected by the solar panel, it converts the energy into heat which in turn goes to heat in the water for use.

Advantages of using solar energy.

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• One of the benefits of using solar energy is that it is cost-effective.

Now let me explain why I say solar energy is cost-effective. In the country which I am in, Ghana. We pay for the light which we use and that light is generated through hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power is produced by the government which we, in turn, have to pay a monthly bill. With the use of solar energy, the only cost that the user will have to bear is the purchase and installation of solar panels. The user won't have to pay monthly bills for the usage of light but he will have to maintain the solar panels at an extra cost.

• cost no harm to the environment.

We have had a problem with the greenhouse effect on the environment and also pollution problems. With solar energy, the main source of energy is from the renewable sun which we can use day in day out and the long run the environment is not affected.

• Maintenance cost is low or not even felt.

Apart from the little check-ups, a user has to do to make sure that the panels develop no problems along the way, the panels themselves are said to last for about 30 years thus a user get value back for the money spent.
The user does not worry about buying or replacing his panels for a long time and it sounds like a good deal to me.

• Energy can be stored and used later on in the day.

We all know that energy from the sun is gotten during the day time. So what the panels do is store the energy gotten in the daytime into batteries that are inbuilt and then they are used during the night
time where light is needed more.

Disadvantages of solar energy.

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• The first concern for a user who wants to switch to solar panels is the cost of the materials and installation.

Because the use of solar energy has not been adapted world wide, the materials are very costly and then installation too is very costly. Due to this many people prefer to stay with the traditional method of getting electricity.

• Because there is no solar energy during the day, a user needs to acquire large batteries that can store the power.

What the panels do is store power which will be used when there is no more sun. That is to store power for use at night. And this comes at an extra cost because the battery needs to be huge and can contain a lot of power which will be needed during the night.

• During the day, when there is no sunlight there is a lesser amount of sunlight.

When there are clouds around it generally means that the generation of solar energy will be reduced because the amount of sunlight will be less.

Solar energy is being adapted slowly and up to this day, we are even seeing that cars are beginning to use solar energy.

This is the little I have on solar energy today. Thanks for reading.