7 Disadvantages Of Solar Energy

Table of Contents

High Upfront Costs

One of the main disadvantages of solar energy is the high upfront costs associated with installing a solar panel system. The main costs include:

Solar panels – Quality solar panels can cost $15,000 to $30,000 for a typical residential system. Larger commercial systems often cost over $100,000 just for the panels.

Inverters – Inverters are required to convert the DC electricity from solar panels into usable AC electricity. High quality inverters cost $2,000 to $5,000.
Batteries – Home battery storage like the Tesla Powerwall can add $10,000 or more to the overall cost.
Installation – Professional installation often costs $1,000 to $3,000 depending on system size and roof complexity.

In total, a full solar panel system for a home often ranges from $15,000 to $35,000 after incentives and tax credits. The high initial investment means solar panels have long payback periods that can exceed 10 or even 20 years.

Source: Is it legal to generate my own electricity to power my house?

Intermittency

One of the biggest drawbacks of solar energy is that it suffers from intermittency issues. Solar panels only generate electricity when the sun is shining on them. At night or on cloudy days, solar panel output can decrease dramatically or stop altogether.

According to one source, cloudy days can reduce solar panel efficiency to about 10% (https://www.ecowatch.com/solar/worth-it/mn). This intermittency makes solar an unreliable energy source if it is not paired with energy storage solutions.

Some parts of the country experience more consistent sunlight than others. But even in sunny areas, the output of solar panels fluctuates throughout the day and is unpredictable over longer periods of time. This intermittency necessitates backup power sources like batteries or supplemental grid electricity.

Space Requirements

Solar panels require a significant amount of space to effectively capture sunlight and generate electricity. For rooftop solar systems, the amount of roof space needed depends on factors like the size of the home, its energy usage, the panel efficiency, and desired system capacity. According to the Department of Energy, an average-sized home in the US needs between 200 to 400 square feet of roof space for an adequately sized solar PV system [1]. For a 6 kW system, approximately 400 to 600 square feet may be required [2].

Homes with limited south-facing roof space may not be able to accommodate enough solar panels. Shading from trees or other buildings can also reduce the usable area. Renters and residents in multifamily buildings may not have access to sufficient roof real estate for their energy needs. For ground-mount systems, solar arrays can take up a half acre or more of land depending on the system size. Large-scale solar farms can sprawl across hundreds of acres of land. Finding sufficient open space with good solar access is a key siting challenge.

Variation in Efficiency

One disadvantage of solar energy is that the efficiency of solar panels can vary significantly depending on location, weather conditions, and the angle of the sun. Solar panels operate more efficiently in cold temperatures and produce more electricity on sunny days compared to cloudy days (source). The angle at which solar radiation hits the panels also impacts efficiency, with the optimal angle being perpendicular to the sun’s rays. Locations farther from the equator typically see greater variations in efficiency due to more extreme seasonal changes in temperature and daylight hours (source). Even minor cloud coverage can reduce electricity production from solar panels by up to 80% (source). This intermittent nature of solar power can make it an unreliable energy source in some locations.

Limits to Storage

One of the main challenges of solar energy is the ability to store excess electricity generated during sunny days for use at night or on cloudy days.

Batteries are needed to store solar energy, but batteries currently have limitations in capacity and technology. Most batteries only store enough energy for use over several hours or a few days (source). This makes solar power inconsistent if the sun is not shining. New battery technologies like lithium-ion can store more power, but are still limited.

The intermittent nature of solar power means a large network of batteries is needed to provide consistent electricity from solar. But the high costs and limited capabilities of batteries constrain widespread solar power adoption.

Transmission Loss

Solar power is often generated in large utility-scale solar farms located far from cities where the energy is needed. Transmitting the electricity over long distances leads to energy losses along the way. The farther the distance solar electricity must travel through transmission lines, the greater the loss. This makes solar power less efficient for meeting demand in distant population centers.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, transmission losses average around 5% for the power grid. But losses can be two to three times higher for solar and wind farms located very far from end users. This wastes a substantial portion of the electricity generated.

Upgrading transmission infrastructure can help mitigate losses but requires major investments. Locating solar closer to where energy is consumed can also help, but ideal sun-drenched locations are not always near demand centers. This challenge of transmission over long distances needs to be addressed for solar to reach its full potential.

Aesthetic Impact

Many homeowners have concerns about how solar panels may negatively impact the aesthetics or appearance of their home. Some view solar panels as unattractive or an “eye sore” that can detract from a home’s desired look and architecture. In a 2021 survey, a majority of Australians reported that the appearance of solar panels had previously discouraged them from installing a system. On community forums like ASES, residents often express concerns that solar installations will be an “eye sore.”

The aesthetics issue tends to be most prominent for residential rooftop systems that are visible from the street. However, there are ways to mitigate this, such as using solar shingles that blend into the roof or installing panels on less visible roof planes. Overall, aesthetics should not be the sole factor in deciding against solar, as more efficient and better-looking products continue to emerge.

Toxic Materials

Many solar panels contain hazardous materials like lead, cadmium, and other heavy metals that can leach out as toxic waste when the panels reach end-of-life. Some solar panel components are considered hazardous waste and require special disposal regulations, while others are not, even within the same model and manufacturer according to the Environmental Protection Agency (“End-of-Life Solar Panels: Regulations and Management”, [url]https://www.epa.gov/hw/end-of-life-solar-panels-regulations-and-management[/url]). When solar panels become waste, the toxic heavy metals require hazardous waste management for recycling or disposal (“Are solar panels hazardous waste?”, [url]https://www.hazardouswasteexperts.com/are-solar-panels-hazardous-waste-are-solar-panels-recyclable/[/url]).

Solar panels often cannot be safely disposed of in landfills. Their hazardous materials can leach out as toxic waste if not properly handled. Solar panels may contain lead, cadmium, and other chemicals that cannot be removed without breaking apart the entire panel according to Forbes (“If Solar Panels Are So Clean, Why Do They Produce So Much Toxic Waste?”, [url]https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2018/05/23/if-solar-panels-are-so-clean-why-do-they-produce-so-much-toxic-waste/[/url]). Proper end-of-life management for solar panels is crucial to prevent toxic pollution and protect the environment.

Land Use Conflicts

Solar farms require large areas of land, and their installation can lead to conflicts with other land uses like agriculture or conservation (1). Solar projects are often sited on productive farmland, grasslands, or forests, displacing those existing uses. According to one analysis, utility-scale solar facilities occupied over 70,000 acres of California farmland as of 2015 (2). This can create tension with farmers and environmentalists who value protecting agricultural capacity and natural ecosystems.

Solar development competes for land with agriculture, housing, industry, and recreation. Since solar power often gets prioritized for climate change reasons, it can infringe upon other land uses. Careful siting and planning is required to minimize solar farms’ land use conflicts.

Sources:
(1) https://finmodelslab.com/products/solar-farm-swot-analysis
(2) https://medium.com/@leslie.larosa/solar-solutions-for-urban-energy-demands-in-poway-54d6efec2a12

Threats to Wildlife

Utility-scale solar energy projects can have negative impacts on wildlife habitats and migration paths. Solar farms take up large areas of land, eliminating habitats and food sources for various species. One study found that utility-scale solar projects in California destroyed habitats for 232 bird species, 142 mammal species, 66 reptile species, 9 amphibian species, and 50 butterfly species (Smallwood 2022).

Solar facilities can also disrupt wildlife migratory patterns and movement corridors. For instance, some solar projects are built along the Pacific Flyway, a major migratory route for birds in western North America. Solar panels and perimeter fencing may act as barriers, forcing animals to find new pathways (BV.com).

More research is still needed to fully understand solar energy’s threats to different ecosystems and wildlife populations. However, it’s clear utility-scale solar has significant impacts that must be addressed through proper siting, mitigation strategies, and habitat restoration.