Why Don’T We Use The Sun’S Energy?

Solar energy comes directly from the sun in the form of radiation and is a renewable energy source. At a high level, solar energy seems like an obvious energy source to tap into more heavily. The sun produces a tremendous amount of energy and this energy is available across the globe. Solar technologies like photovoltaic panels can convert sunlight into useful electricity with no air pollution, carbon dioxide emissions, or other greenhouse gases. Given rising energy demand across the globe, solar energy could help meet a substantial portion of the world’s energy needs in a sustainable manner.

High Upfront Costs

One of the main barriers to widespread solar power adoption is the high upfront costs associated with purchasing and installing solar panels and equipment. According to NerdWallet, the average cost to install solar panels falls between $2.50-$3.50 per watt. For a typical 5 kW residential solar system, that translates to $12,500-$17,500 before incentives. Larger commercial solar installations can easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

These high initial investments present a challenge for many homeowners and businesses. While solar can provide long-term savings on electricity bills, not everyone can afford the steep upfront price tag. Loans and incentives like tax credits can help defray the costs, but solar power requires major capital expenditures compared to simply paying a monthly electric bill.

The installation process also adds to the upfront costs. Professional solar panel mounting, wiring, permits and labor can add $2,000-$5,000 or more to the overall expense. Though prices continue to fall as technology improves and more players enter the market, solar power’s high initial investment remains a significant barrier to widespread adoption.

Intermittency

One of the main challenges with solar power is that it relies on sunlight to generate electricity, and therefore suffers from intermittency issues. The sun only shines during the daytime hours, and the amount of sunlight that reaches solar panels varies depending on the weather, season, and geographic location (Intermittent electricity). Solar generation drops on cloudy days or overnight, meaning it cannot provide reliable baseline power (Wu, 2022). This intermittency means solar often needs to be paired with energy storage systems or other generation sources that can provide power when the sun isn’t shining.

The inherent intermittency of solar has usually required alternative generation sources that can provide a steady baseload power supply. Solar’s intermittent availability throughout the day makes it challenging to integrate onto the electric grid at scale. Without energy storage, solar power alone cannot provide continuous reliable electricity generation. This presents obstacles for relying completely on solar energy to meet our electricity needs.

Storage Limitations

One of the biggest challenges with solar energy is the ability to store and save the energy for when the sun is not shining. Unlike fossil fuels which can be burned on demand, solar energy can only be captured when the sun is out. This creates the need for large scale energy storage solutions to store excess solar energy during the daytime for use at night (XGATML VMAX Solar VMAXSLR125-4 AGM Solar Battery, 2022). However, storing solar energy can be difficult and expensive.

Current battery technology makes it cost prohibitive to store the massive amounts of energy needed to power cities or countries for extended periods of time. Lithium-ion batteries, while efficient, are still very expensive when scaled to grid levels. Building enough batteries to store nationwide energy demands would likely cost trillions of dollars (The challenges of solar energy storage, 2019).

There are also limitations around how much energy batteries can store and for how long. Most batteries can only store energy for hours or days at most. Storing energy for weeks or months during winter months when sunlight is limited would require batteries of massive size (Unveiling the Two Hidden Challenges of Solar Energy for a Sustainable Future, 2022).

Until more efficient and cost-effective long-term storage technologies are developed, the intermittent availability of solar power will continue to be a challenge for renewable energy adoption (Energy Storage Technologies and The Challenges to Face, 2022). Relying solely on batteries for storage is currently cost prohibitive at large scale.

Land Usage

Utility-scale solar farms, typically defined as operations >1MW, do require significant amounts of land area. According to research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, utility-scale solar PV power plants require on average between 3.5 to 10 acres per megawatt (MW) of electricity capacity, depending on the technology used ¹. For example, a typical 100 MW solar farm could utilize 350 to 1000 acres of land. This is substantial compared to other energy sources like natural gas which requires far less space per MW.

However, analyses show solar arrays use less land compared to other common land usages when measured over the full lifetime of projects. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), analyses across multiple states have found current and proposed solar projects constitute a small fraction of total county land, often less than 1% ². And research shows utility-scale solar has a smaller physical footprint than other renewables like biomass or hydropower when calculated per MWh generated over a project’s lifetime ³.

Geographic Limitations

The potential for solar power generation is heavily dependent on location, with ideal conditions existing in certain geographic areas. According to Transect, the western and southwestern regions of the United States, especially the deserts, receive the most abundant sunlight ideal for solar installations. The top states for solar energy include California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Conversely, solar potential is more limited in northern regions of the U.S. and Canada due to shorter days and more cloud cover. The equator regions surrounded by arid climates, like deserts, tend to have the highest worldwide solar potential. While solar can work in less ideal areas, the costs are higher and power generation is lower. Ultimately, many populated regions globally are not optimally situated to take full advantage of the sun’s potential as an energy source.

Pollution and Emissions

The environmental impacts and lifecycle emissions of solar panel manufacturing have become an important consideration as solar energy use expands globally. Manufacturing solar PV cells and modules requires energy and raw materials that can lead to greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and other impacts.

According to a lifecycle analysis by NREL, producing solar PV cells and modules generated an estimated 20-40 g CO2eq/kWh over the panel’s 30-year lifetime. While higher than wind or nuclear energy, this is far below fossil fuel sources like coal or natural gas [1]. Researchers estimate solar panels offset their lifecycle emissions within 2-3 years of operation through clean energy generation [2].

The PV manufacturing process can also use harmful chemicals and heavy metals like cadmium and lead that require careful handling and disposal. Improper practices could lead to pollution, while recycling panels at end-of-life helps minimize waste. Continued advances in manufacturing and recycling processes aim to further reduce the lifecycle impacts of solar technology.

Grid Connection Issues

Connecting solar power systems to the electrical grid can pose some challenges. Large-scale solar farms that generate a lot of power typically connect directly to high-voltage transmission lines. But for residential systems, connecting to the local distribution grid is more complex (Energy.gov, 2022). The first issue is that most homes simply don’t have the capacity to export excess solar power back to the grid. Upgrading the electrical panel, transformers, and wiring to handle two-way flow of electricity can require expensive upgrades (Palmetto, 2021).

There are also technical complications with variable and intermittent solar power mixing with steady supply on the grid, which can impact voltage, frequency, harmonics, etc. This requires added infrastructure like inverters, control systems, and energy storage to smooth out power delivery. Finally, bureaucratic red tape like permitting, contracts, safety rules, and regulations makes the interconnection process complex for utilities and homeowners (Energy.gov, 2022). Overcoming these grid connection barriers is vital to increasing adoption of solar power systems.

Aesthetic Concerns

Some homeowners worry that solar panels will detract from the aesthetics and curb appeal of their home or neighborhood. Solar panels can create unwanted glare and reflections, especially if installed on rooftops and angled improperly.¹ The reflective surfaces of solar panels may be visually unappealing to some homeowners who prefer a more traditional roof look. In historic neighborhoods or areas with strict HOA rules, large solar panel installations can be prohibited or restricted due to aesthetic concerns.

For residential areas, some worry that an influx of solar panels will make neighborhoods appear cluttered or industrial.² Homeowners may resist installations that obstruct beautiful views or landscapes. There are also concerns that widespread adoption of rooftop solar could degrade property values if the panels are perceived as unattractive.

While solar panel technology and installer practices are improving to address aesthetic concerns, perceptions persist among some critics that the panels detract from home architecture and curb appeal.

Conclusion

While solar energy has enormous potential as a clean, renewable energy source, there remain significant challenges to realizing its full-scale adoption. The main obstacles include the high upfront costs of solar installations, the intermittent availability of sunlight, limitations in energy storage technology, extensive land requirements, and geographic constraints. Significant progress is being made on many fronts to address these issues through continued advancements in solar cell efficiency, battery storage capacity, and smart grid integration. With focused research efforts and steady cost reductions, solar power is positioned to play a major role in the world’s future energy mix, helping curb fossil fuel dependence and mitigate climate change. But realizing the full promise of solar energy will require overcoming remaining technical and economic hurdles.