PV Gap

Yvonne Said:

positives and negatives of Solar energy?

We Answered:

Positives
1) It is renewable
2) Can be used in remote areas

Negatives
1) Low power (the atmosphere filters out most of the sun)
2) You need batteries if you want to use it when the sun is not out.

Ray Said:

what are the positives and negatives of using solar energy?

We Answered:

With ground based solar:
Positives:
Once you build the panels the power is free
Little environmental impact
Appeases the luddites
Negatives:
Downright expensive
Too unreliable to be a major player in a power grid
Doesn't work at night
Reduced power when skies aren't clear
Reduced power in winter and at high latitudes

Now putting the solar power plant in space and beaming the power down to earth is another matter.
Positives:
Very clean, possibly cleaner than doing it on the ground (trade off is between making the semiconductors on Earth and dumping the waste from that or launching rockets)
Potentially very cheap if space resources are used
Actually has a possibility of competing with fossil fuels and nuclear power for dominant power supplier
Negatives:
Not yet deployed so we only know of it in theory and limited tests of the microwave power transmission
Every year at the equinoxes there is a IIRC 74 minute blackout (not as bad as a 12 hour one though and that's only on two days)
Luddites will probably oppose it despite the microwave beam being perfectly safe

Florence Said:

What is solar energy?

We Answered:

Solar power is the technology of obtaining usable energy from the light of the Sun. Solar energy has been used in many traditional technologies for centuries and has come into widespread use where other power supplies are absent, such as in remote locations and in space.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

Inexhaustible fuel source
No pollution
Often an excellent supplement to other renewable sources
Versatile--is used for powering items as diverse as solar cars and satellites

Disadvantages

Very diffuse source means low energy production--large numbers of solar panels (and thus large land areas) are required to produce useful amounts of heat or electricity
Only areas of the world with lots of sunlight are suitable for solar power generation

Manuel Said:

What is the positives and negatives of Solar Energy?

We Answered:

Positives:
1. You are the owner of your own personal power generation system... nobody must nanny you, you control your destiny.
2. The system generates less pollution than conventional power plants (it takes a significant amount of energy just to manufacture the solar panels though)

Negatives:
1. The systems cost a LOT of money ($30,000 to $50,000)
2. You must provide all of the maintenance.
3. Your insurance expense will increase (you have large electronic devices attached to your roof ... hail and wind can be a problem).
4. Unless you have a huge battery system you must still be hooked to the conventional power grid so you can have electricity at night.
5. The panels have a limited life span (about 20-25 years) and then must be replaced.

Theodore Said:

Whats the positive and negatives of solar energy?

We Answered:

The positive side is that solar energy provides a clean, constant source of energy that can be used to generate electricity and heat.

The negative side is that at the current state of technology, it cannot provide enough of either to meet our energy demands.

Salvador Said:

How many billions should I get for development of my Positive Energy Machine?

We Answered:

I will print you up ten billion with an interest rate of .35%. I started a bank that competes with the federal reserve and I have a lower interest rate.

Good luck, the money is yours!