• By Amanda Pelligra
• Published 02/23/2012
• Non-Fiction

Australia is becoming one of the pioneer nations when it comes to use of Solar Energy though still a lot needs to be done. The combination of Australia’s dry climate and latitude give it a high potential for solar energy production. Most of the Australian continent receives in excess of 4 kWh per square metre per day of insolation during winter months, with a region in the north exceeding 6 kWh/day. Australia’s insolation greatly exceeds the average values in Europe, Russia, and most of North America. Comparable levels are found in desert areas of northern and southern Africa, south western United States and adjacent area of Mexico, and regions on the Pacific coast of South America. However, the areas of Australia with highest insolation are in the interior, away from population centres. When it comes to comparison between advantages and disadvantages of this natural source of solar energy, advantages far exceeds disadvantages. Solar energy can be produced anywhere and can be used in small and large scales. With latest technologies providing easier and cheaper methods, solar energy can be produced from the roof top of your home. This source of energy is pollution free while generating electricity. The only pollution that is associated with it is at the time of producing the solar cells, the transportation of the cell until it reaches your home and the use of electricity to power the tools needed while your panel is installed and maintained.

Another advantage of solar energy is th

at the energy source (the sun) is completely renewable unlike the source which is probably generating your current power supply. Advantages of solar energy also include the ability to harness power in remote locations. This has proved a very important advantage of solar power in order to bring electricity to some of the most remote places on earth. A home solar power system can make a huge difference to mountain communities where it may be hard to construct power lines in order to reach such areas. Newer technologies have enabled us to store the solar electricity we harness though the use of solar power battery chargers. This is a huge advantage of why you should integrate solar power to influence your home power supply. On the disadvantages side, one has to pay huge amount for setting up solar panels. But this can be offset with the kind of amount that will be saved in the coming years on your electric bills. Apart from long term savings the latest program that Australian government has started to subsidised homeowners, businesses and community groups is called “Solar Credits”. It was passed into law on 20th August 2009. It subsidises the cost of of installing a Solar Power System and unlike the scheme before it (which was means-tested at a household income of $100,000) this subsidy is not means tested in any way. This way one can take care of the first disadvantage gets taken care of.

The only disadvantage that cannot be taken care of would be that your solar panels cannot create electricity when the sun is not available. But I am sure with so many advantages, this disadvantage will have smaller value.