• By Amanda Pelligra
• Published 02/15/2012
• Non-Fiction

Australia’s situation on this planet earth along with dry climate provides high potential for solar energy production. Majority 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. Even with so much benefits still is to be done in order for Australia to become top nation to produce solar energy. 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 good advantage of solar energy is the source to produce this type of power. Solar power requires the Sun to produce the electricity unlike your current source of electricity. The Sun is completely renewable every day. Solar power has also helped to harness power in remote locations. Solar power system has made huge differences to people who in live in mountains where it is hard to construct power lines in order to transport power. Latest technologies have enabled us to store the solar electricity we produce through the use of solar power battery chargers. These huge advantages are good enough reason on why we 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.