• By Amanda Pelligra
• Published 02/18/2012
• Non-Fiction

Australia is becoming one of those nations who are working a lot when it comes to use of Solar Energy. Still a lot is to be done as this source of power has enough potential. 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 This natural resource of solar energy has many advantages associated with it. It can be used in small scale usage or large scale. With new technology providing easier and cheaper methods, this type of energy resource can be produced through the roof or your house also. One of the main advantages of a solar power system for your home is the lack of pollution given off by solar panels when generating electricity. The only pollution that I foresee and which can be associated with a solar power cell would be the production of the cell, and transportation of the cell until it reaches your home, then maybe the use of electricity to power the tools needed while your panel is installed and maintained.

Another

advantage of solar energy is that the energy source “The Sun” is completely renewable unlike the source which is currently generating your power needs. More advantages of solar energy also include the ability to harness power in remote locations. This source of energy has proved important 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. Latest 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. When I try to look at the disadvantages side, cost of setting up the solar panels can be considered as huge disadvantage. But when you calculate the amount of money that can be saved in the long run, initial investment of setting up solar panels will look small. 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.