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Advantages of Photovoltaic Power
Photovoltaic solar power is one of the most promising renewable energy sources in the world. Compared to nonrenewable sources such as coal, gas, oil, and nuclear, the advantages
are clear: it's totally non-polluting, has no moving parts to break down, and does not require much maintenance. A very important
characteristic of photovoltaic power generation is that it does not require a large scale installation to operate, as different from conventional power generation stations. Power generators can be installed in a
DISTRIBUTED fashion, on each house or business or school, using area that is already developed, and allowing individual users to generate their own power, quietly and safely. Rooftop power can be added as more homes or
businesses are added to a community, thereby allowing power generation to keep in step with growing needs without having to overbuild generation capacity as is often the case with conventional large scale power systems
But even when photovoltaic power is compared to other renewable energy sources such as wind power, water power, and even
solar thermal power, there are some obvious advantages. First, wind and water power rely on turbines to turn generators to produce electricity. Turbines and generators have moving parts that can break down, that require
maintenance, and are noisy. Even solar thermal energy needs a turbine or other mechanical device to change the heat energy of the sun into mechanical energy for a generator to produce electric power.
Photovoltaic power, by contrast, is generated directly from the sun. PV systems have no moving parts, require virtually no maintenance, and
have cells that last for decades. |
