Solar Energy: Advantages, Disadvantages and Applications

This report provides an overview of solar energy, including its advantages and disadvantages. It also discusses various applications of solar energy and how solar power plants in UAE use concentrating solar power to generate electricity.

Running Head: SOLAR ENERGY 0
Solar Energy
Report

SOLAR ENERGY 1
Executive Summary
Solar energy is a type of energy which provides heat or light from the sun. Generally many
industries used this technology because there are many advantages of a solar energy source such as
renewable energy source, more efficient, and can be used to produce electricity. A solar power plant
in UAE uses concentrating solar power to produce electricity.
Content

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s
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................3
Solar energy source...............................................................................................................................3
Advantages of Solar energy...............................................................................................................3
Disadvantages of solar energy...........................................................................................................3
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................4
References.............................................................................................................................................5

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Introduction
A solar power system is a modern technology to generate electricity, it is a process to collect
energy from the sun and convert into electricity or power. There are many types of solar power
plants in UAE such as, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar system, Ras Al Khaimah PV power
plant (IPP), and Shams solar power system.
Solar energy source
Solar energy is a type of energy which is radiant heat from the sun that uses in many
technologies such as solar architecture, solar heating, photovoltaic source, and solar thermal energy
source. Solar energy is used as a renewable energy that converts heat or energy into another form of
energy (electricity). It is characterized by two solar such as active solar and passive solar. Active solar
include a photovoltaic system, solar water heating, and concentrated solar power. Passive solar
include thermal mass, properties of light dispersing, and naturally circulate air (Conserve energy
future, 2013).
There are much application of solar energy such as solar water heating, solar distillation,
pumping, drying of agricultural, solar cooking, and generation of electricity, solar thermal power
source, photovoltaic source, solar lighting, solar cars, solar power satellite, Concentrating solar
power, and renewable solar power system (Technology for life, 2009).
There are three solar power plants in UAE such as Shams solar power system, Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar system, and Ras Al Khaimah PV power plant (IPP). The main idea
behind solar power plant in UAE is CSP (Concentrating solar power), which is used to convert energy
into electricity. A solar power plant in UAE is used concentrating solar power that converts energy
into a form of electricity, around 20,000 homes in UAE uses this electricity. Concentrating solar
power is a generator that generates electricity or power using parabolic trough mirrors, and lenses
to concentrate the heat or light of the sun. There are four types CSP technology used in solar power
plants such as parabolic trough, central receivers, CPV, and dish Stirling system. Shams solar power
plant is the largest solar plant that placed in Abu Dhabi which is used CSP to generate electricity.
Advantages of Solar energy
• Solar energy is a renewable energy system.
• It reduces electricity bill.
• The solar energy source can be used for diverse applications.
• It is used to produce electricity without access to the energy grid.
• It does not require a lot of maintenance.
• Through solar energy, there are many technologies developed.
• It reduced dependence on fossil fuels.
• Use batteries to store energy which can be used in the night.
• Solar energy can be used for power homes, heat water, and power cars.
• It is a more efficient energy source (Green match, 2018).

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Disadvantages of solar energy
• A solar energy source is more costly for material and installation process.
• It required more space to install.
• It does not work in a night so require large battery bank.
• Solar energy works on DC power supply which is more expensive.
• Size of a solar panel depends upon location.
• Solar power cars do not have as much speed as compare to fuel cars.
• In winter solar power source provide low energy (Solar electric power company, 2012).
A solar energy source is an advanced technology to produce electricity from the sun; many
people are taking advantage of this energy source. There are many examples of solar energy such as
solar water heating, solar cells, solar tech, solar cooker, solar lighting, solar cars, and rooftop solar.
Conclusion
Solar energy is an energy that provides heat or light from the sun. Solar energy can be
converted into electricity using some energy source such as a solar panel. The main application of
solar energy is it can be used as an electric power. Many industries use this technology to generate
electricity from a solar panel. Solar power plants in UAE use concentrating solar power to generate
electricity through solar energy source.

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References
Conserve energy future (2013). What is Solar Energy? Retrieved from: https://www.conserve-
energy-future.com/advantages_solarenergy.php
Green match (2018). What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy? Retrieved from:
https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2014/08/5-advantages-and-5-disadvantages-of-solar-
energy
Solar electric power company (2012). Solar Power Advantages and Disadvantages. Retrieved from:
https://www.sepco-solarlighting.com/blog/bid/115086/Solar-Power-Advantages-and-
Disadvantages
Technology for life (2009). Solar power application. Retrieved from:
https://technology4life.wordpress.com/applications-of-solar-power/