Solar

Solar power is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either by using photovoltaic panels (solar panels) or by concentrating the sun's rays to generate heat.

Solar energy comes directly from the sun, which comes every day in most locations and does not diminish appreciably over time. The intensity does ebb and flow on short and long timescales, but it is hopefully not going away anytime soon. If the sun burns out and stops shining, we have bigger problems than solar panels not working!

Pros: A few benefits of solar energy are that it is relatively predictable and reliable, it is effectively limitless, and that it does not create any emissions/pollution when generating energy.

Cons: The main drawback is that it is intermittent, both in terms of the sun only being in the sky 50% of the time, and that weather can impact it significantly. Solar is also very diffuse, meaning that it is not very concentrated, and so,, usually a large area is required to provide a lot of useful energy. Recycling worn-out panels is an environmental hazard.

Capacity factor:

Costs:

 Do solar panels produce toxic waste?

Solar panels are manufactured using hazardous materials, such as sulfuric acid and phosphine gas, which make them difficult to recycle. ... According to an analysis by Environmental Progress, solar panels create about 300 times more toxic waste per unit of electricity generated than nuclear power plants.Aug 15, 2017

https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/uncategorized/will-solar-power-fault-next-environmental-crisis/

Toxic Chemicals in Solar Panels

• Cadmium Telluride. Cadmium telluride (CT) is a highly toxic chemical that is part of solar panels. ...
• Copper Indium Selenide. ...
• Cadmium Indium Gallium (Di)selenide. ...
• Silicon Tetrachloride.

https://sciencing.com/toxic-chemicals-solar-panels-18393.html

What Is Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy often referred to as clean energy, comes from natural sources or processes that are constantly replenished. For example, sunlight or wind keep shining and blowing, even if their availability depends on time and weather.

While renewable energy is often thought of as a new technology, harnessing nature’s power has long been used for heating, transportation, lighting, and more. The wind has powered boats to sail the seas and windmills to grind grain. The sun has provided warmth during the day and helped kindle fires to last into the evening.

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/renewable-energy-clean-facts#sec-whatis