What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power over other renewable energy resources ? Why is…

Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power over other renewable energy resources ? Why is the cost of solar energy decreasing ? What is its effect on climate change efforts ?

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Solar power is abundant, scalable and cheap to run, but needs much land, works only in daylight and depends on imported modules. Its cost is falling due to efficiency gains, mass manufacturing, PLI support and cheap Chinese supply, which helped India cross 50 percent non-fossil capacity in 2025.

**Introduction**

India’s solar power expansion, driven by schemes like PM-KUSUM⟦2⟧⟦1⟧ and PM Surya Ghar Yojana⟦3⟧, is key to meeting climate goals and transforming rural energy access, especially in ==Andhra Pradesh==.

**Advantages of Solar Power**

SKETCH: comparison | Solar Power vs Other Renewables  
a: Solar Power  
b: Other Renewables  
- Land Use :: Lower land use efficiency (requires large areas) :: Higher efficiency (e.g., hydropower uses less land)  
- Intermittency :: Daytime-only generation, weather-dependent :: Some (wind) variable, others (biomass) dispatchable  
- Storage Needs :: High storage requirement to manage intermittency :: Some (biomass, hydro) provide baseload power  
- Resource Dependence :: Requires high solar irradiance :: Wind depends on wind patterns; biomass on feedstock availability

1. **Abundant and Predictable Resource**: Solar energy benefits from ~300 sunny days annually, providing a reliable source compared to variable wind or biomass; ==PM Surya Ghar Yojana== exemplifies rooftop solar’s decentralization.

2. **Low Operational Costs**: Solar systems have fewer moving parts and lower maintenance than wind or hydropower, enhancing reliability and reducing expenses.

**Disadvantages of Solar Power**

3. **Land and Storage Challenges**: Solar farms require large land areas, competing with agriculture in fertile regions like the ==Godavari and Krishna deltas==, and need costly storage due to intermittency, unlike biomass or hydropower which provide baseload power.

4. **Import Dependence and Environmental Concerns**: India imports about half its solar modules, mainly from China, creating supply risks; manufacturing involves hazardous materials, raising environmental issues.

**Reasons for Cost Decline**

5. **Technological and Policy Support**: Photovoltaic efficiency improvements, domestic manufacturing capacity (91 GW/year), and schemes like PM-KUSUM and the National Solar Mission have driven down costs.

6. **Innovative Financing**: Programs like PM Surya Ghar enable affordable distributed solar through net metering and subsidies, especially benefiting rural areas.

**Effect on Climate Change**

7. **Emission⟦4⟧ Reduction**: Solar power displaces fossil fuels, aiding India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme targets.

**Conclusion**

Solar power’s scalability, cost reductions, and climate benefits position it as a cornerstone of India’s renewable energy transition despite challenges in land use and supply chains.

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