All renewable energies have their advantages, as well as their drawbacksBut what if we compare solar energy with other renewable energy sources? In this article we will analyze solar energy versus other renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectric and wind, to see the differences, advantages and disadvantages that exist between them, highlighting the current situation in Spain.
In the current energy context, solar energy has gained relevance as one of the most used sources, but why? What are its benefits compared to other renewable energies? Here we will cover everything you need to know to understand the differences, especially if we compare solar energy with others such as wind and hydraulic energy, two of the most popular.
hydraulic energy
Hydropower, one of the oldest forms of renewable energy, uses the movement of water to generate electricity. In Spain, we have numerous reservoirs dedicated to this activity. However, not all reservoirs can be operational at the same time due to various circumstances, such as lack of water, infrastructure maintenance, and other demands.
Under optimal conditions, hydroelectric power in Spain can generate up to 20.000 MW, but this value varies greatly, since the water supply is not constant. Droughts, the use of water in agriculture and for human consumption affect the availability of this resource to generate electricity. This makes hydraulic energy a source that, although powerful, has important limitations to be considered completely reliable.
Another drawback is that it is often necessary to wait for the rainy season to ensure that the reservoir has enough water to operate. This creates a dependence on climatic cycles that can complicate the capacity for energy planning in the long term.
Wind power
Another important source of renewable energy in Spain is wind power. Wind is an abundant natural resource in many areas of the country, which has allowed the installation of numerous wind farms throughout the country. The wind power production capacity reaches an average of 40% of the total renewable energy in the country, with an installed capacity that exceeds 23.000 MW.
However, wind power production obviously depends on the presence of wind. On days without wind, wind turbines do not produce energy. This results in a problem for the stability of the electricity supply, since intermittent wind can affect the continuity of the system.
Despite these limitations, wind power has thrived in Spain due to its lower cost compared to other sources, such as solar. In addition, the country has strong winds in many areas, especially in the north and coastal areas, making wind power an attractive option, even if it is less consistent than other options.
Solar Energy
Solar energy, as opposed to hydro and wind, has a clear advantage: Continuity in production every day of the year, even on cloudy days, as solar radiation continues to reach solar plants. Although the amount of energy generated is lower in these situations, it can still be used. In countries such as Spain, with an average of more than 2.500 hours of sunshine per year, this is a resource that should not be wasted.
The only clear disadvantage of solar energy is the lack of production during the night. However, Nighttime energy demand is generally lower, so this drawback is not so serious. With the development of energy storage technologies, such as batteries, this problem may be mitigated in the near future.
Another barrier that should be mentioned is the high cost of solar systems compared to other technologies such as wind power. Although prices have decreased considerably in recent years, installing solar panels is still a significant investment. However, the stability and amount of energy that can be generated with solar systems means that many consider this option to be the most cost-effective in the long term.
Furthermore, self-consumption has become an increasingly attractive option for households and businesses. In Spain, however, there are still political and bureaucratic barriers that hinder the development of self-supply facilities. The situation in regions such as Murcia is a clear example of the standstill that these projects can suffer in some areas, despite having a privileged climate for solar energy.
Recent Advances and Comparisons with Other Countries
In terms of solar energy storage, recent advances have greatly improved efficiency. The combination of hybrid technologies, which integrate solar panels with other renewable sources, is also beginning to gain ground. For example, hybrid photovoltaic-wind systems allow for continuous electricity generation by harnessing both the sun and the wind, presenting an attractive alternative to reduce reliance on either source.
In the European context, Spain is in a leading position in terms of solar generation capacity, even ahead of other countries with fewer hours of sunshine. By 2023, it is estimated that around 50% of the energy generated in the country will come from renewable sources, and solar energy will play a fundamental role in achieving this goal.
Comparatively, countries such as Germany have made more intensive use of solar energy despite having far fewer hours of sunshine per year. This is a stark reminder that the constraints are not climatic, but political and economic. China, for its part, has become a world leader in solar energy production thanks to its industrial capacity to manufacture and deploy solar panels on a large scale.
Finally, it is worth noting that the development of solar technology in space is on the horizon, with some projects already planning to send solar panels beyond the atmosphere to harness the sun's energy more efficiently and consistently.
As storage technologies advance, generation continuity and capacity will improve even further, making solar energy one of the most viable options with the greatest growth projection within the renewable energy sector.
The future lies in renewable energy, and solar energy plays a crucial and promising role in ensuring a sustainable and efficient energy supply.
Very well explained and, of course, very much in agreement with what has been commented.
We all know the political issue ... although later, it is not known why, it is not reflected in the ballot box. Anyway, we are still sheep to what the shepherds say
Thank you very much Carlos, I'm glad you liked it.
The main issue is that and in the end renewables and other actions to improve our quality of life are left far behind.
The shepherds, as you say, are not very good at their work and Spain notices that a lot.
A greeting.
Comparing with wind power in terms of producing more or less is not rigorous. It is interesting to provide the comparison of some numbers such as the average plant factor of one and the other in Spain. Besides, there are factors that are not usually taken into account when they are compared, such as the land they occupy and the uses compatible with it with the installation.
I have only focused on the comparison of electricity production because it is what we can actually "see" if it comes home to us for energy consumption.
Of course we can compare these energies and the rest with other factors to take into account, such as the terrain, production costs, the impact they cause, advantages and disadvantages and a long etc.
The problem, that you only have to focus on one because if we talk about everything, it gives us to write a book.
Greetings Mario, thank you for your comment.