What are the risks and benefits of solar energy?
Solar exists in two forms, photovoltiac and heat related. The problems with photovoltiac are cost of materials, fragile cells, cells “wear out” and need replacement after about 10 years. Of course, power is only made during the day. With heat plants, the sunlight is reflected with a mirror array to a central tower where a heat exchanger is located. The piping contains a salt which is liquid when hot enough. Heat is stored in the liquid salt in insulated tanks underground. The hot salt is used as the heat source to boil water to turn a turbine generator. Heat stored in the tanks can be used after sunset much like a car battery stores electricity when the car is not being driven. The disadvantage is the salt is highly corrosive and difficult to handle. And, if allowed to cool, becomes a solid. The only bad thing for the environment with the photovoltiac array is the amount of land covered by the array and the exotic chemical processes used for manufacture of the cells. For the heat plant
