Advantages

The electricity generated by solar cells is clean and noiseless. Since PV systems use no fuel other than sunlight, they do not emit any harmful air or water pollutants into the environment, do not deplete natural resources, and do not harm the health of animals or humans.

PV systems are quiet and unobtrusive.

Small solar farms can take advantage of unused space on existing building rooftops.

PV cells were originally developed for use in space, where repairs would be extremely expensive or even impossible. PV cells still power nearly every satellite orbiting the Earth because they operate reliably over long periods of time with little maintenance.

Solar energy is a locally available, renewable resource. It does not need to be imported from other parts of the country or around the world. This reduces the environmental impacts associated with transportation and also reduces our dependence on imported oil. And, unlike mined and harvested fuels, when we use solar power we do not deplete or alter the resource.

PV systems can be built to any size depending on energy needs. In addition, owners of PV systems can enlarge or move the system as their energy needs change. For example, a homeowner can add modules every few years as their energy usage and financial resources grow. Ranchers can use mobile trailer-mounted pumping systems to provide water to cattle as they rotate to different fields.

Disadvantages

Some toxic chemicals, such as cadmium and arsenic, are used in the photovoltaic production process. These chemicals have minimal environmental impact and can be easily controlled through recycling and proper disposal.

Solar energy is slightly more expensive to produce than traditional energy sources, partly due to the cost of manufacturing photovoltaic equipment and partly due to the conversion efficiency of the equipment. As conversion efficiency continues to improve and manufacturing costs continue to decrease, photovoltaics will become increasingly cost-competitive with traditional fuels.

Solar energy is a variable energy source, and its energy production is dependent on the sun. Solar facilities may sometimes generate no electricity at all, which can cause energy shortages if too much of an area's electricity comes from solar energy.