Question

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

The police station in Alipore, Kolkata has installed ten solar panels and minimised the consumption of thermal electricity. These solar panels keep all lights, fans, computers and other basic electrical equipment running throughout the day at the police station. According to the officials, Alipore police station had an average monthly bill of around 1.10 lakhs during summer. This prompted the officials to think out of the box and use other sources of energy.

1. Which type of energy did the officials at Alipore police station decide to use?
2. State the two conditions required for the generation of this type of energy.
3. Discuss four advantages of this type of energy.

Answer 1

1. The officials at Alipore police station decided to use solar energy.

2. There are two requirements that must be met in order to produce solar energy:

   1. High solar insolation: To effectively produce solar energy, a place needs an abundance of sunlight with long hours and high intensity.
   2. Suitable land: Solar panels that can receive direct sunlight must be installed on enough flat, unobstructed ground.

3. The four advantages of solar energy are:

   1. Renewable source: Unlike fossil fuels, solar energy is limitless, ensuring a reliable source of energy for as long as the sun sets.
   2. Environment friendly: When compared to traditional energy sources, its operation results in a significant reduction of the environmental impact since it creates no greenhouse gases or air pollutants.
   3. Low operating costs: Solar power systems have relatively low maintenance and operating expenses after initial setup, which results in long-term electricity bill reductions.
   4. Versatility and scalability: Solar energy is adaptable to a variety of purposes and scales thanks to the installation of solar panels in isolated areas, on rooftops, and as large-scale solar farms.