Solar power is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either by using photovoltaic panels (solar panels) or by concentrating the sun's rays to generate heat.
Solar energy comes directly from the sun, which comes every day in most locations and does not diminish appreciably over time. The intensity does ebb and flow on short and long timescales, but it is hopefully not going away anytime soon. If the sun burns out and stops shining, we have bigger problems than solar panels not working!
Pros: A few benefits of solar energy are that it is relatively predictable and reliable, it is effectively limitless, and that it does not create any emissions/pollution when generating energy.
Cons: The main drawback is that it is intermittent, both in terms of the sun only being in the sky 50% of the time, and that weather can impact it significantly. Solar is also very diffuse, meaning that it is not very concentrated, and so,, usually a large area is required to provide a lot of useful energy. Recycling worn-out panels is an environmental hazard.
Capacity factor:
Costs: