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Multiple Choice

Which is a major limitation of solar photovoltaic energy?

Intermittency due to weather and daylight is the major limitation of solar photovoltaic energy. Solar panels generate electricity when there is sunlight, so production climbs on sunny days and drops at night or during cloudy weather. This variability makes it hard to rely on solar alone for a steady power supply unless you have storage (like batteries) or backup generators to balance the supply. In addition, solar PV is otherwise quiet, doesn’t burn fuel, and produces electricity rather than heat as its main output, so those points aren’t the primary drawback.

Intermittency due to weather and daylight is the major limitation of solar photovoltaic energy. Solar panels generate electricity when there is sunlight, so production climbs on sunny days and drops at night or during cloudy weather. This variability makes it hard to rely on solar alone for a steady power supply unless you have storage (like batteries) or backup generators to balance the supply. In addition, solar PV is otherwise quiet, doesn’t burn fuel, and produces electricity rather than heat as its main output, so those points aren’t the primary drawback.