skunk
05-10-2008, 08:03 PM
I thought you peeps would be interested in some pros/cons to solar power. Its not finished; definitely could use some citation/grammar editing.
Enjoy
Solar Power as a Solution to Mitigating Pollution
Solar power is an alternative energy that could relieve our dependence on foreign oil as well as help clean the environment. Over 80% of our energy comes from fossil fuels, which are not renewable. Renewable energy gives us the option of smaller scale energy production and little to no pollution to generate that electricity.
There are certainly problems involved with solar energy, as the technology has not been perfected, yet. In the future, however, solar power will be a major energy producer, especially here in the arid Southwest. How we make the transition will be based upon whether or not the energy companies relinquish their stranglehold on American society.
There are pros and cons to alternative energy, specifically solar energy although the benefits outweigh the costs tenfold. The upside to solar power is that it is renewable. The sun is not going to run out of steam for several billion years from now. The life expectancy of a solar panel typically runs about 20-30 years (Premium Power). Most companies that build panels offer at least a 20-year warranty. If we build solar panels out of durable materials that are going to last a long time, there will be no need to keep building and destroying them. The beauty behind solar power is that buildings can be retrofitted to allow the use of the panels. One does not have to build a structure with solar power in mind, although orienting the building towards the south will take advantage of the active solar design. Solar panels can be tilted whatever direction they need to, so even if the building is not properly oriented to best suit its use, the panel will still be able to produce electricity (Solar Electric).
Government subsidies expire this year, but they will potentially be renewed as crude oil prices continue to soar (Reuters). Solar power is becoming as cheap or cheaper than oil. “Nanosolar Incorporated is hoping to sell solar cells for as little as $1 a watt. The new approach relies on thin films of copper indium gallium selenide.” (Brown, Alan) New technology is becoming available that will make solar power even cheaper than it is now. Konarka is developing printable solar panels. “In addition to reducing production costs because it relies one existing inkjet technology, the printable ‘Power Plastic’ cells can be applied to a range of small-scale, highly variable power opportunities, from indoor sensors to small RFID installations. With printers now capable of producing solar cells, other companies might be able to use plastics and other colors in developing new kinds of power-packing film.” (Popular Mechanics) The article is not clear on whether or not people with inkjet printers will be able to print their own solar panels or not. What it does make clear is that the production of solar panels is now much cheaper than conventional photovoltaic production. That quantum leap in production alone could mitigate the environmental costs of producing panels using copper oxide and silicon.
Idaho National Laboratory is developing nano-solar panels that are about 80% efficient (INL). Today’s technology currently runs about 40% efficiency meaning that less than half of the sun’s energy is absorbed and converted into electrical power. “The new approach uses a special manufacturing process to stamp tiny square spirals of conducting metal onto a sheet of plastic. Each interlocking nanoantenna is 1/25 the diameter of a human hair. Because of their size, the nanoantennas absorb energy in the infrared part of the spectrum…Nanoantennas can take in energy from both sunlight and the earth’s heat, with higher efficiency than conventional solar cells.” Not only will the size of the nano-solar panels allow much more energy production, their efficiency will make solar power a viable technology for everyone.
Another source describes nano-solar technology working as an antenna that picks up electricity from mid-air: “Nano-solar taps solar energy much the way a radio antenna taps into an FM signal: The electric field created by traveling light waves makes electrons oscillate in a nanoscale antenna. Automated production could bring down the cost of solar power below that of all other sources” (Winters, Jeffrey). Humans now have the technology to literally tap into an electric field and harness electricity. As the article mentioned, mass production would decrease the cost so no other source of electricity could compete. This is the invention that is going to change our world forever.
If Konarka can print these nano-solar panels on their inkjet printers, we will have cheap and efficient solar panels in production within the next decade. Idaho National Laboratory has invented solar panels that can absorb infrared light and heat from the Earth. The amount of energy that could be produced will provide enough power for the entire planet many times over with minimal panels.
Solar power also costs nothing to run it, although installing the panel and producing it can be a bit pricey. However, once installed, the panel can actually turn back the meter and pay the owner of the panel (NRG). Solar power may not make the owner very much money, but it will prove them with clean and free energy. Once installed, the panel will have the potential to pay back the owner if it produces more power than the building uses. Some states have programs where the electric company must pay the panel owner for electricity the panel puts into the grid.
The most important benefit to using solar power is that it is a non-polluting technology when in use. The panel can be grid-tied or “off-the-grid” to provide power to the building it’s attached to. This is a potentially 100% clean power once installed; very little maintenance, long lasting, and durable. Why haven’t we switched to solar power yet?
The downside of solar power is that it’s expensive. “The consensus is that it takes about three years for a conventional silicon photovoltaic panel and the equipment associated with it to produce the amount of electrical energy required to manufacture this equipment in the first place- assuming that it is set up in a reasonably sunny spot.” (Schneider, David) The expense does not yet outweigh the benefits economically, although there are clearly ecological benefits. Unfortunately there is a large amount of people in this world who are not worried about the ecological benefits, and only care about expense. This is a significant hurdle to overcome with the current technology, but as was stated above, there is more efficient and cheaper technology on the way that will hopefully sway the consumer to using solar power. The more consumers become aware of alternative energy, the cheaper this technology will become. Consumers have a direct hand in making this technology a success or failure. If the demand is high, there will be panels produced for cheaper and cheaper. If not, solar power will fade into oblivion.
There is competition from other renewable energy technologies as well as cheap nonrenewable energy. Wind, hydroelectric, wave, and geothermal powers are all competing with solar power as the “next new technology.” Hopefully humans can use a combination of the above technologies to satisfy our power needs. The competition from other renewable energies is not as worrisome as the competition from nonrenewable energies.
Coal, petroleum, and natural gas make up a large percentage of power use in this country. The government subsidizes nonrenewable energy, as fossil fuels are expensive to extract from the Earth. The companies involved with the production of nonrenewable energy presents a large problem for renewable energy in general. Lobbyists influence government officials into creating laws that will either hinder or prevent renewable energy from making a foothold.
If the fossil fuel companies do end up giving some leeway, they will end up purchasing renewable energy companies and patents, potentially shutting them down. If that is not the case, they will do what is in their best economic interest: make money off the new technology. Large energy companies are going to have an affect on whether or not renewable energy is used on a large or small scale. It would be in their best interest to purchase the renewable energy companies and profit off wind or solar, while still making big bucks off fossil fuels. Therein lies a major problem when dealing with energy. Subsidies for cheap fossil fuels need to be revoked if any form of alternative energy will become viable.
Another problem with solar is that the sun is not always shining. This brings up problems with producing electricity, as people want to be able to flip on the light switch whenever they want to. If we limit electric use to daytime, solar power will never catch on. The consumer has a direct effect on whether or not solar becomes mainstream. People are going to want 24-hour access to electricity, but if solar panels are able to work at night, this shouldn’t cause problems. The nano-solar panels can generate electricity from the Earth’s heat as well as work on the infrared spectrum.
The sun does not shine “equally” across the entire country. The Southwest has more days of sun than the Northwest or Northeast. There are panels being developed that can deal with lower light, but they are not yet in mass production. The nano-solar panels seem to be humanity’s best hope for producing cheap and clean electricity. Once the panels are mass-produced and effectively marketed, the world will be powered by solar power.
There is also a problem with producing the photovoltaic panels in the first place. They typically contain copper oxide and silicon, which is toxic to humans. The new solar panels would still be made out of metal, but could be produced from recycled source material. As well as potentially harmful to humans, producing solar panel requires a huge amount of energy, most of which currently comes from coal and petroleum based fuel sources. Another substantial problem with solar power is how to store the excess electricity when the panels are producing their maximum output. Currently the batteries may last less than 5 years and contain lead, which is a harmful chemical to humans. Cleaner and longer lasting battery technology will also need to be invented before solar power becomes readily available for everyone.
Solar power has its positives and negatives, but the benefits compensate for the problems. New technologies are being developed that will ensure everyone who wants power will have access to it, while not producing any pollution in the process of generating electricity. This will be a great resource for people living off the grid and developing nations that may not be able to afford electricity from the utility companies. The future is here with solar power. Once government stops subsidizing fossil fuels and begins actively researching and funding solar power, people of the world will have electricity no matter where they are. Humanity has waited long enough for renewable energy and a clean future.
Bibliography
Schneider, David. "Solar Energy's Red Queen." American Scientist. Research Triangle Park. Jan/Feb 2008. ProQuest. Volume 96, Issue 1, Page 24-25. ProQuest. 4/25/08. <http://proquest .umi .com .ezproxy .prescott .edu/pqdweb ?did=1414884661 &sid=1 &Fmt=3 &clientId=73075 &RQT=309 &VName=PQD>.
Brown, Alan. "Solar Cells at $1 A Watt?" Mechanical Engineering. May 2008. ProQuest. Volume 130, Issue 5, Page 72. ProQuest. 4/26/08. <http://proquest .umi .com .ezproxy .prescott .edu/pqdweb ?did=1468225611 &sid=2 &Fmt=3 &clientId=73075 &RQT=309 &VName=PQD>.
Winters, Jeffrey. "PV Antennas." Mechanical Engineering. Mar 2008. ProQuest. Volume 130, Issue 3, Page 64. ProQuest. 4/24/08. <http://proquest .umi .com .ezproxy .prescott .edu/pqdweb ?did=1442469461 &sid=3 &Fmt=3 &clientId=73075 &RQT=309 &VName=PQD>.
Groom, Nichola. "Solar stocks soar on outlook for U.S. subsidies." Reuters. April 4th, 2008. 4/25/08. <http://www.reuters.com/article/hotStocksNews/idUSN0430341720080404>.
Masamitsu, Emily. "Startup Makes Cheap Solar Film Cells…With an Inkjet Printer." Popular Mechanics. March 6th, 2008. 4/27/08. <http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/4253464.html?series=15>.
Courtland, Rachel. "Harvesting the sun's energy with antennas." Idaho National Laboratory. 4/20/08. <http://www.inl.gov/featurestories/2007-12-17.shtml>.
"Incentives and Rebates." Prime Energy Solutions. 4/27/08. <http://www.prime-nrg.com/incentive.asp>.
Maloney, Peter. "Pay for the Power, Not the Panels." New York Times. 4/27/08. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/business/businessspecial2/26sun.html?ref=businessspecial2>.
"Solar Panel Roof Mounted System." Premium Power. 4/27/08. <http://www.premierpower.com/solar_energy_residential/solar_panel_roof_mount.php>.
"Mounts for Solar Electric Panels." Northern Arizona Wind and Sun. 4/27/08. <http://www.solar-electric.com/PV_Mounts/Solar_Panel_Mounts.htm>.
Enjoy
Solar Power as a Solution to Mitigating Pollution
Solar power is an alternative energy that could relieve our dependence on foreign oil as well as help clean the environment. Over 80% of our energy comes from fossil fuels, which are not renewable. Renewable energy gives us the option of smaller scale energy production and little to no pollution to generate that electricity.
There are certainly problems involved with solar energy, as the technology has not been perfected, yet. In the future, however, solar power will be a major energy producer, especially here in the arid Southwest. How we make the transition will be based upon whether or not the energy companies relinquish their stranglehold on American society.
There are pros and cons to alternative energy, specifically solar energy although the benefits outweigh the costs tenfold. The upside to solar power is that it is renewable. The sun is not going to run out of steam for several billion years from now. The life expectancy of a solar panel typically runs about 20-30 years (Premium Power). Most companies that build panels offer at least a 20-year warranty. If we build solar panels out of durable materials that are going to last a long time, there will be no need to keep building and destroying them. The beauty behind solar power is that buildings can be retrofitted to allow the use of the panels. One does not have to build a structure with solar power in mind, although orienting the building towards the south will take advantage of the active solar design. Solar panels can be tilted whatever direction they need to, so even if the building is not properly oriented to best suit its use, the panel will still be able to produce electricity (Solar Electric).
Government subsidies expire this year, but they will potentially be renewed as crude oil prices continue to soar (Reuters). Solar power is becoming as cheap or cheaper than oil. “Nanosolar Incorporated is hoping to sell solar cells for as little as $1 a watt. The new approach relies on thin films of copper indium gallium selenide.” (Brown, Alan) New technology is becoming available that will make solar power even cheaper than it is now. Konarka is developing printable solar panels. “In addition to reducing production costs because it relies one existing inkjet technology, the printable ‘Power Plastic’ cells can be applied to a range of small-scale, highly variable power opportunities, from indoor sensors to small RFID installations. With printers now capable of producing solar cells, other companies might be able to use plastics and other colors in developing new kinds of power-packing film.” (Popular Mechanics) The article is not clear on whether or not people with inkjet printers will be able to print their own solar panels or not. What it does make clear is that the production of solar panels is now much cheaper than conventional photovoltaic production. That quantum leap in production alone could mitigate the environmental costs of producing panels using copper oxide and silicon.
Idaho National Laboratory is developing nano-solar panels that are about 80% efficient (INL). Today’s technology currently runs about 40% efficiency meaning that less than half of the sun’s energy is absorbed and converted into electrical power. “The new approach uses a special manufacturing process to stamp tiny square spirals of conducting metal onto a sheet of plastic. Each interlocking nanoantenna is 1/25 the diameter of a human hair. Because of their size, the nanoantennas absorb energy in the infrared part of the spectrum…Nanoantennas can take in energy from both sunlight and the earth’s heat, with higher efficiency than conventional solar cells.” Not only will the size of the nano-solar panels allow much more energy production, their efficiency will make solar power a viable technology for everyone.
Another source describes nano-solar technology working as an antenna that picks up electricity from mid-air: “Nano-solar taps solar energy much the way a radio antenna taps into an FM signal: The electric field created by traveling light waves makes electrons oscillate in a nanoscale antenna. Automated production could bring down the cost of solar power below that of all other sources” (Winters, Jeffrey). Humans now have the technology to literally tap into an electric field and harness electricity. As the article mentioned, mass production would decrease the cost so no other source of electricity could compete. This is the invention that is going to change our world forever.
If Konarka can print these nano-solar panels on their inkjet printers, we will have cheap and efficient solar panels in production within the next decade. Idaho National Laboratory has invented solar panels that can absorb infrared light and heat from the Earth. The amount of energy that could be produced will provide enough power for the entire planet many times over with minimal panels.
Solar power also costs nothing to run it, although installing the panel and producing it can be a bit pricey. However, once installed, the panel can actually turn back the meter and pay the owner of the panel (NRG). Solar power may not make the owner very much money, but it will prove them with clean and free energy. Once installed, the panel will have the potential to pay back the owner if it produces more power than the building uses. Some states have programs where the electric company must pay the panel owner for electricity the panel puts into the grid.
The most important benefit to using solar power is that it is a non-polluting technology when in use. The panel can be grid-tied or “off-the-grid” to provide power to the building it’s attached to. This is a potentially 100% clean power once installed; very little maintenance, long lasting, and durable. Why haven’t we switched to solar power yet?
The downside of solar power is that it’s expensive. “The consensus is that it takes about three years for a conventional silicon photovoltaic panel and the equipment associated with it to produce the amount of electrical energy required to manufacture this equipment in the first place- assuming that it is set up in a reasonably sunny spot.” (Schneider, David) The expense does not yet outweigh the benefits economically, although there are clearly ecological benefits. Unfortunately there is a large amount of people in this world who are not worried about the ecological benefits, and only care about expense. This is a significant hurdle to overcome with the current technology, but as was stated above, there is more efficient and cheaper technology on the way that will hopefully sway the consumer to using solar power. The more consumers become aware of alternative energy, the cheaper this technology will become. Consumers have a direct hand in making this technology a success or failure. If the demand is high, there will be panels produced for cheaper and cheaper. If not, solar power will fade into oblivion.
There is competition from other renewable energy technologies as well as cheap nonrenewable energy. Wind, hydroelectric, wave, and geothermal powers are all competing with solar power as the “next new technology.” Hopefully humans can use a combination of the above technologies to satisfy our power needs. The competition from other renewable energies is not as worrisome as the competition from nonrenewable energies.
Coal, petroleum, and natural gas make up a large percentage of power use in this country. The government subsidizes nonrenewable energy, as fossil fuels are expensive to extract from the Earth. The companies involved with the production of nonrenewable energy presents a large problem for renewable energy in general. Lobbyists influence government officials into creating laws that will either hinder or prevent renewable energy from making a foothold.
If the fossil fuel companies do end up giving some leeway, they will end up purchasing renewable energy companies and patents, potentially shutting them down. If that is not the case, they will do what is in their best economic interest: make money off the new technology. Large energy companies are going to have an affect on whether or not renewable energy is used on a large or small scale. It would be in their best interest to purchase the renewable energy companies and profit off wind or solar, while still making big bucks off fossil fuels. Therein lies a major problem when dealing with energy. Subsidies for cheap fossil fuels need to be revoked if any form of alternative energy will become viable.
Another problem with solar is that the sun is not always shining. This brings up problems with producing electricity, as people want to be able to flip on the light switch whenever they want to. If we limit electric use to daytime, solar power will never catch on. The consumer has a direct effect on whether or not solar becomes mainstream. People are going to want 24-hour access to electricity, but if solar panels are able to work at night, this shouldn’t cause problems. The nano-solar panels can generate electricity from the Earth’s heat as well as work on the infrared spectrum.
The sun does not shine “equally” across the entire country. The Southwest has more days of sun than the Northwest or Northeast. There are panels being developed that can deal with lower light, but they are not yet in mass production. The nano-solar panels seem to be humanity’s best hope for producing cheap and clean electricity. Once the panels are mass-produced and effectively marketed, the world will be powered by solar power.
There is also a problem with producing the photovoltaic panels in the first place. They typically contain copper oxide and silicon, which is toxic to humans. The new solar panels would still be made out of metal, but could be produced from recycled source material. As well as potentially harmful to humans, producing solar panel requires a huge amount of energy, most of which currently comes from coal and petroleum based fuel sources. Another substantial problem with solar power is how to store the excess electricity when the panels are producing their maximum output. Currently the batteries may last less than 5 years and contain lead, which is a harmful chemical to humans. Cleaner and longer lasting battery technology will also need to be invented before solar power becomes readily available for everyone.
Solar power has its positives and negatives, but the benefits compensate for the problems. New technologies are being developed that will ensure everyone who wants power will have access to it, while not producing any pollution in the process of generating electricity. This will be a great resource for people living off the grid and developing nations that may not be able to afford electricity from the utility companies. The future is here with solar power. Once government stops subsidizing fossil fuels and begins actively researching and funding solar power, people of the world will have electricity no matter where they are. Humanity has waited long enough for renewable energy and a clean future.
Bibliography
Schneider, David. "Solar Energy's Red Queen." American Scientist. Research Triangle Park. Jan/Feb 2008. ProQuest. Volume 96, Issue 1, Page 24-25. ProQuest. 4/25/08. <http://proquest .umi .com .ezproxy .prescott .edu/pqdweb ?did=1414884661 &sid=1 &Fmt=3 &clientId=73075 &RQT=309 &VName=PQD>.
Brown, Alan. "Solar Cells at $1 A Watt?" Mechanical Engineering. May 2008. ProQuest. Volume 130, Issue 5, Page 72. ProQuest. 4/26/08. <http://proquest .umi .com .ezproxy .prescott .edu/pqdweb ?did=1468225611 &sid=2 &Fmt=3 &clientId=73075 &RQT=309 &VName=PQD>.
Winters, Jeffrey. "PV Antennas." Mechanical Engineering. Mar 2008. ProQuest. Volume 130, Issue 3, Page 64. ProQuest. 4/24/08. <http://proquest .umi .com .ezproxy .prescott .edu/pqdweb ?did=1442469461 &sid=3 &Fmt=3 &clientId=73075 &RQT=309 &VName=PQD>.
Groom, Nichola. "Solar stocks soar on outlook for U.S. subsidies." Reuters. April 4th, 2008. 4/25/08. <http://www.reuters.com/article/hotStocksNews/idUSN0430341720080404>.
Masamitsu, Emily. "Startup Makes Cheap Solar Film Cells…With an Inkjet Printer." Popular Mechanics. March 6th, 2008. 4/27/08. <http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/4253464.html?series=15>.
Courtland, Rachel. "Harvesting the sun's energy with antennas." Idaho National Laboratory. 4/20/08. <http://www.inl.gov/featurestories/2007-12-17.shtml>.
"Incentives and Rebates." Prime Energy Solutions. 4/27/08. <http://www.prime-nrg.com/incentive.asp>.
Maloney, Peter. "Pay for the Power, Not the Panels." New York Times. 4/27/08. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/business/businessspecial2/26sun.html?ref=businessspecial2>.
"Solar Panel Roof Mounted System." Premium Power. 4/27/08. <http://www.premierpower.com/solar_energy_residential/solar_panel_roof_mount.php>.
"Mounts for Solar Electric Panels." Northern Arizona Wind and Sun. 4/27/08. <http://www.solar-electric.com/PV_Mounts/Solar_Panel_Mounts.htm>.