Solar Energy is the most abundant energy source on earth. In fact, even all other renewables are indirectly derived from the sun’s energy input. The surface of the earth receives sunlight, more accurately solar radiation, equivalent to 20,000 times our power consumption. This energy can be used for solar heating (mostly household application) or to create electricity with photovoltaic (PV) systems. While regions near the Equator have higher solar radiation per square meter, any country can benefit from it – Germany is a solar powerhouse without having a particularly sunny climate.
Solar power is often coined “The People’s Power” as solar panels can quickly be deployed to generate electricity in remote places which lack a grid connection. This explains its impressive 50% annual growth rate for the last five years reaching a global capacity of 139 GW in 2013. Whereas the efficiency of solar cells are currently only at around 15-20%, technological advancements are making the solar power industry increasingly efficient and cheap. Innovations in nanotechnology and quantum physics hope to triple the efficiency of solar cells. There are also many financial incentives in developed countries to make households solar. This aims to decrease electricity cost for consumers, and alleviate the burden of traditional power plants. As solar panel systems require very little maintenance and will usually last for 20-25 years they are an ideal choice for small rural villages.
Providing power to the People
But then came nightfall. Solar power’s intermittence means it cannot yet serve as a reliable energy source. Electricity generation is seriously reduced with overcast and halted at night. While energy storage could potentially solve this issue, this technology remains inefficient and expensive. As well, the manufacturing process of solar panels is also a rather dirty one. Nitrogen trifluroide and sulfur hexafluoride emissions, some of the most potent GHG, are a by-product of these panels. Solar cells may also contain highly toxic materials such as cadmium telluride (CdTe) and/or gallium arsenide. These can leech into the soil and possibly contaminate water sources if the solar panels are not disposed properly at the end of their lifetime. Thankfully, new generations of solar cells are replacing these dangerous chemicals with safer ones.
Read up on the other renewables here :
- Hydroelectric Energy: http://graphitepublications.com/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-renewables-part-i/
- Wind Power : http://graphitepublications.com/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-renewables-part-iii-wind-power/
