Solar Energy as a Form of Renewable Energy - Essay Example

Chapter 2 Introduction: One of the most talked and researched form of renewable energy over the past several years has been solar. Due to the decrease in the natural resources that the planet exhibits, coal and nuclear sources of electrical generation are in diminished supply and represent their own unique risks. As a function of discussing this alongside presenting an alternative approach, the following analysis will promote an understanding of some of the pros and cons of the utilization of solar energy. The authors hopes that the reader will be able to gain a more informed understanding with respect to the way in which solar energy represents a potential to serve as an effective form of renewable energy in the coming decades. Preliminary Discussion of Alternatives: Solar energy is one of the most promising forms of alternative energy that is yet to be explored to its full potential. However, alternative energy could not be used without an understanding of some specific requirements, such as, geographical location and policy (Goh et al, 2014; Liu et al., 2013). Yet, regardless of the promise that solar energy seeks to provide, the fact of the matter is that it still represents a litany of drawbacks; drawbacks that will be discussed at some depth further in the analysis. For this very reason, individuals are necessarily discouraged from using it and the level of research that takes place is limited with respect to the means by which this energy is stored after it is collected. However, with all that being said, it must also be understood that this is still a relatively new technology. Within these lines, it can further be expected that developments in solar energy could necessarily lead to a breakthrough in which it could reduce or entirely negate many of the negative drawbacks that have thus far been evidenced. Nanotechnology and Implications for Renewable Energy It is of no question that technology has heavily impacted the way in which processes take place within the modern world. The changes in technology over the past hundred years have been profound; giving of mankind the ability to fly, orbit the Earth, visit the moon, create the Internet, build the computer, and perfect the internal combustion engine. Nanotechnology is a topic that has a high level of relevance with respect to the development of the world. Essentially, nanotechnology refers to the manipulation of matter; either in the atomic, molecular, or super-molecular state (mnyusiwalla et al, 2003). In such a way, the developments within this sphere could vastly contribute to the increased efficiency of different processes; even going so far as to ensure that previously inefficient and unviable processes could become low cost and an order of magnitude more useful. One of the most promising aspects of technology within the current era has do with the potential of increased efficiency that the use of nano-material could provide with regards to solar panels and the collection/retention of solar energy. Whereas, hydro resources and many other approaches to providing the ever increasing energy needs of society have been engaged, the potential for solar energy and the massive amount of energy collection that this could provide is something that has been focused upon to an increasing degree in recent years (Smil, 2014). By and large, nanotechnology has the potential to greatly increase the overall transmission rates and efficiency of collection of the photonic energy that the sun provide; readily transferring it to useful electrons that more advanced batteries/storage systems can utilize as necessary. For instance, one potential breakthrough that has been discussed with regards to nanotechnology and solar panels is the ease and efficiency at which nano-tech can transform the photons directly into useful energy without the loss of efficiency or utility (Vayssieres, 2009) Another aspect that nanotechnology can provide, referring to renewable energy, is one that the individual analyst should consider. Ultimately, the most utilized resource upon the entire planet is that of liquid water. However, as the human population grows and the overall pressure that existing water supplies face increases, the level of potable water has consequently decreased. Whereas the use of liquid water might not readily be understood in terms of a type of renewable energy, the broad application of water, both for cooling nuclear reactors and for providing the energy for hydroelectric dams, is an issue of profound importance; both in terms of renewable energy and in terms of green energy. In this way, the overall level of pollution that is exhibited within the water resources throughout the world is an issue of supreme concern; and one that requires the expenditure of tens of millions of pounds each and every year in order to filter or otherwise neutralise these particulates. By using nanotech to target specific toxins and eliminate them, or to bond them to a non-harmful compound, nanotech could perform water purification much more efficiently that existing technology does in the form of expensive and difficult to use filtration systems. With the advent of a great level of nanotechnology, it is feasible that such a process could readily be performed at the nano-level; thereby freeing up a great deal of resources from the water purification and filtration process, thus allowing the global water resources to become more pure and less adulterated over time (Hillie & Hlophe, 2007). Another potential use for nanotechnology, that has recently been analysed, is utilizing it to promote overall energy efficiency. For instance, even a cursory level of scholarship reveals the fact that the typical incandescent light bulb only transforms 5% of the overall energy it consumes as a means of creating liked. Such a depressing statistic necessarily reveals the fact that there is a 95% in-efficiency ratio that can be determined in relation to the traditional incandescent light bulb (Goh et al., 2014). However, with a further understanding of the properties of luminescence that certain molecules are able to promote, research into this particular field of renewable energy creates the potential that nanotechnology might one day diminish the need or reliance upon these traditional sources of light; and the extraordinarily high levels of electricity that are required to be consumed as a means of creating this light. Utilizing the incessant and exponentially increasing energy needs as an impetus, nanotechnology shows great promise with regards to providing a much more efficient transformation of energy to useful light (Nizamoglu et al, 2007). One set of experiments that has taken place with regards to effecting this has focused upon utilizing nanotechnology as a means of creating naturally reactive/glowing particulates that, when charged with an electrical pulse, are able to keep emitting light for an extended period of time. Nuclear: Environmentalists and scientists continue to argue with respect to whether or not nuclear energy is the cleanest form of energy that can be provided to stakeholders within society. However, outside of this particular debate, it can still be seen that one of the greatest drawbacks to nuclear energy is the long-lasting environmental impacts that the waste creates. Each and every year, millions of pounds are spent with regards to determining how to dispose of spent nuclear fuel. Invariably, even though a great deal of emphasis is placed upon seeking to safeguard the nuclear fuel, some certain portion of it finds its way into the ground and pollutes the local environment (Forsyth & Werme, 1991). When this does occur, tens of millions of pounds more is spent on and massive environmental clean-up that generally involves bringing in earth movers and removing time after time of soil so that no further contamination could take place. In this way, scientists that are currently researching nanotechnology have proposed that future advances in nanotechnology could potentially create a situation in which nanotechnology would be able to disintegrate the offending radioactive material at an increased rate (Shi et al, 2012). In much the same way that nanotechnology could be used to filter water and neutralize key toxins, nanotechnology also holds great promise with regards to neutralizing the effects of nuclear waste and environmental harm. As such, one proposal for future nanotechnology is concentric upon creating nano-machines that are capable of binding to radioactive isotopes; thereby reducing the harm that these isotopes can have upon the extant environment. back to the discussion which was broached within the beginning of this section, it can be noted that one of the most profound levels of technological development that is impacted upon the human race, arguably in the course of history, is the development of the computer. Much like the light bulb, previously discussed, the computer consumes a massive amount of energy; therefore rendering a situation in which the overall energy resources that society requires have been exponentially increasing as the overall number of computing devices and requirements that these retain an increased alongside. Yet, scientists that study nanotechnology have also proposed a potential solution to this problem. Rather than continuing to rely upon the massive amounts of power to drive the processors and capacitors that provide the computing power for the average PC, many individuals are hopeful that breakthroughs and nanotechnology can provide computing at the micro level; no longer requiring the levels of power that traditional computing has relied upon. Such a proposition could be accomplished by “miniaturizing” the existing framework of circuitry and processing to the cellular and/or molecular level. In such a way, researchers could drastically and immediately effect a dramatic reduction in the overall use of electricity that is required to drive the litany of computing devices that are required within the current world. From the information that is been provided and discussed within this brief analysis, it can be understood that renewable energy, in terms of nanotechnology, is something that requires a great deal of further research and resources to be devoted to it. Naturally, the promise that nanotechnology hold in relation to improving upon the lives of societal stakeholders is profound. However, before the individual concludes that all of these potential benefits to society can be realized within a relatively brief period of time, it must be warned and counsel that nanotechnology is still within the very instant stages of development. In much the same way that the father of modern chemistry, Dmitri Mendeleev, began to understand the organization of atoms and molecules that helped to define chemistry, scientists within the current era are only now beginning to understand the impact that nanotechnology can have upon the world in which we live and the manner through which humans engage the future problems. As with any new technology, the primary focus of nanotechnology over the next several decades will be concentric upon reducing its overall cost; allowing it to be utilized alongside and instead of traditional approaches due to the fact that it does not represent and necessary decrease in utility or efficiency for the person who engages it. Even though one of the most talked about forms of renewable energy over the past several years has been solar. Yet, solar is not the only form of renewable energy that presents itself to the nation or region that seeks to develop a degree of energy renewability or independence. Further, due to the decreasing natural resources that the planet exhibits, coal and other hydrocarbon fuel sources as well as nuclear sources of electrical generation are in diminished supply and represent their unique risks (BULL, 2001). As a function of discussing this alongside other alternative approaches, the following analysis will promote an understanding of some of the pros and cons of the utilization of different forms of electrical power generation. It is the hope of this author that the discussion that will be engaged will be beneficial in informing the reader with regard to some of the extant options that exist with respect to the future of renewable energy potential within Qatar. Traditional Energy Creation: Firstly, it should be noted that a large majority of energy (electricity) is generated by coal plants. These coal plants are inherently a dirty way of creating electricity; due to the fact that they burn the fossil fuel coal as a means of generating steam that in turn drives turbines that produce electricity (Mishra, 2004). Beyond the inefficiency of this process, coal is a limited and finite natural resource that once it is exhausted will be gone forever. Furthermore, the inherent damage to the environment that coal fumes and ash create has been proven by a litany of different medical researchers to be especially toxic. By means of comparison and contrast, many individuals argue for the more widespread use of nuclear energy; due to the fact that it is inherently “cleaner” than coal and less environmentally toxic to individuals that live in and around the nuclear stations that produce such energy. Solar Energy: By means of comparison and contrast, solar energy has come to be a very attractive alternative. For instance, proponents of solar energy say that it is a sustainable, widely available, low cost, silent, abundant, and of relatively low maintenance renewable energy source (ABBASI, T. & ABBASI, S., 2012). All of these advantages encourage individuals throughout society to promote solar energy as the most effective way in which the dependent upon limited and finite resources can be reduced within the near future. However, the fact of the matter is that solar energy also exhibits two distinct drawbacks. First and most importantly, it is prohibitively expensive at the current juncture. This disadvantage in and of itself is not sufficient to discourage further development of solar resources and solar energy development (Lewis, 2007). The underlying reason behind this has to do with the fact that any technology ultimately comes down in price as it is studied further and researchers/scientists are able to understand more effective and economical means of developing such a technology. For instance, only a decade ago, solar panels with the only way through which solar energy can be harvested. However, certain companies are now experimenting, to a great deal of success, with particular types of paint that can be utilized to collect solar energy and directed to electrodes that been in turn collected within battery banks or other capacitive storage devices. Although this might not be the ultimate direction in which solar energy develops, it does show the way in which promising new developments have a powerful impact with respect to changing the way in which society understands and integrates with this technology (Kenisarin & Mahkamov, 2006). A secondary drawback that exists with respect to solar energy has to do with the fact that it requires such a great deal of space as a means of generating power. For instance, a standard residential house that intends on creating its own power from solar panels would necessarily need the entire roof, as well as portions of the yard covered in solar panels as a means of achieving this goal (Wagner et al, 1992). For this very reason, many individuals have not fully integrated with solar energy generation as a means of replacing the traditional energy that powers their homes. Accordingly, even at a government level of engagement, solar energy within Qatar is most likely not the best or most efficient means of electrical generation. As has previously been noted, the rate of growth and expansion of renewable energy has skyrocketed within the last few years. Although these alternative sources of energy account for less than 10% of current energy needs within Qatar, they are nonetheless visible and provide a stark contrast to the otherwise unmolested natural environment that oftentimes existed prior to their installation. Although both sides have a valid concern, it is the belief of this author that the environmentalist seeking to promote the use of alternative energy are the ones that have the stronger point; both morally and logically speaking. Due to the fact that renewable energy provides nearly resource neutral power production, it should be in the best interests of all involved to increase the means of production for this particular type of energy, on mountaintops or in fields in prairies. Currents and Future Prospects Regarding the Ability to Harness Oceanic Energy: Of all renewable energy approaches that this paper will engage, the ability to harness the oceans currents or tides is perhaps the most promising. As the Qatar is surrounded by ocean on three sides, this option is of particular interest in terms of sustainment of a renewable energy base. The greatest problem that exists has to do with the fact that the ability to harness the oceans currents/tides has not fully developed and the approaches that do exist threaten a direct level of harm to fragile coastal ecosystems. With this in mind, few developments have taken place with regard to promoting the ability to harness electrical power via the ocean’s tides (Cruz, 2007). Accordingly, the high initial cost of creating such devices is also another reason why this approach has not caught on to the degree that one might expect. Further, as might be expected, the need to continually repair such devices, as a result of the continual strain and pressures they sustain, creates an added concern and cost that few governments or private entities are prepared to engage with. Irrespective of all above, the approaches that have thus far been referenced should not be understood as either useful or useless. Instead, different areas of Qatar will exhibit different weather patterns. As such, solar and/or wave energy might be particularly efficient within one particular area. By means of contrast and comparison wind power generation might be especially poor within a given area. In such a way, the reader can come to the determination that a “best practice” in terms of electrical power generation is elusive to say the least. However, with this in mind, the crafters of an energy policy would do well to note these unique nuances in determining the approaches that will best suit the needs of the future. Efficiency and Broader Economics: Another relevant trend that is being represented around the globe has to do with the emphasis upon efficiency that is currently being promoted. From the information that has thus far been represented, it is clear and apparent that efforts to save resources and develop new means of energy generation oftentimes leverage new developments within the market as a means of pioneering such sustainable energy sources as solar, or other forms of technology to meet existing energy needs. However, a responsible and sustainable form of energy production and use is also concentric upon the manner by which the resources that are currently utilize our efficiently use and effectively managed (Reno, 2011). Far too many individuals are of the opinion that renewable and sustainable energy must solely be concentric upon technological development as a means of promoting a better and greener world. However, the fact of the matter is that sustainability is contingent upon the efficiency and stewardship that a particular resource exhibits. For this very manner, rather than assuming that the current rate of production is steadfast and cannot be altered via environmental concerns or potential future realities, and more amenable and realistic approach that is put forward by many conservation has to do with the overall level of stewardship that is represented with respect to these resources (Lee & Zhong, 2014). What is meant by this term has to do with the fact that even existing, relatively cheap, and abundant sources of energy must not be taken for granted. Referencing the situation to several hundred years ago, it could easily be inferred that vast forest and woodlands throughout the world were virtually inexhaustible. Likewise, bringing this level of stewardship into a current and relevant understanding, it must be appreciated that even abundant resources of natural gas, coal, and hydropower are not to be guaranteed within an ever-changing environment that cannot be relied upon to exhibit immutability. For this very reason, researchers and analysts have begun to promote the understanding that diversified, renewable, and sustainable approaches to energy must be effected in order for a broader benefit to society can ultimately be realized (Kolios & Read, 2013). What is meant by this has to do with the fact that rather than allowing a singular energy policy to define the way in which a given region or nation provides for its energy needs, a sustainable and renewable approach will engage with technology, improve stewardship of existing energy production, and seeks to diversify this as a function of ensuring future needs and the existence of resources for further generations. Whereas it might seem as somewhat absurd that the continued use of inexhaustible resources can be discussed alongside renewable and sustainable energy, the rate of destruction of these resources and the means by which they are used ultimately demand that the individual consider them rather than merely promoting a level of resource use and acquisition that has thus far been defined around the globe. Conclusions: With this in mind, renewable/green and environmentally conscious energy production must balance the needs that have been represented above without relying too heavily upon existing surplus or low prices to define the future. Likewise, the case of Qatar is of special interest with respect to the information that has thus far been represented. The ultimate reason behind this has to do with the fact that Qatar has an obvious surplus of both will and natural gas reserves; something that is tempting to utilized as a means of developing the economy in the coming decades. However, rather than falling victim to this and relying upon willing gas as a fundamental cornerstone of economic development, guitar should instead seek to break free of this “Dutch disease” and diversify other aspects of its energy policy as a means of preparing for a situation in which natural gas and oil are no longer prevalent or low cost. Eventually, guitars reliance upon oil and natural gas will create a situation in which it either becomes scarce or nonexistent. Consequently, the price of this resource will skyrocket due to the laws of supply and demand. Within such an understanding, one can quickly realize that reliance upon oil and gas alone as a means of determining and energy future is not sufficient. 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