How Many Uses There for Solar in New Zealand - Coursework Example

SEINZ and Section # of Sr. No Page no 3 2 Solar energy in New Zealand 4 3 Figure 1: house with solar panel to make electricity 5 4 Methodology 5 5 Results of the study 6 6 Figure 2: comparison between unit cost w.r.t. time 7 7 Figure 3: comparison of daily global energy average 8 8 Figure 4: depiction of energy produced vs. CO2 emissions 9 9 Discussion of the results 9 10 Figure 5: unit cost per year 10 11 Questionnaire Results 11 12 Conclusion: recommendations 12 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract Solar energy is one of the most widely available energy in this world, where wars are being fought for the occupation of land which is rich in energy resources. In New Zealand also, solar energy is the most abundant energy available with maximum practical advantages. This is one resource which has huge amount of potential in it, if used correctly. Solar energy is the most abundant, practically inexhaustible primary energy available in New Zealand. It is a resource of immense potential. This report is drafted to carry out this very research, the availability and advantages of technologies present in NZ to carry out such a drastic change in the national energy policy. Different research methodologies will be used to reach to a result and future recommendations for such kind of work. Statistical data has been retrieved and depicted in the report to show in facts and figures about the potential of this energy. Feasibility in the regard of weather as well as practicality has also been given prime importance in this report. Also strong recommendations have been given and described based on the research carried out for this report, both primary and secondary. . Solar Energy in New Zealand Energy is fast running out in this world we live in, hence the need is felt for cheap, free and renewable energy. Solar energy is one such kind of renewable energy present which can be effectively utilized in New Zealand. The main source of energy in New Zealand is coal, gas, geothermal and thermally generated power (NZS, 2012). The main aim of this report is to emphasize on the fact, that solar energy can be both the way forward and energy of the future. The significance of the matter can be understood by the fact that currently, two wars are being fought to capture such land with unprocessed and unknown energy sources. At the present level, the renewable sources of energy account for only 13% of the total energy requirements of the world (Harvey, 2011). Therefore, a country can either fight for its oil or be abundant enough in its own energy sources that it doesn’t have to look at others. There are, like every other future issue, some limitation like land used, weather change and most important of all the financial aspect of it. The report is also based on financial records so the matter discussed will be clearly showing the path that has to be taken in the future. The nature of different technologies present and available are also briefly discussed to enhance the understanding of the fact that this kind of project can be run not only as an energy creating technique but also as a profit making venture. Therefore the concept of sustainable energy is borne. Sustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the need without compromising the ability to generate energy in the future (Smith, 1998). Figure 1 shows one of the ways it is conveniently being used to provide electricity to normal household usage. Figure 1: House shown using solar panels to produce electricity from the solar energy. Image from (http://newnostradamusofthenorth.blogspot.com/2012_02_01_archive.html) Methodology There were different methods used for the collection of data. On most parts it was the internet that was used as it is the most abundant source of information easily available. Thesis studies which had already been done in the country as inventing the wheel all over again would have been a waste of time. The criteria which was selected for any kind of data that was collected, was the authenticity of the organization or author who had published a report or any kind of data. Sources like Wikipedia and unpaid free content was avoided as to keep the authenticity of the report genuine and as near to being real as possible (EECA, 2001). Although “googling” is an easy and childlike job, but there were numerous limitations to the ground work that had to be done on the internet. First and foremost, as mentioned before was the checking out of the authenticity of the information, as internet is full of fake and unreal information. Another limitation was the limited information available on commercial product’s workings on which many of the pro-solar energy army is lobbying. That kind of information has to be bought which was not considered a feasible option for this report. Data reading was also completed with the help of certain graphs and visual representations to ensure that the reader may extract knowledge and information very easily, as visual depictions are more often than not easy to comprehend than a thousand word report on any subject (EECA, 2001). Results of the Study This section objectifies the main ingredients of this report, mainly being the actual uses of solar energy in the New Zealand energy setups. Various reasons accumulate the combined though of either using solar power as an effective mean of energy in New Zealand. Before the uses and advantages of solar energy in New Zealand are discussed, it is worth discussing the different methods in present and future that were being used to produce solar energy. The current two methods which had been employed to produce solar energy are either the “solar hot water system” or the “solar photovoltaic electricity”. Solar PV till 2003 was mainly a high cost technique but at present and in the future, it is predicted that the price of per unit electricity produced by this method will almost be equal to the retail price of the electricity currently being provided. Figure 1 shows the decrease in per unit value of electricity in PV electricity as compared to the current retail value of electricity produced by the older method (EECA, 2001). Figure 2: comparison between old and new methods in unit cost of electricity produced and future trends (EECA, 2001). Along with PV, there were many older methods which were also being implied like the flat bed system which is the oldest and most reliable method used up to date, with some limitations that would be eradicated by this new system. Before the actual uses of solar energy in New Zealand is explained, the comparison between some other countries like Australia had to be presented with the New Zealand setup so that a realistic approach may be adopted. The first and foremost fact that had to be compared is the availability of the solar energy. According to an expert “Not many New Zealanders use solar energy. It is only in recent years, say since the year 2000 those PV systems for homeowners have been commercially available”. The figure which will be explained later shows comparison with Melbourne and various New Zealand cities in this regard (EECA, 2001). Figure 3: comparisons of daily global energy between Melbourne and various New Zealand cities (EECA, 2001). The stress was placed on PV system as it is the technology that is, worldwide, eradicating the energy crisis where ever it is being implied. The current and future application are listed in this section and explained in the next. The first and daily use was for the consumer products. Second use was their application in various industries. The biggest advantage present and in the future, is being named as the stand alone power system for both industrialized as well as developing countries. Then the application of grid connection using PV panels was also a very good example of its uses in New Zealand. Weather monitoring systems and telecommunication towers at present is using this technology currently. One of the biggest advantages of adopting this technology was the control of emission gasses as a result of thermal power plants (EECA, 2001). The following table shown in this section and explained in the next is the true picture of this fact (EECA, 2001). Figure 4: depiction of energy produced and emissions saved due to solar energy systems (EECA, 2001). Discussion of the Results This section mainly explains the uses that are mentioned in the previous section. Also the cost effectiveness and comparison in monetary value is briefly explained for the benefit of the user. First and foremost, the home based daily products. There is a variety of products present which are the testing grounds for PV technology which include as minute things as a calculator as well as home security systems, street lights and car alarm and automation systems (which save considerable amount of energy on a yearly basis). The second application mentioned is the industrial use. Industries currently use previous solar techniques to lift their small energy needs like security systems and night lights but this technology may transform the overall respect for the solar energy system in the corporate sector. Special uses are in the telecommunication sector as it provides companies the freedom to place towers at remote places without needing any utility infrastructure reaching that point. New Zealand electric fence industry is also one which is benefitting the most due to solar energy. The fattest advantage is similar to the previous one, which is the providence of power to stand alone systems in New Zealand. This has made electricity available in areas not near to the main grid stations for usage of the operation of water pumps, clinics, hospitals, farms, schools and communication setups. In the urban setups grid connected distributed supply system is a prime example of solar use in the energy setup. Simple inverter and PV panels are being used and connected to the grid stations to provide cheap electricity to the consumer using the previously installed infrastructure. Marine safety devices also use the same system as providence of cable supply is not a viable option in the sea (EECA, 2001). One of the most important factors in any technology being embedded in to the national circuit is the monetary feasibility. In the end, it is always about the money spent and earned for every decision maker in the higher hierarchy of a country. According to an expert photovoltaic and thermal methods are currently being employed in NZ. When asked about the current solar energy efficiency he replied “Cost efficiency depends on various factors. If the location is a long distance from power lines, then it may be cheaper to install solar PV than to install power lines to feed the location. In areas fed by power lines, PV is not yet cost effective in NZ but is expected to be within a few years time. That will be when the amortized cost of installing a PV system reaches parity with the price of power from the grid. Some countries that depend heavily on expensive fossil fuels to generate electricity but have long sunshine hours are at grid parity. This is not the case in NZ where there are ample renewable energy resources (hydro, geothermal, wind) at a national level”. According to him the current cost of setting up one solar unit for a complete household is around $15,000 to $20,000 and the cost of this unit largely depends upon the reduced cost of the PV system, that too in a substantial manner. The following table shows the comparison of the monetary value of electricity units with the passage of time. Figure 5: unit cost per year as the technology improves and production quantity increases (EECA, 2001). The last thing worth mentioning here is the environmental advantages that are resent due to this method. Figure 3 shown in the previous sections clearly depicts that while the energy levels grow from almost 3 GWh/Year to 35 GWh/year, the CO2 emissions reduction increases from 1300 tons/year to 16000 tons/ year which on both counts is a considerable change (EECA, 2001). Therefore from all the above it can easily be concluded that this the right way forward. All the facts and figures depicted in this section point towards this very same fact that using solar system in place of the conventional system in NZ is and will be a large boost to the power produced and also the economy. Conclusion The significant knowledge researching this topic has induced a disturbing thought. All the money and man-power being utilized to find oil is being wasted in the wrong direction. When such a tried method is available, which ensures cost effectiveness and availability of power in the most convenient methods and at the most non-convenient places? Even saying so, a lot of work is still required in this field as there are many limitations which repel the authorities to go full throttle on this issue and strive for thermal methods. The main aspects that this report lacks is the on-sight inspections of the system, where they are installed and surveys of managers and operators working on those very systems especially those which are stand alone in nature. This study may be used for future and present reference for any research work that is being carried out for the feasibility of the national energy program. The report finally may be concluded with some recommendations based on the study which has been completed: More research should be done on the PV system. The government should employ private sector for the betterment of the current system under operation. Military grade products should eventually be reverse-engineered for the consumer society hence the military should be involved in these projects. The future will be dark if the reliance on oil does not subside and wars not evaded due to this energy crisis that is ever evolving in the world. Awareness program should be launched for the general public so they can pressurize their local politicians to enforce legislations in this regard raising their voices in the forums that matter. References Energy efficiency and conservation authority, EECA (2001). Solar energy use and potential in New Zealand. Wellington: EECA. Harvey, F (2011) Renewable energy can power the world, says landmark IPCC study. Retrieved March, 24 2012, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/09/ipcc-renewable-energy-power-world Nelson, T. (2012) The solar energy dream comes to an end in Germany. Retrieved march, 27 2012, from http://newnostradamusofthenorth.blogspot.com/2012/02/solar-energy-dream-comes-to-end-in.html NZS.com. (2012). New Zealand Energy: solar power, Electricity, wind. Retrieved March, 09 2012, from http://www.nzs.com/new-zealand-articles/technology/energy.html Smith, Crosbie B. (1998). The Science of Energy - a Cultural History of Energy Physics in Victorian Britain. Chicago. The University of Chicago Press. Glossary Geothermal: Of, relating to, or produced by the internal heat of the earth Grid station: a station which reduces high voltage to low voltage and increases current GWh/Year: unit of energy used per year Irradiance: The flux of radiant energy per unit area (normal to the direction of flow of radiant energy through a medium). Renewable energy: Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat. Solar energy: Radiant energy emitted by the sun/ energy produced by this radiant energy Solar hot water system: Solar hot water is water that is heated by converting direct solar radiation energy into thermal energy and transferring that energy to raise the temperature of water. Solar photovoltaic electricity: Photovoltaic refers to a technology which uses a device (usually a solar panel) to produce free electrons when exposed to light, resulting in the production of an electric current. Stand alone power system: A stand-alone power system (SAPS or SPS) is an off-the-grid electricity system for locations that are not fitted with an electricity source. Thermal power: A thermal power station is a power plant in which the engine is steam driven Read More