Advantages of using solar cells - Research Paper Example

? 23 July Advantages of Using Solar Cells The environment has become a big issue around the whole world. During the last decade, it started to change quickly. The earth is becoming warmer and because of that, there are a lot of natural problems and disasters around the world. This is called global warming. People on earth caused this change in temperature. Further, people need energy in their daily lives. They need electricity, fire, hot water, heating and cooling. To produce energy that is enough for all of these activities, we need fossil fuels and coal. All the countries around the world use these two fuels to make electricity and to heat water or air. Many rich countries depend on countries in the Middle East to give them fossil fuels like oil and gas to be able to serve their people. Countries around the world have been using these forms of energy production almost for a hundred years now. The people on earth are increasing every day, and their needs of energy are also increasing. The price of making energy in the old ways is also becoming higher and higher. In the past, the effects of the use of fossil fuels and coal were not known. However, we now know what we are doing to our world and to our future generations. Therefore, we have to do something to change this. Many countries and governments have started to look for new technologies for energy production. These new energy technologies should be good for the environment. They should not make our problem worse and they should be cheap. One of the new energy technologies is solar energy. In this technology, the sun light is used to produce electricity. Although this field is new, countries are encouraging people and companies to use it. Cleanness, renewability, and low cost of construction and operation are reasons that people should use more solar cells. The primary reason that people should use solar cells is its cleanness. First, solar energy is produced with the least waste compared to other sources of energy. The article “A Review on Global Solar Energy Policy” explains how important solar energy is for the environment because it is the cleanest kind of power, and it is available and unlimited energy. There is no waste from solar energy, and it is an alternative to fossil fuels (Fayaz, et al 2050). For instance, nuclear plants, which are referred to as a clean source of energy by some people, produce waste that is very harmful to human beings and the environment. The United States actually faces a serious problem because there are no facilities to store and process nuclear waste. This will be a problem in future as more and more nuclear waste is stored in the nuclear plants themselves. Coal fired plants also produce ash waste that is very dangerous to the health of human and animals. Some of this waste was used in the past to produce building equipment, but these products were found to be harmful as well. Moreover, even hydro plants can make problems for the wildlife and put waste into rivers and lakes. On other hand, solar cells only use sunlight to produce power. There are basically no byproducts or waste from the solar plants. The only waste may be in the form of damaged solar cells. However, the damaged solar cells are usually reprocessed to produce new cells. For example, Doug Smock wrote “Solar Plane Takes Flight” in 2010 in Design News to show the first solar airplane. The author shows how the airplane was built using over ten thousand solar cells to power it and reduce waste from fossil fuel airplanes (Smock 45). This is an example of how solar cells can be used as an alternative clean energy source as compared to fossil fuels. In addition, pollution from the old energy sources has become an important issue of debate as many scientists have confirmed that our planet is warming very quickly. Solar cells give a good solution to the issue of pollution because they produce no emission into the air. “Solar energy is one of the cleanest energy resources that does not compromise or add to global warming. The sun radiates more energy in one second than people have used since beginning of the time” (Fayaz, et al, 2050). Solar cells represent an invention that can help to reduce the high pollution levels around the world. This will make the world a safer and better place. Solar cells convert solar energy to electrical energy in a way different from other thermal sources, such as fossil fuels and nuclear fuel. Because of this different way, no emissions are produced. For example, fossil fuels, such as coal, are burned to give their thermal energy which is then changed into electrical energy. One of the main byproducts of this is carbon dioxide and other very harmful greenhouse gases. These emissions are dangerous for the human beings and are direct cause to environmental pollution and global warming. However, the process used in solar cells converts solar energy directly into electrical energy, and there are no emissions as a result. Government should push and encourage regular people and companies to use more solar cells to reduce waste and pollution produced from other fossil fuels. Another reason that makes solar energy better than fossil and nuclear fuels is the fact that it is a renewable source. Solar is and will be available as long as our planet exists. The sun is basically a free source of energy that is available and waits for us to use. This renewable nature of solar energy is important because the need for energy increases everyday in our world. Other sources, such as fossil fuels, are not renewable. When these fuels are used, they are gone and cannot renew themselves. Fossil fuels are not just dangerous because of pollution, the reserves and deposits of these fuels are decreasing daily as the energy demand increases. These fuels will not be available forever. However, fossil fuels still account for more than 80% of the world energy use (Mekhilef, Saidur, Safari 2). While the world oil reserves were only 1.6 X 1014 l a day in 2001, the world consumption of oil was 1.2 X 1010 l a day, leaving very little for saving. Similar is the case for world reserves of coal and gas. The current demand for fossil fuels is straining the world reserves and the gross production of these fuels is also suffering. This is dangerous and not good for the future. Therefore, new energy sources like solar should be used. Solar energy is also a lot and available through the year. During days when the sky is clear and the sun is directly overhead, the radiation on plain surface is around 1,000 Wm–2 (Dresselhaus & Thomas 334). Therefore, there is abundant resource for generating electrical energy. In the United States, for instance, the total solar energy falling over the country is around 4.67 X 104 quads per year (where a quad is 2.9 X 1011 kWh or 1.05 X 1018 J), which is about 98.6 quads more than the annual consumption of the country (Dresselhaus & Thomas 334). The abundant solar energy could be utilized through solar photovoltaic cells and solar thermal systems. These systems have been used for reliable electricity production in space missions for many years. The abundant sunlight can be used not only for lighting, heating, or electricity but also to produce steam to run turbines (Dresselhaus & Thomas 334). Fortunately, in the United States and other countries, it is seen that in summer or in hot areas, when the demand for electricity is the highest, solar energy is also at its peak (Dresselhaus & Thomas 334). Thus, the abundant solar energy can be made use of when the demand for electricity is high. Other renewable sources of energy are good but are not available all the time. Fossil fuels are not a lot and are only available in small areas of the world. Solar is good because it is there for us all the time. Even when the need is not very high, solar cells can produce power to be stored and used when needed. Some people may say that solar energy is not available all the time because it cannot be used during the night. However, new technologies have been developed to make solar cells work at night using nanotechnology methods (LePoire 5). Use of solar energy should be encouraged and promoted because of its renewable nature and availability through the year. Efficiency and low cost of construction and operation is another reason to promote the use of solar power. Unlike energy from fossil fuels solar energy is efficient. Producing energy using the old energy sources is a long process in which a big part of the energy is lost. The old energy production systems are made of many parts. Thermal energy is changed into mechanical energy, which becomes electricity. During this long change process, energy which can be used is lost. However, solar energy is different. There is no loss of energy, and solar cells do not need a long process to produce energy. Sun light is directly changed into electricity and can be stored if not used directly. When using regular energy production ways, energy is lost, but with solar energy there is no loss at all. Extra energy can be also stored. Further, the energy that is left over after producing electricity can be used for heating water or air (Mekhilef, Saidur, Safari, 1779). This makes the solar cells a better choice. Another benefit of solar cells is their portability. Solar panels can be of great use in areas that are off the grid or do not have any electricity supply available. They can be transported from one place to another as per the location where they are required. For instance, solar cells can be used in running portable farm equipment in large farm areas where there is no electricity supply. Handheld devices and electronics such as laptops, televisions, calculators and small electric vehicles that depend on the electricity grid, generators or batteries can be run using solar energy (“Why are solar panels necessary”). The low cost of solar power production and operation also makes very desirable. While the old energy production ways are expensive and the price of energy is increasing all the time, the cost of solar energy is low. The old energy systems have a lot of mechanical parts that break all the time and need a lot of repair, which is very expensive. Solar cells need little repair, and when needed repair costs are much lower. Further, the most important part of solar cells is silicon and its manufacturing consists of cutting crystalline silicon into thin disks. The cost of making solar cells was higher in the past, however, it is much cheaper now. As the need for energy increases governments have to do research and put money in making solar cells better. An example for research in solar energy is the discoveries in the field of solar energy by one of MIT’s research teams, which was the reason to start a company partially funded by the U.S. government. The company funds new technologies in the energy field (LePoire 3). This will make solar cells more available and work better. Governments are also making different new ways to encourage using solar energy. To get this goal many countries around the world have made different steps to make businesses and companies interested in using and spending in solar energy. They are starting to give tax credits and grants. This means that solar energy is now becoming cheaper, and it is even better to use it. In the United States, the use of solar energy started as early as 1979 when President Carter put solar cells to heat up the water in the White House (Laird 1). There are many ways that governments can make solar energy a good choice. Governments should spend more to make solar cells more efficient and encourage people to use it. According to market analysis carried out by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), in 2011, the price of solar panels reduced by 50%, and their current price is now just a quarter of what it is used to be in 2008 (Marshall). They are increasingly becoming cost efficient and affordable, especially for those from developing countries. In-house analysts at Suntech, which is the largest manufacturer of silicon panels in the world, predict that solar electricity will become as economical as grid electricity by 2015 in almost half of all countries (Marshall). The Energy Saving Trust estimates that thermal heating using solar panels can substantiate for 50-65% of the need for hot water by a family of four (“How much money can you save with solar panels?”). It also asserts that by installing solar photovoltaic systems, families can save about ?200 on their annual electricity bills. Moreover, it also estimates that by using solar thermal energy for heating, a single family can save about ?50-?85 on annual electricity costs. More and more people should install solar panels because using them on a large scale leads to a further reduction in their costs. Solar energy can not only be cheap and reduce electricity bills but could also help generate income. For instance, the governments in UK and several other countries have introduced feed-in Tariff (FIT) systems through which they offer cash back to those who generate renewable energy at their homes (“How much money can you save with solar panels?”). Depending on the size of the solar panels, a generation tariff is paid per kWh of energy generated by the panels, and the money is paid irrespective of whether the energy produced is used by the family or exported. Furthermore, under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which is a scheme similar to the FIT, businesses, industries and buildings in the public sector are paid by the government for the renewable energy generated by them. Solar thermal panels will also become eligible for this incentive by 2013. According to estimates by the EST, while solar photovoltaic cells would initially cost ?6,250 and solar thermal systems would initially cost ?4,800, they would help in annual CO2 savings of 1,200 kg and 250-580 kg respectively, and would save ?555 - 1,190 in annual costs and around ?700 cash back and grants per year, apart from ensuring almost ?50 - ?85 savings on electricity bills annually (“How much money can you save with solar panels?”). Another reason why people should use solar cells is because it enables them to stay off the grid. While most use grid electricity, those using solar panels or other renewable sources to produce enough electricity can stay off the mainstream electricity grid and save on bills. Moreover, in developing countries where power cuts are often, those using solar panels and other renewable energy sources can escape such inconveniences. In fact, they can even sell the excess electricity they produce through renewable sources or choose to incorporate that electricity in the grid, thereby enabling them to give rather than take from the areas electricity grid. Some people claim that solar power is not efficient and cannot satisfy the increasing energy need of rich countries because it cannot be produced during the night. Further, some also say that it is new and not tested technology. However, many studies have shown that solar plants are more efficient than the fossil fuel energy plants. Moreover, as mentioned previously, new technologies have been developed to make work during the night. Extra energy during the day can also be stored and used during the night. Solar cell technology is new, but it has been tested and installed in many areas around the world. It has proven to be efficient, cost effective, and clean. Therefore, governments should encourage its use to solve the energy and pollution problems around the world. To conclude, it is clear that solar energy is a clean form of energy. Although the world is still depending on energy from fossil fuels and coal, this energy production way is becoming more and more inefficient and harmful. This is not good for our world and is wasting a lot of money. The problems of global warming and pollution are related to our use of coal and fossil fuels. Bad emissions and greenhouse gases are going into the air harming us and animals. However, solar energy does not have any harm. It uses a renewable source of energy which is the sun. Sun light is changed into electricity or heating for homes and businesses. In addition, this energy can be stored to be used later, which cannot be done with the other energy sources. There are also no waste or bad gases which will help to solve the pollution problems. Solar energy is also more efficient than the old energy production methods. The way that energy is produced from coal and fossil fuels wastes a lot of energy. There are three steps needed to produce energy from fossil fuels, but with solar energy sun light is directly changed into electricity. The energy that is produced to make electricity can be stored or used for heating. Solar energy is also more cost effective than fossil fuel energy. Solar cells are made of silicon, which is cheap. Further, governments are helping individuals and companies to use solar energy by giving them financial motivations like tax reductions and grants. However, solar panels do have certain disadvantages, the most important one of which is their high upfront costs. Solar panels come at a relatively high price and since many years, their demand has been exceeding their supply (“Why are solar panels necessary”). Moreover, solar panels require more area per kW for the power generating facility as compared to power plants using fossil fuels or nuclear power (“Why are solar panels necessary”). Sometimes damages to outdoor solar panels can be incurred due to natural disasters or unfavorable weather conditions. Furthermore, conversion efficiency of solar cells in converting sunlight into electricity is not high enough (Dresselhaus & Thomas 334). In addition, the amount of sunlight varies with the weather, seasons as well as the time of day, sometimes making the electricity production unreliable. However, keeping the cost and harm of other sources of energy generation such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy in mind, solar energy seems more favorable. Solar energy will make the future of the planet better and should be the choice to solve the energy problems around the world. It is a safe and smart choice for us, next generations, and our planet. Works Cited “How much money can you save with solar panels?” Servicemagic.co.uk. 23 July 2012. Web. . “Why are solar panels necessary.” Solarpanelinfo.com. 23 July 2012. Web. . Dresselhaus, M. “Alternative energy technologies.” Nature 15 Nov 2001:332-337. Web. 23 July 2012. Marshall, Michael. “India's panel price crash could spark solar revolution.” NewScientist 2 Feb 2012. Web. 23 July 2012. Read More