Solar Energy Infrastructure Compensation - Assignment Example

A SOLAR GRAND PLAN Question 1 Solar PV energy is the derived from the conversion of sunlight into electricity. The solar photons are converted to electricity in the form of voltage. In Iowa, the application and use of solar energy can be promoted through the creation of awareness on the benefits of using solar as a source of energy; these benefits being economical and also conserve the environment. By increasing the cost of using the fuel consuming forms of energy, the people of Iowa will be discouraged from using the same and shift to the use of solar energy. Solar energy has both advantages and disadvantages. Among the benefits associated with the usage of solar energy is its renewable nature provided the sun is shining. Solar energy requires minimal maintenance after it has been set up. Solar energy is self-paying as far as taxes are paid by the users who use the power for either domestic or economic purpose. However solar energy has disadvantages; the energy can only be tapped during the day, the initial set up is expensive due to the high cost of the materials involved. Solar energy exploitation is also space consuming (Brantley, 1). Question 2 A simple solar photovoltaic operates by the principle of conversion of solar energy into electric energy. Light upon entering in a photovoltaic cell imparts sufficient energy to some electrons and frees them; a voltage is created from the actions of the potential inbuilt block on the electrons which are in turn drives currents through a circuit. Question 3 Solar power is applicable in day to day life in several ways; it is used in laundry to dry clothes, it is used in the farm for drying of farm produce as a post-harvest process. Solar energy is also used for heating water for domestic uses. Question 4 The United States would be a leader in solar power through encouraging its use among its citizens and also facilitating the utilization of the same. Solar companies in the United States are investing many finances in facilitating the exploitation of solar energy in the fifty states since 2006. The cost of using solar energy keep on reducing with a rate of 60%, and more than 2 million households have solar systems installed in them(American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), 18). Question 5 President Carter solar energy plan that seeks to deal with energy crisis is the creation of a comprehensive program that seeks to have more than two million homes installed with electricity (Milton, 1). The president’s dream and plan can be achieved by facilitating the reliance on solar power and its availability. Today, more than 2 million homes have been provided with ready for use solar energy in the United States Question 6 As discussed in the article a grand solar plan, the three among the five payoffs identified is a reduction in the dependence on foreign oil sources from the current rate of 60% to zero percent, reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and increase the employment rate of the citizens (Zweibel, 69). Question 7 The authors of the article a solar grand plan have made assertions about creating a scenario for 2100; the authors have ascertained that the renewable energy available in the twenty-second century will be entirely sufficient for the United States electricity demands and provide approximately 90% of the total energy requirements of the nation. The carbon emissions will be reduced by more than 90% when compared to the emission level in the year 2005. The transportation demand for fuel will be catered for solar energy through provision of enough hydrogen (Zweibel, 72). Question 8 A tax imposed on carbon emission is seen to be beneficial in the sense that it will help in repaying the funds used in the construction of the infrastructure for solar energy tapping. Carbon capturing and storage will be made possible through induction of electric generators to assist on the same; this will prevent the emission of carbon (Zweibel, 73). Question 9 The United States solar power resources can be thought to be sufficient; the state of the nation’s reliance on solar energy is high with more than five million homes served with solar energy. The solar electric systems installation materials prices are seen to drop by half; this is making solar energy competitive economically, the nation can, therefore, rely on solar power (Gallucci, 1). Question 10 Solar power generation, when compared to coal-fired power generation, has got environmental savings. Solar power is environmentally friendly and does not produce emissions when compared to coal; for coal to produce power, it must be burnt and in the process, carbon is emitted, this becomes harmful to the environment. Question 11 The grand plan of solar energy infrastructure compensation is feasible because some funds added to the average power charge are seen to be reasonable ((Zweibel, 73).). The cost of power according to the article is already low and any addition to it provided it is not high makes sense to the citizens. Work cited American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE). “The Ou TlOO k f Or renewable energy in an America.” 2014, acore.org/files/pdfs/ACORE_Outlook_for_RE_2014.pdf. Brantley, J. “Pros and cons of solar energy.” 2013, cjh26.weebly.com/uploads/8/8/2/5/8825315/solar_house_articles.pdf. Gallucci, Maria. “Can the U.S. run only on wind, water, and solar power? Scientists disagree.” Mashable, Mashable, 21 June 2017, mashable.com/2017/06/21/clean-energy-future-scientists-disagree-renewables/#hkIMvEy54kqw. R., Milton. “Carter's Energy Program.” The Heritage Foundation, www.heritage.org/environment/report/carters-energy-program. Zweibel, Ken, et al. “Solar Grand Plan.” 2007. Essay The current farm price support program is aimed at providing subsidies to the United States citizens who use solar energy. The solar energy requires an expensive procedure for installation of the infrastructure for it to be made available for use. The subsidy allocated to the citizens by the government is more than the annual cost of use of the solar energy; this makes it possible for the cost of infrastructure to be repayable during the period allocated for the same. The government support to the farm price is seen to be higher than the cost of infrastructure due to the subsidy being higher than the cost and the tax for a year (Zweibel, 73). The exploitation of solar energy as the source of power for the Americans is thought to be hindered by lack of knowledge about solar energy by the people. For instance, people may think that solar energy is unreliable because it sunlight is only available during the day (“Barriers to Renewable Energy Technologies.”). Lack of knowledge on solar technologies may cause the planners fail to use photovoltaic for the new buildings; this is in order to avoid any harm that may be brought about by improper installation and operation of solar powered appliances. Reduced maintenance activities on solar energy facilities and infrastrucure coupled withs inappropriate use of solar energy has also been reported due to lack of knowledge about solar energy. In san Francisco for instance, public awareness was conducted through the installation of solar systems in public buildings for people to see, witness and learn about the potential alternative to nonrenewable energy sources (U.S department of energy, 3). These activities seek to increase the intrest to use solar energy by people. Work cited “Barriers to Renewable Energy Technologies.” Union of Concerned Scientists, www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/smart-energy-solutions/increase-renewables/barriers-to-renewable-energy.html#.WeKXRTexXIU. U.S Department of energy. “Solar in action.” Challenges and Successes on the Path toward a Solar-Powered Community, 2011, www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/50203.pdf. Zweibel, Ken, et al. “Solar Grand Plan.” 2007. Read More