The Use of Solar Energy - Research Paper Example

? Solar Energy as a Means to Conserve Resources Globally Introduction It has been estimated that the rays from our sun provide enough energy in one hour to satisfy the global energy needs around us for one year (Solangi et. al 2011, 2149). This is amazing information to consider. This has wide ranging implications on energy conservation, in addition to providing hope to reverse decades of needless pollution taking place around the world. The reality is, however, that solar power is still rarely used when compared to other energy sources and has proved difficult to implement on massive scales in many communities. For years, photovoltaic cells, otherwise known as solar panels, have been used in such various items as spaceships and on the roofs of houses (Lovich and Ennan 2011, 982). Countless billions of batteries, for example, have gone unneeded as a result of solar technology being used in many calculators. Quite simply, solar energy harnesses the power of the sun. When the rays from the sun hit the photovoltaic cells, there is a near instant reaction that free electrons from their atoms, and this action results in electricity being generated (Gratzel 2007, 998). This means that there is no need for any other type of energy source when solar energy is put into place properly. In recent years, solar thermal power plants have begun to be built. This provides energy on a massive scale, using the heat from the sun to boil water. This is then used to create a steam turbine effect that can supply electricity for thousands of people in the vicinity, similar to what coal and nuclear power plants do, but without the pollution and other harmful effects caused to the environment (Grazel 2007, 999). As one can already determine, solar energy has numerous uses and is referred to as an inexhaustible fuel source. While we cannot be sure when other forms of energy will be depleted, we know that as long as the earth is in existence, we will have the sun to provide us with energy. As such, it is important to continue to develop ways to utilize solar energy on an even more massive scale in order to conserve the precious resources now being used up way too quickly. This paper will take a look at some of the various ways that solar energy can accomplish just that in the coming years. Analysis Fossil fuels have a negative impact on the environment, and countries around the world are now implementing policies that require the implementation of alternative energy sources that are friendlier to the environment (Solang et. al. 2011, 2149). This is primarily due to the increased demand for energy globally. Government leaders and concerned citizens realize that they can no longer supplement this hunger for energy with fossil fuels. Out of this has arisen a renewed interest in solar energy. Solang, et al, (2011) notes that, “Solar energy is one of the best renewable energy sources with the least negative impact on the environment” (2150). The authors note that globally countries are not developing solar energy policies that are aimed at conserving resources and further reducing our dependence on fossil fuel as a primary means of energy production. In recent years, solar energy capacity has increased an average of just under 50% per year globally (Solang, et al, 2011, 2152). This is the result of many successful incentive programs implemented by various countries. These policies are encouraging countries and private citizens to develop and utilize renewable energy technologies, of which solar energy in a primary player. Through the encouragement of developing further uses for solar energy, many interesting techniques and innovations have been discovered. Among these is the process of desalination, which is proving more successful than ever envisioned and could prove to be a great way to conserve even more natural resources moving forward. Globally, the demand for potable water is increasingly exponentially. This is particularly true in less developed areas of the world and in place where freshwater supplies are limited or nonexistent (Gude & Nagamany 2010, 2245). In order to produce and supply the amount of potable water that is needed in the world today, significant amounts of energy must be used, and currently this energy is coming to us mostly in the form of fossil fuels. The ironic thing about this process is that using fossil fuel requires water to drive the potable water supply, which means that the energy source is not sustainable (Gude & Nagamany, 2010, 2246). In a move to create a sustainable energy source that is more than capable of providing the potable water needed today, solar energy is increasingly being relied upon as option that does not depend on a power grid or other fossil fuels. Gude and Nirmalakhandan (2010) explain that using solar energy, “Exploits natural gravity and barometric pressure head to maintain near vacuum condition in an evaporation chamber” (2246). Because of this vacuum, the process of desalination can actually occur at a relatively low heat, which is perfect for solar energy to provide. Results of early studies are proving to be extremely promising and it has been determined that only 2930 kj of energy needs to be created by freshwater in order to work, and this is easily accomplished through the use of solar energy. This makes it not only a clean and environmentally friendly process, but a sustainable one as well. This energy source is not only of great use in the developing world. The United States, for example, is expected to see a population increase of nearly 70 million people in the next 17 years. This means that the demand for water based on private consumption and its agricultural need alone will not be able to keep pace with the current supply. It is critically important that desalination techniques, using solar energy, be quickly developed and implemented in order to not only meet the demand, but also be able to sustain it moving into the future (Gude & Nirmalakhandan 2010, 2247). Many countries around the world have sizeable areas of land that are not currently heavily populated. These areas are ripe for solar energy development, as is occurring in parts of the Southwestern United States. As mentioned, “Large areas of public land are currently being permitted or evaluated for utility-scale solar energy development, including areas with high biodiversity and protected species” (Lovich & Ennen 2011, 982). In our desire to conserve previous resources and to find more sustainable sources of energy, we must not reverse direction and do further harm to the environment. It is a delicate balancing act that governments globally now have to deal with. There is concern that the building of solar energy facilities on a massive scale might actually harm nature by affecting the mortality of wildlife. Solar energy plants require a lot of land in order to provide the energy required to power thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of homes in the future. In the end, the building of these plants is not entirely clean. While must more environmentally friendly in the long run, the construction of the facilities to pollute the environment to some extent and provides the destruction of natural habitats that wildlife depend upon. Roads must be built, there is increased noises that can both and upset the bio diverse world around us, and land must be cleared to make way for the power plants. The cumulative effect of all of this is currently unknown, but scholars are asking for a cautious approach moving forward (Lovich & Enna, 2011, 984). In the end, however, we have already discussed the fact that the sun provides a never-ending supply of energy that is there for the taking. It is noted that the sun alone can provide more than 100,000 terawatts of energy to the earth. This alone is more than 10,000 times more then the world is currently consuming in terms of energy (Gratzel 2007, 993). This tells us that the potential is truly limitless. Solar cells are now increasingly being used to provide sustainable energy globally, and it should only continue if governments are truly serious about providing cleaner energy alternatives that will reverse the tide of high pollution that we are experiencing globally. Even with the explosive population growth the world has been experiencing in the past century, these statistics that the sun alone can more than provide enough energy for everyone on the planet, and then some. The key is to figure how to cost effectively and logistically to make this happen. Part of the problem with solar panel cells has always been cost. They are simply too expensive, as currently manufactured, to compete with fossil fuels as a realistic power supply on a massive scale. Research has been focused, then, on developing cheaper ways of using the sun to work for us. Scientists are making breakthroughs in developing new panel cells that provide even more energy from the sun at a fraction of the cost. If these can continue to be developed and governments are able to use them as a viable economic alternative to fossil fuels, we should see the use of solar energy as a means to conserve resources skyrocket in the coming decades (Gratzel 2007, 995-996) Even biological solar energy research is seeing a resurgence. As Barber (2007) notes, “Through the process of photosynthesis, the energy of sunlight has been harnessed, not only to create the biomass on our planet today, but also the fossil fuels” (1007). While the process of photosynthesis alone cannot provide enough energy to completely eliminate fossil fuels from the equation, it is a beginning. The process itself is leading researchers to understand the chemical reaction that occurs when water splits. This leads to the production, in a sense, of molecular oxygen. This has enabled scientists to look at solar energy from an entirely new perspective. While photosynthesis has been understood for centuries, we are just now coming to understand the sun’s true power. Fossil fuels are not sustainable. The reason they have lasted this long is because of the sun’s power. With increased global demands due to technology and population growth, however, fossil fuels are quickly becoming more of a detriment to civilization, as we know it. Researchers such as Barber are studying different ways to utilize solar energy in such a way that makes use of the process of photosynthesis, thereby slowing down the rate at which we are consuming valuable fossil fuels that were created by nature in the first place. This will provide us with a much more stable, cleaner, and sustainable way to provide the world’s energy needs moving forward (Barber 2007, 1020). Summary There are many ways to use the sun to our advantage from an energy perspective. Individuals can incorporate solar energy into the construction of their home, thereby minimizing, or eliminating the need for fossil fuels altogether. Regional communities can incorporate solar and water energy into powering energy plants that begin to gradually provide the energy supply for the majority of homes and businesses in the area. In the end, governments can implement programs that encourage the use of solar energy technology and provide money and grants to researchers to conduct further research in an effort to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. All of these are great ideas moving forward, but not much will happen until people truly see the benefits of solar energy and the harmful effects of remaining completely dependent on fossil fuels as our primary energy source. Moving forward, scientists need to work on better ways to store solar energy so that the power grids remain charged at night and during periods of limited sunshine. There are drawbacks to be sure, but the cost of doing nothing with be hard to bear. There is a continual increase year over year in the number of people using solar energy globally, and hopefully this trend continues as we strive as a planet to conserve resources and provide a cleaner planet for all to enjoy. Bibliography Barber, J. 2007. “Biological Solar Energy.” Philosophical Transactions 365.1853: 1007-1023. Gratzel, M. 2007. “Photovoltaic and Photoelectrochemical Conversion of Solar Engery.” Philosophical Transactions 365.1853: 993-1005. Gude, V., & Nirmalakhandan, N. 2010. “Sustainable Desalination Using Solar Energy.” Energy Coversion and Management, 51.11: 2245-2251. Lovich, J., & Ennen, J. 2011. “Wildlife Conservation and Solar Engery Development in the Desert Southwest, United States.” Bioscience 61.12: 982. Solangi, K., Islam, M., Saidur, R., Rahim, N., & Fayaz, H. 2011. A Review on Global Solar Energy Policy.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15.4: 2149-2163. 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