Development of Cheaper & Efficient Solar Panels
Description
Solar power is the generation of electricity from sunlight. The biggest advantage of this method of power generation is that it is clean. Additionally sunlight is considered to be an abundant and sustainable natural resource. This can be done directly using photo-voltaics (PV), or indirectly by concentrating solar power (CSP), where the sun's energy is focused to boil water which is then used to provide power. Solar power provided 0.02% of the total world energy consumption in 2008.
Terrestrial solar power is a predictably intermittent energy source, meaning that although solar power is not available at all times, it is possible to accurately predict when it will and will not be available. Orbital solar power collection (as in solar power satellites) avoids this intermittent issue, but requires satellite launching and beaming of the collected power to receiving antennas on Earth. The increased intensity of sunlight above the atmosphere also increases generation efficiency.
Enablers:
1. R&D in solar panel
2. Acceptance of carbon emission reduction legislation
3. Cost reduction of solar panels
4. Efficiency growth of solar panels
5. Public interest in going green
6. Adoption of smart grid
7. Green financing
Inhibitors:
1. Development of nuclear power
2. Dependency on sun
3. Requirement of large land usage for a comparatively lesser power yield
Paradigms:
A growth in the usage of solar energy could change the outlook on the climate change negotiations. Power hungry developing nations like India and China have a considerable supply of sunlight all along the year. Therefore, radical shifts in solar technology could make it highly attractive as a cheap and easy energy source for these nations.
Experts:
1. 2.
Timing:
The timing started after 9/11/2001. Security regulation has been rolled out since and is forcing all fields of international transportation to commit to complex
Web Resources
1. http://solarpanelspower.net/solar-power/future-of-solar-power
2. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/05/12/solar.energy.iea.report/index.html
3. http://www.green-planet-solar-energy.com/
4. http://www.alternate-energy-sources.com/facts-about-solar-energy.html
5. http://news.cnet.com/Cutting-solar-panels-high-price-tag/2100-11392_3-6209791.html
6. http://www.timeslive.co.za/business/article567242.ece/Bright-future-for-solar-power
7. http://future-solarpanel.com/