◊ This is the first part of the ‘solar energy’ series of articles ◊
Canada Honda II Solar Plant, San Juan, Argentina – fixed ground mounted 28 degree inclination.
It may be presumptuous to begin this series of articles with ‘The Solar Solution’ when some may not understand the nature of the problem which requires a solution. To identify the problem, we can start by looking at where the world gets its energy from. According to a 2018 EIA report,the world gets 79% of it’s energy from fossil fuels – a non-renewable source.
The solar solution provides a form of renewable generation to the electrical grid. It is being utilized in one form or another on every continent on the globe. What sets it apart from other renewable generation is its scalability. The technology has been used in miniature electronics, homes, farms, remote communities, satellites and massive solar farms. It will play a significant role in future human missions to the Moon and Mars.
Harvesting solar energy can be achieved by different mechanisms which can be broadly categorized as thermal and photovoltaic (PV). Thermal implementations date back centuries and remain popular for common uses like water heating and industrial/agricultural drying. Solar thermal-electric installations use concentrated solar radiation to convert water into steam to drive turbines. PV implementations include everything from miniature electronics to microgrids.
Solar energy production has some aspects in common with wind which I have covered in my article series ’Wind Energy’ here. Rather than repeat topics I will provide links where appropriate.
Solar, much like other renewable forms of energy is intermittent. It is not a singular energy solution for most places in the world, however it is part of a diversification strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. When combined with energy storage solutions, solar becomes a legitimate alternative to fossil fuel for electricity supply. Solar PV can be implemented in both urban and rural settings.
I will repeat that solar energy is not a complete solution for the world’s energy problems. Our electricity grid has evolved around the use of rotating machines to produce energy with alternating current (ac). Solar PV is at a disadvantage since it generates direct current (dc) and relies on power electronics to create ac for the grid. Solar PV is intermittent and must rely on another form of energy to meet the demands of our society. It requires a significant amount of space for the energy produced, however it is well suited to urban environments through the use of existing rooftops.
In this series of short articles I’ll explore these aspects of solar energy, focusing mostly on photovoltaic (PV) for those interested in learning more about this technology. Also included is information on some large-scale thermal-electric implementations for the sake of completeness. I’ve pulled together demographic and economic data from international sources to provide global insight. Every jurisdiction across the globe treats solar energy development differently. Processes, regulations and subsidies are region-specific. I will do a deeper dive into Ontario’s situation as I’ve done for the wind energy market in my other articles.
Is solar generation beneficial?
Much like other forms of renewable generation there are differing views on the benefits of solar energy. The most obvious benefit of solar energy is that it is renewable. As long as the sun shines we have the opportunity to use it to generate electricity. Our climate will benefit from solar energy as it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 times compared to coal and 10 times compared to natural gas. If you are conscious of the carbon footprint of energy generation and sustainability then the benefits of solar are significant. Solar is also important for off-grid applications and space exploration.
After 10 years of exponential growth, the cost of large-scale solar generation has dropped by as much as 80%. Fossil fuels have historically been cheaper than solar and have certain performance advantages. That isn’t entirely the case anymore.
Lobbying plays a crucial role in public perception of renewable energy. The fossil fuel industry is arguably one of the most powerful on the planet and views renewable energy as a threat to revenue. Economies that are based on the fossil fuel industry have been reluctant to embrace alternative technologies. Keep that in mind when reading up on solar energy. Proponents of carbon emission reduction will have a much more supportive view of using solar energy than the fossil fuel industry.
As with most issues, our society is divided on the energy debate.
If you aren’t part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.
Derek
Next article… A brief history of solar energy
