News about Solar, Wind and alternative green power technologies

An analysis of the ‘Report of the Basic Energy Sciences Workshop on Solar Energy’ says that as much as 600 TW of energy can be harnessed from alternative sources of energy. Technology, research and incentives are the only hindrances.

The Sun – The Big Solution –

Solar energy is one great answer to all our energy needs. It can outweigh the total energy that can be generated by fossil, nuclear, wind and other sources of energy. The amount of sunlight delivered to earth during a single hour represents more than what is used for a whole year. It is also a clean source of energy without major opposition from geo-politics.

The use of solar energy is insignificant in comparison to its abundance. High investment followed with enormous pay-off is required for interdisciplinary research to take-off in biology, nano-science, physics, materials and chemistry.

According to EIA Intl Energy Outlook 2004, the total world demand of energy is around 15 TW and this is expected to increase to around 25 to 30 TW by year 2030. Up to the 2100, it is predicted that 40-50 TW of energy will be demanded. Yet, fossil accounts for around 80 percent of world supply of energy, and there we can find source such as coal, gas and oil.

Nuclear and renewable sources of energy are relatively delivering substantially less yet investment project in renewable projects are seeing a shift. The full potential of energy supply by alternative sources of energy are:

1. Solar Energy – 600 TW
2. Geothermal – 12 TW
3. Tide/Ocean Wave – 2 TW
4. Wind – 2 to 4 TW
5. Biomass 5 to 7 TW
6. Hydroelectricity – 4 to7 TW

Solar Energy Solutions
1. Solar Electric

Although solar installation is experiencing a tremendous growth of around 40 percent its significance is dismal. It supplies less than 0.01 percent of total world demand of energy. It is relatively ineffective due to its high cost and inability to store energy generated from photovoltaic.

Solutions

The most dynamic solution is to find alternative materials that are cheaper and having better molecular structures. Yet, depriving materials used will lower the density capacity of solar cells making them less efficient unless remarkable advancement is made in the absorption capacity of nano-structures.

2. Solar Fuels

Solar fuel is the focus on making the production of natural fuels such as ethanol more effective. Improving the photosynthesis can increase the production of ethanol. This will require genetic modification of sugar canes and other natural plants used to produce natural fuels. Having special catalysts to increase biomass production can have a significant impact on green energy production

Solar water splitting is another method whereby electrons are generated through an interaction of atoms such as O and H2. Laboratory research has proven it as being effective sources of energy by using technology of nano-structure.

3. Solar Thermal

Generating energy from the sun uses various approaches such as through mechanical motion, process heat or space heat. Solar energy can produce current from steam turbines, which is a cost-competitive source of energy. The challenges that stay ahead are to find more alternatives as well as to engineer structures that can store energy for future use.

Why Solar is still in an Infant Phase

There are immense potential for solar energy as much as 125,000 TW but 600 TW can be considered feasible. It is still a very young science that took-birth after recent energy crises such as in 1970s and supplemented with the recent rise in, 2008, with oil price peaking $140 a barrel. On the other hand, fossil energy is relatively much older. It has been used for more than 250 years having its birth in around 1750s.

Viewing the future perspective of solar energy in relation to the ancient fossil source, solar electric, solar fuels and solar thermal have the potential to expand infinitely. However, there is a lack of effort to assure inter-disciplinary research in sciences and technology fields.

Reference:
1. George Crabtree, Argonne Arthur Nozik, NREL Mike Wasielewski, NU Paul Alivisatos, UC-Berkeley,(2005)., Nathan S. Lewis Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA 91125 with
2. Report of the Basic Energy Sciences Workshop on Solar Energy’
3. The International Energy Outlook 2009