Solar energy

Solar energy

Introduction

The phenomenon of solar energy change is rapidly reaching the surface of earth and it symbolizes a small number of thousand times the existing utilization of most important energy source by humans. The prospective of this innovative alternative resource is immense and that has made the solar energy an essential constituent of a new energy portfolio that was primarily designed for reducing the current percentage of greenhouse discharge in the atmosphere (Bomford, 2009 pp.1329-1349).

Despite of its immense importance, the prevailing use of this alternative source is not more than one percent of overall electricity that is being produced with the help of existing sources. In spite of the fact that the exploitation of photovoltaic system is frequently increasing the alternative solar energy technologies would have to go face numerous hurdles, and severe competition from fossil market. However, if analyzed from scientific and technical perspective the formulation of innovative technologies with elevated adaptation, effectiveness, and minor production cost is viewed as the major obligation for making possible the large-scale deployment of solar energy (Henkel, 2005, pp.39-48).

Discussion

Potential of Solar Energy

The worldwide prospective of solar energy range from 2.5 to 80TW, however, according to the latest assumption it has been observed that approximately around eighteen percent of entire existing principal usage of energy is (13.7TW [1]), and goes beyond ten percent of the predictable principal demand of overall energy by the year 2030. Meanwhile, postulation that is more positive provides clear explanation that there is strong possibility that solar energy would easily exceed the overall prevailing energy consumption of the globe (Kegelmann, 2010, pp.2-5).

Moreover, in spite of the comparatively low power solidity of solar flux, solar energy is considered to have the latent of meeting our prevailing energy requirement with ease and affection. For example, in Unites states of America the overall need of electricity during the period of 2010 is 700GW that can easily be fulfilled by installing photovoltaic devices across 180km square land (Dincer, 2011, pp.713-720). Moreover, according to () this are required for the installment of photovoltaic is only 0.35 percent of the area that is covered by roads across the country (Solar Energy Industries Association).

There is no denying the fact the solar energy has enormous potential of reducing the energy crises in most of the under-develop countries, and in reducing the emission of CO2 gas in the atmosphere, but because of certain internal and external circumstances countries are not being able to properly utilize the effectiveness of this alternative source. However, developing countries developing countries like America, England, and China are slowly increasing the percentage of investment in solar energy projects but the accomplishment of 2030 objectives is looking a bit gloomy and impossible (The NEED Project, pp.22-23).

Cost of electricity

The prevailing elevated investment cost of PV technologies in comparison with fossil fuels is considered as a most important obstacle for the massive installation of alternative energy source. According to IEA, the current cost of electricity if produced through solar energy ranges from ...