Could Solar Power Really Be The Answer to Energy Problems?
Increased energy demands combined with a reduction in resources makes energy our number on future problem. The question is whether solar is a realistic answer to the energy problem.
Solar power has come a long way, but still is often associated with its roots. To be frank, there is a certain hippy feel to it. Despite the use of the platform on satellites, the space station and commercial buildings, many people still associate its use with commune homes out in the middle of nowhere. Sad, but true.
This hard to shake reputation creates a natural burden to the idea that solar power could be the answer to our energy needs in the long term. People on both sides of the argument bring so much baggage to it that the forest is lost for the trees. The truth is solar has immense potential, but the pro-solar crowd [including us] must stop speaking of it as a "save the Earth" technology. The Earth has been an ice ball and molten lava rock in the past. The issue is not whether we should save the Earth. No, the issue is whether we should save ourselves! The Earth will do just fine, thank you.
So, can solar power be the answer? Yes. Absolutely. Then why isn't it? Well, there are a number of reasons. First, there has never been a driving economic reason to make it so. Oil is very energy dense and, frankly, a wonder substance. With such cheap energy, why spend money developing an energy source for which there is scant demand? There was no good answer and thus no development.
The second reason is even more amazing. In our incredibly technology oriented world, the problem with using solar as a huge energy platform is we are not sufficiently advanced enough to do it. Solar panels currently convert roughly 8 to 15 percent of the energy that hits them in the form of sunlight. That is pathetic. Developing a system that converted 75 percent would take solar out of the realm of "possible" and make it a definitive energy source we could use now. Every structure in the country could have a small set of panels that would provide all the power needed. It would be a revolution.
Will solar power every meet its potential? Yes. Humans have an annoying, but predictable habit. We don't really get serious about anything until we are in crisis mode. Well, we are closing in on that in the world of oil. A report is going to be released in 2010 discussing the usable oil reserves in the world. The report by the IEA, an international monitoring agency, is essentially going to say the age of oil is coming to an end. It won't be sudden, but the total oil produced world wide will drop each year. This will raise prices and push the powers that be to develop alternative energy platforms. Put another way, we will have a crisis and that is when we will see major research being done into solar power.
Only then will it reach its potential.
