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May 8, 2024
Solar Energy has always been considered as one of the most abundantly available natural sources of energy. Since centuries, people have been using sunlight on various scales for various purposes.
As the pace of life increased, so did the demand and preference for non-renewable sources of energy. However, due to the rapid increase in global warming, countries all over the globe have now decided to focus on the development and harnessing of Solar Energy as a primary source of energy.
Since solar energy is a virtually inexhaustible source of energy, humanity can harness and use it globally. In this article, we shed light on the important role that solar energy has to play in the years to come.
“There is no shortage of solar energy and wind energy. We can build a clean energy future at modest cost if we want to.”
– Andrew Blaker, Director, Australian National University Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems
The above statement emphasizes the importance of solar energy as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, which have started becoming scarce. The global use and implementation of solar energy have seen a steady rise and it can now be said that solar energy is the fastest growing source of renewable energy, globally, as it contributes to more than 1% of the total energy produced across the globe.
The impacts and consequences of global warming are evident, more boldly now than they were a few years ago. Since exhaustible sources of energy are depleting at an alarming scale, the inexhaustible solar energy has a key role to play in the future as a primary source of energy.
“If we are serious about moving toward energy independence in a cost-effective way, we should invest in solar energy. If we are serious about cutting air and water pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we should invest in solar energy.”
– Bernie Sanders, United States Senator
Technology plays an important part in developing solutions for the efficient utilization of solar energy. Solar thermal energy, solar heating, and solar photovoltaics are the most used solar technologies today.
1. Photovoltaic (PV) cells are the most commonly used unit in solar panels and other solar gadgets. These cells convert sunlight into electricity that then powers equipment. Once installed, these cells ensure no carbon or greenhouse gas emissions and guarantee no pollution.
2. Solar panels absorb and convert the sun’s rays into electricity. These panels absorb only about 33% of the energy emitted by the sun. It means that the majority of the sun’s radiation goes to waste and remains unused. For optimum use of solar energy, it is imperative for countries to develop more sustainable solar technology.
3. In addition to PV cells, there is also a rising demand for gadgets using Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). These CSP use focused sunlight to generate power and heat on a large scale. It produces electricity or solar thermoelectricity using various types of concentrating technologies, namely parabolic trough, dish, solar power tower, and Fresnel reflectors.
Adopting Solar Energy as a primary source of energy is a global undertaking. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken a leadership position via renewable energy diplomacy and is expected to supply sustainable power to millions in developing countries, collaborating to support solar projects in these countries.
The UAE aims to achieve a sustainable infrastructure for generating power through solar energy. Launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E., The Clean Energy Strategy 2050 aims to provide Dubai’s total power output from clean energy sources as 7% by 2020, 25% by 2030, and 75% by 2050. Solar power in the UAE can potentially provide most of the country’s demand for electricity.
To take the example of an ongoing solar project, let us consider the 3.5 MWp solar rooftop project for the Warehouse Project in Jebel Ali, Dubai, undertaken by Consistent Engineering Consultants. We developed the project designs with mono PERC technology and string inverters. The design ensures that, during the day, the warehouse runs completely on solar power, with zero consumption of energy from the grid!
“While an increase in the number of facilities represents growth, consolidation of business and increasing market share also construes growth. The industry is witnessing a spurt in mergers and acquisitions.”
– Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator and Former First Lady of the United States
1. Future application of PV and CSP
The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently said that the world has an important opportunity to tap into electricity produced from renewables such as wind and solar PV. With advancing technology, PV cells of the future will be a refined version of the current commercial PV cells.
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology could potentially account for up to 25% of the global energy needs by 2050, as per a study by Greenpeace International, International Energy Agency’s SolarPACES and the European Solar Thermal Electricity Association. We can also expect advancing technology to make CSP plants more profitable.
2. Solar Batteries
Solar batteries store and provide an excess of electricity when your panel is off the grid. They save money, are disaster resilient, provide battery backup and are a clean source of energy. Solar batteries are important as a backup source of electricity and enhance the capacity of solar panels.
On the other hand, these batteries come at a high purchase price and are sometimes unreliable owing to the availability of sunlight. When sunlight is limited, these batteries prove to be ineffectual.
3. Increasing efficiency of conversion
Energy conversion can be made efficient using a more advanced model of photovoltaic cells, improving cell contrast structure and by other technical research in related processes such as fuel cells. More complex alternative methods such as photosynthesis, thermodynamics and the introduction of Organic Tandem Solar Cells will also prove vital in increasing the efficiency of conversion.
There are numerous inventions that help utilize solar energy to its full potential. Here are a few such recent inventions:
1. Artificial Leaf Solar Cell:
It captures atmospheric carbon dioxide and sunlight and converts it into usable hydrocarbon fuel.
2. Transparent Solar Cells:
These organic solar panels transmit light and absorb only ultraviolet and infrared rays and convert them to electricity.
3. Solar based Water Purification technique:
Inspired by one of Aristotle’s processes, the technique sanitizes water by absorbing and vaporizing water.
4. Floating Panels:
Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) refers to solar panels that float on bodies of water so as to produce the required amount of energy without taking much space.
There is little doubt that the next decade or two will be crucial in shaping the kind of future we will see for solar energy.
“Solar power is going to be the major source of energy for the future, powering everything from cars, factories, homes, and even entire cities,” says Sandeep Kundarapu, one of our resident Solar Engineers. “The UAE is especially blessed with more than 330 sunny days every year, which provides a great opportunity for all sectors to invest in solar technology. Considering the environmental as well as the ROI benefits of solar technology, it is inevitable that solar power will become a vital part of every aspect of our lives.”
With the current focus on the proliferation of harnessing solar power, increasing storage capacities with solar batteries, and connecting solar installations to electricity grids, this future is almost at hand. The development of innovative technology focusing on solar energy is the key to a sustainable and clean future. Hence, we must take the necessary steps to ensure we meet the high demand for solar gadgets and technologies.
Additionally, there is also a need for more awareness of the adoption of renewable energy technology in our day-to-day lives. Awareness towards living sustainably needs to be imbibed at all levels of society. Only the trifecta of growing awareness, development of technology and the consequent reduction of costs will pave the way to adopting the upcoming technology. As members of a global community, individuals, corporations, governments, and NGOs must all take up the cause of bringing balance to the planet.
So, what do you think about the future of solar energy? Are we prepared for the challenges of building a sustainable future? Let us know in the comments section below!
