Solar power

Solar power

1. What is it?

   • Solar energy is converting the suns energy into useable power and electricity. Solar panels are also known as photovoltaic cells. Solar panels are made of “semiconductor materials” which are commonly found in computer chips. “Semiconductor materials” are materials that can be altered with an impure substance but still obtain their magnetic properties in a compatible way.
   • In other words, when the sun hits the cell, the electrons get knocked loose, they then travel through the cell creating electricity.
   • The earth's surface obtains 120,000 terawatts of sunlight → 20,000 times more power than necessary to supply the entire world .

2. Environmental Implications

   • Pro's
     • Solar power is renewable energy which creates minimal pollution. The pollution is created when manufacturing, transporting and setting up of a solar power system.
     • This energy source is sustainable. This means that there is no overconsumption. In other words this energy source will never run out and provides suffiecient energy all year around.
   • Con's
     • Traces of nitrogen trifluoride and sulfur hexafluoride have been traced back to the making of the panels themselves. These are two of the most poisonous chemicals that come from pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
     • Solar energy can still be produced during cloudy and rainy days but the efficiency of production drops. This also means that this source is not as efficient because it can't be collected during the night, this means that during the winter some countries would not have energy.

3. Economical Implications

   • Pro's
     • There are equal supply and demand
     • Using solar energy lowers the cost of electricity bills
     • If you chose to move the solar panels to another location it will be very expensive. Once the solar panel is put there than it is fixed to the property. Solar panels add value to a home, are investments and have a higher sale price
   • Con's
     • The U.S Government funds every type of energy production on the market which means that solar energy will have less space and money which means development is slower.
     • Coal power received $1,189 billion dollars in funding in comparison to the $968 billion that solar power receives. This is approximately a $226 billon dollar difference.
     • This shows that governments care more about efficiency and economy than climate change and the overall health of their citizens

4. Social Implications

   • Pro's
     • Provides many jobs for people such as planning, designing, developing, etc.. Which decreases poverty and unemployment throughout the country.
     • Cleaner air quality which leads to better overall health in citizens of the area

5. Political Implications

   • Pro's
     • Solar PV systems can be added to ‘already existing structures’, utility-scale PV systems
     • Renewable energy offers the possibility of becoming a lead energy source for political persons. In other words, the democratic party would choose to fund renewable energy sources such as solar power over coal and other unsustainable sources.
     • Renewable energy could strengthen the democratic standards of energy systems and change the power markets perspective of energy source options.
   • Con's
     • Takes up a lot of lands and cause land degradation and/or habitat loss
     • Utility-scale PV systems require up to 3.5 to 10 acres per megawatt which takes up a lot of space and means that there is no space left for towns and cities to develop and grow.
     • The transition into renewable energy is a political struggle because it is incredibly expensive to switch from fossil fuels and decarbonize societies. In addition to this, the government would have to destroy many systems such as instructed and public transportation.