To some, solar is the greatest hope of everyone. To many nuclear energy is unnecessary. to few baseload, variability and uncertainty. Then, we ask if solar will be the energy picture in the next twenty years.
Yes, indeed. However, in order to rely on the solar energy in the green energy portfolio, the following aspects have to be taken into consideration:
1) Ability of having cost-effective and reliable energy storage technologies to offset the intermittency of solar power.
2) Availability of the raw materials required to manufacturing the PV solar panels.
3) Government subsidies to encourage the adoption of this green energy technology.
If you wish, you can download my lecture notes, from my ResearchGate.net profile, on green energy systems (GES) course that I developed and taught at Yale College, Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS), and Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES).
Hope this helps answer your question.
Indeed, The industry is still missing the incentives, and need to defeat the oil (fossil fuels) Lobby
I think that solar energy can provide a huge flexibility to the energy system in many ways. If many distributed small PV plants were installed, power lines may reduce the power flows to transport, thus reducing losses. Regarding medium and big size plants, as PV but mainly CSP, these technologies may provide an enormous help in reducing the carbon footprint of the energy system. Last, but not least, solar thermal collectors can reduce a very high share of the electricity demand currently employed for space heating, domestic hot water and also space cooling, if coupled with absorbing chillers, adopting distribution systems at medium temperature as radiant floors or chilled beams
Yes indeed, the potential is unbelievable, but some issues must be clarified ;
grid operators
smart grid systems
hybrid with wind
storage
transmission lines
Solar energy still has a great future. PV on your own roof is suitable for small systems. In the future, building-integrated PV systems, e.g. in walls, are also conceivable.
Large-scale systems, both PV and CSP, only make sense with storage (batteries or liquid salt storage), as they cover a larger time range. With appropriate storage sizes, 24-hour operation could then also be possible.
The operating life of solar systems is approx. 30 years, with a slight aging (degradation) of the modules occurring.
However, the costs for this are still too high at the moment.
@ Steffen, how do we addressed the multiple challenges regarding the nature of building adaptation.
Yes, solar energy will be at the top of the list for renewable energy development. A solid infrastructure already exists and the sun will be there for one and all. Continuous development work to increase the efficiency of PV cells should be made a priority along with improvement of distribution systems.
It is never a good approach to rely only on one energy source, a combination of nuclear and renewable is needed to secure green energy supply for the future.
Please check it up:
Article Developing the Resilient Solar Energy Management System: A H...
Bests.
Yes, in my opinion, solar energy is a great hope for the development of pro-ecological energy in the future and is an important factor in implementing the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development in economic processes. Technological development in the field of construction technology of renewable energy power plant, subsequent, more and more perfect photovoltaic panels, accumulators accumulating generated electricity means that in an increasing number of countries, due to e.g. geographical location and sunlight, renewable energy sources based on solar energy, etc. can be developed Technological development contributes to increasing the range of areas, zones, latitudes that are suitable for the development of renewable energy sources. Due to the successive progress in the field of renewable energy technology, the number of countries that are geographically and climatically less able to develop the most environmentally neutral renewable energy sources, i.e. the development of e.g. solar energy (due to geographical location far from the equator), etc. is decreasing. In many countries and globally, the consumption of electricity is expected to increase in subsequent years. The resources of non-renewable energy sources, i.e. contained in the earth's crust, minerals consumed in classical energy (hard coal, lignite, oil, natural gas) are gradually shrinking. However, the most serious problem is the ongoing global warming process. The main source of acceleration of this process in recent years is the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the development of civilization, which have been growing since the first industrial revolution, i.e. since the 19th century. Many scientific data from climatologists' studies indicate that the global warming process has entered a strong upward trend and perhaps humanity has little influence on the change in the pace of this process. However, regardless of this, we should do everything we can regarding the implementation of the principles of sustainable ecological growth, including the necessary ecological reforms, primarily in the energy sector by developing renewable energy sources, electromobility, development of organic farming, improving waste segregation techniques, recycling, etc. These reforms ecological ones implemented in accordance with the green economy philosophy are necessary to at least partially slow down the global warming process. We owe it to next generations, we owe it to our children and grandchildren. One of the key elements and goals of the green economy philosophy, i.e. primarily the implementation of pro-ecological reforms consisting in the implementation of the principles of sustainable pro-ecological economic development, is nature protection, protection of natural biological ecosystems, protection of terrestrial biodiversity and its preservation for future generations. In view of the above, one of the important factors in implementing the principles of sustainable pro-ecological economic development is the reform of the energy sector as soon as possible in order to switch the energy sector from classic energy sources based on the combustion of minerals to the development of renewable energy sources, including primarily the development of solar energy. To sum up, solar energy is a great hope for the development of pro-ecological energy in the future and is an important factor in the implementation of the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development in economic processes.
Best wishes
Dariusz Prokopowicz
I belief that solar will have a great future. But nothing can represent everything, there is always other sources of energy
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