Solar energy is so promising option as it is having very low operational cost but still it is not being used optimally throughout the world.
Main barriers to the massive use of solar technology for the generation of technology
•Land Use
Solar radiation has a low energy density relative to other conventional energy sources, and for all but the smallest power applications, therefore, requires a relatively large area to collect an appreciable amount of energy. Typical solar power plant designs require about 5 acres per megawatt of generating capacity. For example, a 200 MW thermal trough plant would require about 1,000 acres of land. Likewise, a 30 MW thin-film PV array would require about 168 acres.
While the construction of large solar power plants is technologically feasible, their size requires that land use issues be considered. However, these concerns may be mitigated to some extent since large solar power plants tend to be located in remote, unpopulated areas, and since small, distributed solar facilities are typically located on rooftops of existing buildings.
•Water Use
The need for water depends on the solar technology. Solar thermal electric technologies, such as central receiver and parabolic trough designs require a considerable amount of water for cooling. While the quantity of water needed per acre of use is similar to or less than that needed for irrigated agriculture, dependability of the water supply is an important consideration in the sunny, dry areas of the state that are favored for large scale solar power plants.
Solar power plants based on photovoltaic and dish-Stirling engine designs, as well as small-scale photovoltaic and solar thermal installations, do not require water. These systems actually reduce water consumption by offsetting energy production from conventional generators which do consume water.
•Availability of Transmission
To transport the power to urban load centers adequate transmission is required. Intermittent resources such as wind and solar can pose unique problems in transmission planning and in efficient utilization of transmission infrastructure, resulting in higher transmission costs, increased congestion, and even generation curtailments when adequate transmission capacity is not available. Due to potential transmission constraints, solar project developers will need to evaluate the economic tradeoff of locating where the resource is best versus locating nearer to loads where transmission constraints are less likely.
Because solar and wind generation generally occur at different times (solar during the day, wind generation at night), combining solar power plants with wind farms has the potential to result in fuller utilization of transmission capacity and improved matching of generation to utility loading, including peak loading conditions.
•Lack of government policy supporting the use of solar power.
This includes the lack of policies and regulations supporting development of solar technology
•Lack of information dissemination and consumer awareness about solar energy
•High cost of solar technologies compared with conventional energy
•Difficulty overcoming established energy systems.
This includes difficulty introducing innovative energy systems, particularly for distributed generation such as PV, because of technological lock-in, electricity markets designed for centralized power plants and market control by established generators.
•Inadequate financing options for solar projects
•Inadequate workforce skills and training.
This includes lack in the workforce of adequate scientific, technical, and manufacturing skills required for solar development; lack of reliable installation, maintenance, and inspection services; and failure of the educational system to provide adequate training in solar technologies
•Lack of stakeholder/community participation in solar energy choices
Strong dependency of the weather situation
•Irregularity of the supply of energy at the level requested in a given moment
.High initial up-front cost is one of the biggest barrier to PV
•Lack of credibility: need credible endorsements of PV to instill consumer confidence; implicit endorsements include utility PV programs and government tax credits
In my view, the main barriers in broader utilization of solar energy are the following:
1. The higher cost of solar energy systems including solar PV systems, solar thermal systems etc.
2. The lower efficiency of solar energy systems.
3. Lack of public awareness about the long term and ecological benefits o f these systems in specially developing countries.
4. Poor governmental policies and
5. Real time implementation
Dear Sharma
In my view it is the high module cost of the 1st generation crystalline silicon solar cell due to the monocrystalline silicon used in this type of device. Also in near future it doesnot seem a decrease in the cost of the module. Another cause for the higher cost of this type of solar cell is its high processing cost. All other types of solar cells fabricated now a days arenot competent with it due to their low efficiency as well as stability of these type of solar cell.
Main barriers to the massive use of solar technology for the generation of technology
•Land Use
Solar radiation has a low energy density relative to other conventional energy sources, and for all but the smallest power applications, therefore, requires a relatively large area to collect an appreciable amount of energy. Typical solar power plant designs require about 5 acres per megawatt of generating capacity. For example, a 200 MW thermal trough plant would require about 1,000 acres of land. Likewise, a 30 MW thin-film PV array would require about 168 acres.
While the construction of large solar power plants is technologically feasible, their size requires that land use issues be considered. However, these concerns may be mitigated to some extent since large solar power plants tend to be located in remote, unpopulated areas, and since small, distributed solar facilities are typically located on rooftops of existing buildings.
•Water Use
The need for water depends on the solar technology. Solar thermal electric technologies, such as central receiver and parabolic trough designs require a considerable amount of water for cooling. While the quantity of water needed per acre of use is similar to or less than that needed for irrigated agriculture, dependability of the water supply is an important consideration in the sunny, dry areas of the state that are favored for large scale solar power plants.
Solar power plants based on photovoltaic and dish-Stirling engine designs, as well as small-scale photovoltaic and solar thermal installations, do not require water. These systems actually reduce water consumption by offsetting energy production from conventional generators which do consume water.
•Availability of Transmission
To transport the power to urban load centers adequate transmission is required. Intermittent resources such as wind and solar can pose unique problems in transmission planning and in efficient utilization of transmission infrastructure, resulting in higher transmission costs, increased congestion, and even generation curtailments when adequate transmission capacity is not available. Due to potential transmission constraints, solar project developers will need to evaluate the economic tradeoff of locating where the resource is best versus locating nearer to loads where transmission constraints are less likely.
Because solar and wind generation generally occur at different times (solar during the day, wind generation at night), combining solar power plants with wind farms has the potential to result in fuller utilization of transmission capacity and improved matching of generation to utility loading, including peak loading conditions.
•Lack of government policy supporting the use of solar power.
This includes the lack of policies and regulations supporting development of solar technology
•Lack of information dissemination and consumer awareness about solar energy
•High cost of solar technologies compared with conventional energy
•Difficulty overcoming established energy systems.
This includes difficulty introducing innovative energy systems, particularly for distributed generation such as PV, because of technological lock-in, electricity markets designed for centralized power plants and market control by established generators.
•Inadequate financing options for solar projects
•Inadequate workforce skills and training.
This includes lack in the workforce of adequate scientific, technical, and manufacturing skills required for solar development; lack of reliable installation, maintenance, and inspection services; and failure of the educational system to provide adequate training in solar technologies
•Lack of stakeholder/community participation in solar energy choices
Strong dependency of the weather situation
•Irregularity of the supply of energy at the level requested in a given moment
.High initial up-front cost is one of the biggest barrier to PV
•Lack of credibility: need credible endorsements of PV to instill consumer confidence; implicit endorsements include utility PV programs and government tax credits
Thank you Mr. Prakash and Mr. Jorge,
Your comments are interesting and informative.
Speaking from a developing country where goverment policies promote solar and wind energy and even offer loan packages for RE systems i think people are simply not willing to make that initial capital investment especially for stand alone systems. I did not have much to do with solar until i decided to install my own system and help install some others. I see the cost/maintenance of energy storage ( batteries) as major hurdle. off grid systems are common in rural/developing communities. I fully agree with all the points of Mr Pedraza as well.
You are absolutely right Mr. Krishnil Ram, I think by providing more subsidy on installation of solar energy systems (PV, CSP and Thermal etc.) and also to inform the people about these subsidies by advertisement and marketing methods by the government may be catalyzing the utilization of these systems.
I would add these limiting factors:
- Short-term and long-term variability in the resource and output
This creates difficulties to keep electric grids stable and reliable. What will help: Better forecasting of solar radiation, and energy storage. But the perfect solution still does not exist.
- The best areas for solar resource, and the needed vast expanses of free land, are usually far from where power is needed, which implies the construction of costly power lines, and possibly transnational/political issues (e.g., the Desertec project).
- Most solar technologies still use basic materials that are costly to manufacture (sometimes because they require a lot of energy, like for the fabrication of silicon ingots), or that will be in short supply in the future.
Yes, Solar energy is so promising option as it is having very low operational and maintenance cost. The main barriers for the extensive utilization of solar energy in my country (Nigeria) are:
1. High installation cost which discourage people to install one. Negligence of government for not making the solar powered system available for the masses at low cost.
2. Selfish interest of the politicians who engage in generator business prevent the utilization of solar energy to achievable and possible.
3. Government policy
4. Low efficiency (output power per size) of the solar powered system discourage people from using it. As at present the conversion efficiency of solar panel ranges from 14 to 22 %. The efficiency of the solar panel would have been rapidly improve if there were a lot of research and focus on the harvest and utilization of the solar energy.
Never the less, the solar energy has the full potential to provide the total energy needed by the world.
Best regards.
Kifilideen.
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