Will Solar Power’s Future be Bright?
Solar cell technology will need a fair share of research money to get going
The sun provides the earth with enough energy in one hour to satisfy a years’ worth of the world’s needs.
This readily available energy gives us a way to create electricity and heat without emitting carbon dioxide,
one of the main causes of global warming. So shouldn’t we
be making use of it more than we have been?
We have enough technology available to take advantage of
the sun’s energy. But unlike sunlight, this technology costs
money. In fact, solar energy is currently five to ten times as
expensive as energy we get from burning coal.
Solar photovoltaic cell panels inte-
“To reduce that price we need to make good research and
policy decisions for solar technology right now,” says Aimee
Curtwright, a post-doctoral researcher at the Climate
Decision Making Center (CDMC). These decisions will
shape the future of solar power. To make intelligent
choices, she adds, we need to understand present-day solar
energy technology, estimate how it will advance, and then
make the best judgment we can.
Curtwright, who has a Ph.D. in electro-chemistry, is study-
ing photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are the best tools avail-
able right now for converting light energy to electricity. They are used in the shiny panels you see on roof-
tops or on roadsides, powering traffic signs. There are many types of PV cells available, made from different
materials that lead to differing performances. Researchers
are constantly studying and trying to create newer and
better designs. In fact, they’re working on a new, third
generation of PV cells currently.
Analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of these technolo-
gies tells us which ones could be improved and made
usable soon, she says. The third generation is still a while
away from being practical, she adds, but some technologies
in the second generation could become less expensive in
about a year.
One way to bring down the cost is to do more basic tech-nology research—better solar cell materials and moreefficient designs decrease costs. Other factors that
can reduce cost significantly are lower production
costs and higher production capacity. For the past
13 years, as manufacturing plants have become
larger, the cost of PV modules has gone down.
Another important thing that adds to the module’s
cost is the cost of other equipment that goes with
it, such as batteries that store electricity for the night
and inverters that convert DC electricity into AC.
And then there are some inescapable factors that
could affect the progress of solar power, including
how much money is being put into the research and
whether it’s consumers find the option attractive.
Increased research money in certain areas of PV
technology would lead to breakthroughs that create
even better, cheaper PV cells. This increases their
demand, which slashes prices even further, and
could lead to more research money.
Some second generation technologies are ready for
use in the market right now, given the right financial
incentives and some more tweaking. But others are
still immature and need a push in basic research.
Researchers don’t know how these younger nologies will shape up in the future. “We’re not
going to know exactly which new technologies there
are going to be, or exactly how much they’re going
to cost, or how much they’ll cut back carbon-
dioxide,” Curtwright says. But despite those un-
knowns, “someone needs to make an intelligent
decision right now.”
She plans to analyze the issues associated with
various technologies, get further insight from solar
power experts, and develop a portfolio of promising
PV technology. This will provide policy-makers with
data to make more informed decisions. “It should
help in allocating research money,” she says. “In
making choices between basic research in technol-
ogy that’s not going to be ready for use for thirty
years versus fine-tuning the engineering in near-term
technology.”
Where the money goes will make all the difference
in solar energy technology, Curtwright believes.
Through the CDMC, she hopes to guide the science
and technology policy decisions that will let us take
advantage of the abundant solar power available to
us, without having to worry about paying too much.
Solar Energy Facts: The earth receives more energy from the sun
in just one hour than the world uses in a
whole year.
Japan and Germany lead the world solar
market.
The biggest state market in the U.S. is
California, with New Jersey coming in second.
Solar energy costs 5-10 more than the
energy from coal.
Source: www.solarbuzz.com
Solar cell technology will need a fair share of research money to get going
The sun provides the earth with enough energy in one hour to satisfy a years’ worth of the world’s needs.
This readily available energy gives us a way to create electricity and heat without emitting carbon dioxide,
one of the main causes of global warming. So shouldn’t we
be making use of it more than we have been?
We have enough technology available to take advantage of
the sun’s energy. But unlike sunlight, this technology costs
money. In fact, solar energy is currently five to ten times as
expensive as energy we get from burning coal.
Solar photovoltaic cell panels inte-
grated into a back porch awning
A solar roof-installation glints
in the sunlight
Brazilian homes use 50 Watt photovol-
taic systems for lighting.
“To reduce that price we need to make good research and
policy decisions for solar technology right now,” says Aimee
Curtwright, a post-doctoral researcher at the Climate
Decision Making Center (CDMC). These decisions will
shape the future of solar power. To make intelligent
choices, she adds, we need to understand present-day solar
energy technology, estimate how it will advance, and then
make the best judgment we can.
Curtwright, who has a Ph.D. in electro-chemistry, is study-
ing photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are the best tools avail-
able right now for converting light energy to electricity. They are used in the shiny panels you see on roof-
tops or on roadsides, powering traffic signs. There are many types of PV cells available, made from different
materials that lead to differing performances. Researchers
are constantly studying and trying to create newer and
better designs. In fact, they’re working on a new, third
generation of PV cells currently.
Analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of these technolo-
gies tells us which ones could be improved and made
usable soon, she says. The third generation is still a while
away from being practical, she adds, but some technologies
in the second generation could become less expensive in
about a year.
One way to bring down the cost is to do more basic tech-nology research—better solar cell materials and moreefficient designs decrease costs. Other factors that
can reduce cost significantly are lower production
costs and higher production capacity. For the past
13 years, as manufacturing plants have become
larger, the cost of PV modules has gone down.
Another important thing that adds to the module’s
cost is the cost of other equipment that goes with
it, such as batteries that store electricity for the night
and inverters that convert DC electricity into AC.
And then there are some inescapable factors that
could affect the progress of solar power, including
how much money is being put into the research and
whether it’s consumers find the option attractive.
Increased research money in certain areas of PV
technology would lead to breakthroughs that create
even better, cheaper PV cells. This increases their
demand, which slashes prices even further, and
could lead to more research money.
Some second generation technologies are ready for
use in the market right now, given the right financial
incentives and some more tweaking. But others are
still immature and need a push in basic research.
Researchers don’t know how these younger nologies will shape up in the future. “We’re not
going to know exactly which new technologies there
are going to be, or exactly how much they’re going
to cost, or how much they’ll cut back carbon-
dioxide,” Curtwright says. But despite those un-
knowns, “someone needs to make an intelligent
decision right now.”
She plans to analyze the issues associated with
various technologies, get further insight from solar
power experts, and develop a portfolio of promising
PV technology. This will provide policy-makers with
data to make more informed decisions. “It should
help in allocating research money,” she says. “In
making choices between basic research in technol-
ogy that’s not going to be ready for use for thirty
years versus fine-tuning the engineering in near-term
technology.”
Where the money goes will make all the difference
in solar energy technology, Curtwright believes.
Through the CDMC, she hopes to guide the science
and technology policy decisions that will let us take
advantage of the abundant solar power available to
us, without having to worry about paying too much.
Solar Energy Facts: The earth receives more energy from the sun
in just one hour than the world uses in a
whole year.
Japan and Germany lead the world solar
market.
The biggest state market in the U.S. is
California, with New Jersey coming in second.
Solar energy costs 5-10 more than the
energy from coal.
Source: www.solarbuzz.com
