Solar energy is the energy of choice and although it has been a long way getting to where it is practical, the latest information shows it to be slowly becoming more affordable. At least this is the mid-2008 report. The cost of solar energy is prohibitive to it being used to create electricity, say a New York Times article, today, 7-16-07. Although pollsters have shown that it is the preferred choice over fossil fuels, it lags far behind. What’s needed they say is ‘technological breakthrough’ into a way to create the photovoltaic cell panels that line rooftops and collect and convert the rays of sunshine into electricity and then to store it for non-sunshiny days.
Last year, despite all the talk about this extraordinarily plentiful source, only .01 of last year’s power supply was of solar extraction. This despite the fact that the first devices that collected and utilized sunshine for utilitarian purposes happened around “half a century ago”. They claim there has been less spending for research as opposed to other sources. Yet, with all this backwardness in opting for this new source there for the taking, utilizing the knowledge about how making use of sunshine to curb fuel bills could make a small difference.
In the winter, open blinds and shades and turn down the heat. Rooms with sun exposure are an excellent way of keeping warm for less. And learn more about what will undoubtedly be the power source of the future. If only when all the other avenues have been exhausted, there’s hope in the knowledge that the sun shines on all, and is no respecter of persons. It shines on all alike. It belongs to us all.
Then, we must ask. Why is it so expensive? This question was asked in the fall of 1907 and has never been answered to my satisfaction. Fast forward to now and in this week’s Time Magazine there is an article by Bryan Walsh with the welcomed and long waited for title: Solar Power’s new style. I read it eagerly. There is new work going on and there are claims that a newer lighter kind of roof panel is being produced and soon will be on the market.
“The heavy silicon panels of yesterday are giving way to thin film cells – a cheaper, more flexible technology that could change the way we harness the sun”. That is good news in anybody’s language. The two companies that are competing in this latest venture to mass produce affordable solar panels are Global Solar and First Solar.
Global Solar is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona and has recently moved to a new updated facility a little farther down the road. It now makes ten times more panels than it previously made and the cost is lower. Previously the panel were crystalline and the cost to make them prohibited their success. The less expensive panels are photovoltaic and, in comparison, are flimsy. They are, or have been, somewhat difficult to mass produce. Yet, apparently this difficulty has been overcome and solar talks are heating up. First Solar, based in Phoenix is another company in the running that claims to be making these lightweight panels even cheaper than Global Solar.
PS: Since that article was written, solar power is making great strides. The roof panels needed to capture the sun is becoming less expensive. And of course, with more demand for these, the price will become even more affordable.
Source:
Walsh, Bryan, Solar Power’s New Style, Time Magazine, New York, June 23, 2008
