Title
Dr. Jennie S. Hwang
Solar energy—Sweet spot?
Sunlight is the most abundant energy sources rely on approximately 40% oil, and climate, carbon dioxide concentration
source on earth. It is estimated that the sun 23% coal, 22% natural gas, 8% nuclear in the atmosphere has risen about 40%
shining on the earth for one hour gener- and 7% renewable, largely from hydropow- since the beginning of the industrial revo-
ates enough energy to supply the earth’s er and bio-mass (The National Academies). lution, from 270 parts per million (ppm) to
energy needs for an entire year. Eighty-five percent of the global electrical 380 ppm, and is believed to have contrib-
An exploration and use of solar energy energy usage of 13 tera-watts is generated uted to global warming and the ensuing
that has risen and sunk with oil prices and by burning fossil fuels. Energy sources climate change. The United States in 2006
electricity bills is an old and new thing. used in generating electricity in the United emitted a total of 712 million metric tons of
Over the years, this hot and cold phenom- States (2006) comprise 49% coal, 21% carbon, 412 million metric tons of which
enon has made many wonder whether solar natural gas and other gases, 19% nuclear, came from road petroleum use (Energy
energy would ever become real. The old is less than 2% petroleum, 7% hydroelectric, Forum—James A. Baker Institute.) The
that the solar cell was developed in 1954 and less than 3% other renewable. country emits more energy-related carbon
with an energy efficiency of 4.5%, and it was On the impact of energy usage on dioxide per capita than any other industrial
fervently explored in the late 1970s during the environment nation, approximately one fourth of the
the oil shock. While I was at the last stage world’s greenhouse gases, and its CO2
of completing my Ph.D. dissertation, I was emissions are projected to continue to rise,
recruited by a major energy conglomerate as is worldwide emissions. It is a concern.
to join their photovoltaic team. That was
i
m
a
t
e
d
t
h
a
t
t
h
e
Solar energy is one of the viable renewable
three decades ago!
I
t
i
s
e
s
t
energy paths. Yet solar energy is less than
The new is that the global momentum
s
u
n
s
h
i
n
i
n
g
o
n
t
h
e
e
a
r
t
h
0.1% of the world’s electricity supply. It
has finally pushed aside the years of
political, economical, technological and
f
o
r
o
n
e
h
o
u
r
g
e
n
e
r
a
t
e
s
is miniscule indeed. As energy needs are
mushrooming throughout the world,
social barricades and is moving forward in
e
n
o
u
g
h
e
n
e
r
g
y
t
o
s
u
p
p
ly
particularly the phenomenal growth rate
implementing solar energy. Although solar
energy since 1970s
t
h
e
e
a
r
t
h
’s
e
n
e
r
g
y
n
e
e
d
s
e y
ear
. in the developing countries, every bit of
energy supplement
has been used in
f
or an entir counts. By integrat-
spotty niche applica- ing with other re-
tions within or out- newable, alternative
side the photovol- and conventional
taic field, it has not energy sources,
been a mainstream the uncertainties
business, nor has it surrounding energy
been in broad-based supplies from politi-
deployment until cally volatile regions
recently. can be eschewed.
In the energy are- As a ‘clean’ energy,
na, America, with it further circum-
only about 5% of scribes the much
the world’s popula- concerned carbon
tion, consumes footprint.
roughly one-fifth In the recent few
of the world’s total years, government
energy. Electricity incentives bestowed
and transportation to solar energy has
industries consume been largely outside
the majority of the U.S., and the
energy. At present, U.S. Congress has
the U.S. total energy failed to include the
6 – Global Solar Technology – September/October 2008 www.globalsolartechnology.com
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