Solar Energy in This Country,

¶ … solar energy in this country, and provide solutions to those problems. Solar energy is one way to solve the world's dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels. It is not the only solution, and it is not feasible in every location, but it can be a good solution to the overuse of fossil fuels in many areas.

Solar energy is one way the world can rid itself of its growing dependence on fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gas. Two writers note, "Solar energy technologies represent one of the least carbon-intensive means of electricity generation. Solar power produces no emissions during generation itself, and life-cycle assessments clearly demonstrate that it has a smaller carbon footprint from 'cradle-to-grave' than fossil fuels" (Resch, and Kaye). The rays of the sun are abundant in many areas of the world, which is a necessity for solar power, and there are many different forms of solar energy in development and already developed that can meet the electrical power needs of millions of homes. A solar energy Web site notes these types "include concentrating solar power systems, passive solar heating and daylighting, photovoltaic systems, solar hot water, and solar process heat and space heating and cooling" (Editors). These technologies can be used in small-scale systems on homes and offices, and in large-scale applications for industry and creating power for communities.

There are several problems with solar energy that must be addressed before its use becomes more widespread. The major problem associated with solar energy are the high costs to build and maintain a solar system, whether it is residential or commercial. It is more expensive to create solar energy than it is to create the same amount of fossil fuel energy in almost every case, and this means that development of solar energy plants lags far behind what could be developed. Another writer notes, "The system does have several disadvantages, such as the high expenses of building a solar power station and the unreliable nature of sunlight" (Woloski). This high cost is prohibitive for homeowners, too, because a solar system can cost thousands of dollars, and they will not see the return on their investment for decades. Photovoltaic systems (PV) are the most popular of the residential systems today, but they are expensive, although "The PV industry is striving to reduce system costs by 50 per cent by 2015, at which point PV will be cost-competitive with retail electricity costs in most of the United States and other developed countries" (Resch, and Kaye). That is one solution to the problem; reduce costs so solar energy systems are more affordable for residential and commercial use. If initial installation and production costs were reduced, more people could afford the systems, even on existing homes and businesses, and in the end, the solar energy companies would sell more systems, creating a profit while enhancing the environment at the same time.

Another solution is for utility companies and governments to provide assistance or rebates when consumers and businesses install solar energy systems. Writer Woloski notes that some companies do this for their customers. She writes, "Utility companies are offering 'buy-down programs,' which grant rebates to customers who purchase solar equipment in order to help them bear the initial costs of the system" (Woloski). If more utility companies and governments would offer these programs, more people could afford solar energy and that would help break our dependence on fossil fuels by reducing the need for coal-fired electrical plants that pollute and depend on non-renewable energy.

There is another major problem with the development of large solar developments capable of producing electricity for thousands of homes. Currently, they take up a massive amount of space. Another writer notes, "But the biggest objection -- the massive quantities of land needed for large-scale solar development -- remains. Solar energy output large enough to displace our current consumption of fossil fuel might easily require 53,000 square miles of land in the desert Southwest" (Stein). There are large-scale developments in the Mohave Desert in California and in Southern Nevada, and they are huge, with thousands of solar collectors spread out over great distances. These developments are feasible in other sun-prone areas of the country, but they need to be scaled down to be feasible and effective.

The solution to this problem is to create new technology that uses the sun's rays to produce electricity and heat water. The size of the solar panels or PV panels needs to be reduced and new technologies need to be developed that can make these solar collectors smaller, yet more efficient, reducing the need for large spaces to build these large projects. That is up to engineering and architectural professionals of the future, but it is a solution that needs to be addressed, as most experts believe the world could run out of oil by as soon as 2050, or even sooner, according to some estimates (Woloski).