Solar Energy Is Interesting in That it

¶ … solar energy is interesting in that it makes some environmental claims that seem to be rather tilted in favor of the "save the environment" standpoint. The presentation attempts to make a strong case for converting from the world's current use of oil and gas to a world that primarily uses only solar energy. However, the overall case is not strong enough that it would move an outsider to be impressed. However, it does present some interesting possibilities on a more individual basis throughout Australia.

The presentation starts with an introduction to Solar Shop, an Australian company that produces solar energy panels. It continues from there by presenting facts and figures showing the growth in Australia, as well as around the world, in the use of solar panels to generate not only electricity for individual homes but excess energy as well. According to the presentation that growth has been strong especially in countries like Germany, who is now the leading proponent, user and producer of solar energy with almost 47% of all solar energy produced there. The same slide that showed Germany's growth, detailed Australia's decline in percentage use.

The presentation displayed a number of charts that showed the companies now producing solar energy panels and equipment and where they were located as well as the projected growth of the solar energy industry and what companies would benefit the most from that growth.

One of the most interesting parts of the presentation was how it showed that the supply of silicon needed to create solar energy panels was going to be in very tight supply by the year 2010.

What the presentation concluded was that with the limited supply and subsequent higher pricing, it would be virtually impossible for domestic solar PV systems to be financed. The presentation also provided information on sun farms and the benefits of establishing these types of ventures. The slide show then takes on a dire scenario attitude by showing how the entire world will come to an end within the next 10 years, but it also states that Australia can be the world's knight in shining armor if only a more substantial solar energy program is adopted.

The second presentation deals with a new approach to rebuilding societies that have been decimated. It uses as an example of one society the country of Cambodia, which has been in dire straits since the 1970's and only recently has begun to change its overall approach to rebuilding. The presentation ends with a Helen Keller saying "So much has been given to me, I have not time to ponder over that which has been denied." This is an excellent ending to a presentation that focuses on that attitude as one method for changing Cambodia (and other countries that might be in the same boat).