Energy – it is used every day by billions of people.  It is used in many ways whether that is teaching, learning, communicating, and traveling.  Throughout the world, most of the resources that provide the necessary energy for everyday life are produced by non-renewable resources.  Non-renewable resources are resources that cannot be replaced naturally at the same rate they are being used, which means that over time they will be exhausted.  The sun could supply the world with power for billions of years to come.  It is an easily accessible energy source, as well as, a reliable one.  Solar panels are on the rise throughout the world because they are low maintenance, environmentally friendly, and affordable.

According to Jones et al., the elements of solar panels are “silicon solar cells that have at least two layers with a positive and negative charge” (Jones et al).  To make the silicon a good conductor, since it is not by itself, “impurities are intentionally added” by a process called doping.  The bottom layer of the solar cells are doped with boron, which produces a positive charge.  The top layer of cells are doped with phosphorous, which produces a negative charge (How).  The electric field between the positive and negative layers causes the photons of the light to be absorbed while electrons are released.  It is the release of the electrons that produces electricity which is connected to external electrical power converters within the solar panels.  These external converters change direct current into alternating currents which can be used throughout one’s home or “connected to both local… and the national grid” (Jones et al.).

Although solar energy has a vast amount of benefits, compared to other forms of energy, there are still some downsides that people try to use against the implementation of solar panels in more places around the world.  Many argue that they do not decrease the environmental damage by a significant enough percentage to be important (Khan and Arsalan 415).  However, this is not the case.  According to the International Energy Agency, because more research has been done on renewable resources, such as solar energy, the “use of fossil fuels is anticipated to be declined up to seventy-five percent by the year 2035,” which is a large amount considering fossil fuels make up eighty-two percent of energy production used today.  It is widely known that fossil fuels are largely to blame for the increase in global warming and the decrease in the world’s overall health (Khan and Arsalan 415).  Luckily, unlike other forms of energy production, solar energy does not create any waste that could be harmful to the atmosphere (Shahan).  By using solar energy consistently, it could allow the ozone layer time to repair itself.

Another argument people often have is that solar energy cannot be generated when the weather is bad, such as cloudy, and when it is night time.  However, this argument can be disproved easily.  Since the beginning of time people have observed and known that every day the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.  For thousands of years people have observed and document the weather patterns.  This allows for weather to be predicted (Shahan).  It is true that weather cannot be predicted on a day-to-day basis and, therefore, will result in some days where the amount of solar energy generated will be extremely low, but weather cycles and seasonal cycles can be predicted.  The prediction of whether and seasonal cycles is extremely beneficial because it allows for solar panels and solar farms to be placed in areas that will receive the largest amount of sunlight.  This makes the argument of solar panels being unreliable due to whether invalid since they can deliberately be placed in areas where they will work to their fullest potential.

A third argument many people have is that solar panels are far too expensive and unrealistic for residential use.  Once again, this is not the case.  Bill Gross has been studying solar energy since he was fifteen years old and has created many products that help with solar energy capture.  He and his team have created a solar panel that works better than other solar panel models on the market, can be used in both residential situations and large-scale solar farms, and it extremely affordable when compared to other solar panels.  His solar panel collects sunlight for eight hours in a day, which is two more hours than most other solar panels collect (Gross).  The panel is not only practical, but also low maintenance.

Gross’ solar panel is unlike any other solar panel previously designed and produced.  It is in the shape of a flower.  There are twelve “petals” around the outside of the converter that move independently of each other as they collect sunlight.  They work by detecting the sunlight in the morning by a change in temperature.  After they recognize the sun is out, they individually move around, coarsely at first and then they fine tune, until they find the position where the highest temperature is; this is where the most sunlight is hitting them (Gross).  There are microprocessors under each petal that control the them and can tell where the sun is, which allows the petals to continue to move on their own throughout the day to keep the highest temperature on them.  This means that there is no manual programming necessary throughout the day, which makes it low maintenance. Once turned on, it only takes a minute and a half to two minutes for the engine of the solar panel to begin running and electricity to begin being generated (Gross).

Not only is Gross’ solar panel unique in the way it looks and functions, but it is also unique in the sense that it is extremely less expensive than other solar panels on the market.  The reason his solar panel is so inexpensive is because it is made from materials that are easily accessible and abundant.  Each of the petals cost approximately one dollar to make since they are made of “lightweight injection-molded plastic, aluminized” (Gross).  The microprocessors and converter account for most of the panel’s cost, but it is still minimal compared to other solar panels.  When the sun light is being converted into electricity, it can produce three different products.  The first product is 12 volts of direct current, the second product is 117 volts of alternating current, and lastly, hot water, which has the option to be used or not be used (Gross).

Gross and his team and created a solar panel that has shown the world they can be low maintenance and reliable, but another goal that Gross and his team had was to produce a solar panel that is easily accessible for lots of people to attain, and they did that. Yes, the initial cost of solar panels can be intimidating because it can seem like the payback period is not worth the investment, but Gross’ solar panel is an exception (Gross).  A payback period is the amount of time it takes for one to pay off the initial cost of an item and begin making a profit from it.  For the average solar panel, the payback period is typically around thirty to fifty years.  However, Gross estimates that his solar panels will have less than a five-year payback period, which causes solar panels to be looked at in a more economical way, and not just an environmental science way (Gross).  This is also important since energy is “the most important factor for economic development and the prosperity of any country” (Khan and Mudassar 415).  One could potentially begin making a profit off these solar panels from day one if financed correctly (Gross).

Based on data and predictions of scientists, people’s unbelievable and careless use of fossil fuels will ultimately result in one of two scenarios.  The first potential scenario is all of the fossil fuels will be used up and there will be no way for a majority of the world to keep their businesses, communication, trade, lifestyle, etc. running because no reliable energy source will have been taken into consideration.  The second scenario that could happen is people begin to recognize that one day the fossil fuel supply will be exhausted and that renewable resources will be needed.  If this is the case, solar energy is the best alternative energy source available, especially with solar panels like Gross’ being produced.

Solar energy is already being used throughout the world.  The top five countries that use the most solar energy are Germany, Italy, China, the United States and Japan (Maehlum).  This shows that solar energy can be generated and used on many different continents all around the world.  There are certain areas of each country, as well as the world that would be more ideal for solar panels and solar farms to be placed based on the amount of direct sunlight that access them.  For instance, it is known that countries such as Uganda and Kenya that lie on, and around, the equator receive more direct sunlight than countries that are more towards the poles such as Norway, therefore, solar panels and solar farms should be installed in places nearer the equator more often than towards the poles.

Solar energy is affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly.  If more people were informed and knowledgeable about renewable resources, solar energy in particular, the products that could be invented and produced would have an enormous positive impact on the world.  Gross’ solar panel is a prime example of this and it exemplifies the positive qualities of what solar energy encompasses, which are low maintenance, environmentally friendly, and affordable.
