One of the most prevalent issues in today’s society is the state of our earth’s environmental health. Record high temperatures have been observed over the past ten years, and they continue to rise. Due to rising temperatures, scientists are introducing numerous ideas on how society can reduce the speed of this environmental crisis. One of the leading ideas is the use of solar energy which has become more and more affordable as newer ways of obtaining the technology have been introduced. Being a part of the generation that will most likely be affected by the debate over clean, sustainable energy and profitable, non-renewable energy, I feel that I should bring to light the different ways solar energy can be obtained and the new, useful types of technology that are used to obtain it. Solar energy, in many ways, is swept under the rug by large corporations who do not want to sever their relationships with large energy companies. This results in the high cost of using solar energy, which causes people to tend to stay away from using it as a main energy source. If people were aware of the different avenues of solar energy and began to back them, it would have a dramatic impact on our environment and economy.

Alexandre Edmond Bocquerel was a scientist who discovered the photovoltaic effect after years and years of trying to improve the reliability of solar cells. The photovoltaic effect was found by shining light on an electrode panel submerged in a conductive product which then produced an electric current. The effect was later deemed inefficient, however, and was just used for measuring light. The unreliability of these solar cells was due to the lack of technology available to scientists at that time. 100 years later, 20 years after the transistor was invented, a new and improved solar cell was invented. The new solar panels acquire power by photons hitting a specific cell which causes the cell to emit electrons; this process allows the surface to accept the electrons, and the electrons are then converted into electricity.

With current technology, there are two different methods by which solar energy is obtained and converted: Cadmium telluride photovoltaics and concentrated solar power systems. Both of these methods are most efficient at noon hours when the sun is hottest and brightest. For most companies, all of the energy they require is during day light hours, so this is when energy is at its highest demand. Both of these technologies can contribute to the minimization of CO2 emissions which are considered the main cause of our environmental debates. Cadmium telluride photovoltaics require little to no movement and can normally last from 20 to 25 years on average; they do not require H2O for operation and cost one cent for maintenance. The main component used for making PV panels is silicon which is the second most available mineral on Earth. Concentrated solar power systems, CSP for short, have three alternate designs: solar tower, linear Fresnel and dish engine systems. The CSP system is more unreliable than the PV panels, but it still has more positive effects than any of the fossil fuels that large corporations use. CSP systems can only be used in extremely dry areas such as Middle Eastern countries, however, a large majority of these panels are located in the United States and Spain and are expanding quickly. Over the last 30 years, the use of  PV systems have increased by 32 percent. Over the last ten years, the use of PV systems have increased by 48 percent. The use of CSP systems have also increased by 40 percent. These are both substantial growth rates for a reemerging source of energy.

Despite improvements in the solar energy industry, why are companies not making the switch? One of the leading reasons why there has not been a switch to solar energy is due to large corporation’s use of fossil fuels to provide energy to their companies. Solar energy has been given the reputation of being unreliable. Many studies have been conducted on the reliability of solar energy, and one large and overwhelming conclusion was discovered. The computer systems used to develop solar panels are too faulty and leave out multiple factors that would help improve the reliability of the energy sources. A simulation was conducted by scientists who tried to come up with reasonable solutions for computer system’s faults. The scientists developed a system that will inform solar panel operators the weather and what to expect for the day which increases the level of energy output. The new code that was developed solved many issues, however, According to Z ER. “developers need more money and backing from larger companies in order to start to implement this new code into the existing software in today’s systems”. New advancements in solar energy allow panels to work in warmer climates, contrary to the popular belief that solar panels work better in colder temperatures because intense heat can decrease the voltage output of solar panels. Newer panels are equipped with chargeable batteries that are charged over the course of the day in order to keep electricity running throughout the night. Along with the myth of unreliability, there is also a fear of solar panels being too fragile and not lasting through a rough summer in South Carolina or even a frigid winter in Minnesota. This is also a myth. Solar panels are very durable and can endure the toughest weather conditions. Many of these negative thoughts about the solar energy movement came from previous notions that solar energy was unreliable and only worked when the sun was shining bright. Juxtaposed with these negative effects are many advantages of using solar energy—positive effects on more than just the environment.

Solar energy has improved so much that panels are now capable of providing energy to entire cities. Studies have been conducted to prove that the widespread efficiency of solar energy is not an idea that will occur later in the future. In most societies, energy is considered to be the center piece of communities. A study was conducted in a district in the city of Barcelona which helped scientists and architects have a visual representation of where to place solar panels strategically in order to produce the optimal output of energy. This experiment helped form an idea of where solar panels should be placed and which seasons would provide the most efficient amount of solar energy. They came to find that solar energy output is larger and more consistent on horizontal surfaces, but some energy is still lost in this process—around 28 percent during the winter and 13 percent during the summer (Alessandra Curelli "Solar Energy As A Form Giver For Future Cities.". They also had to account for obstructions that would block sunlight from directly hitting solar panels; they were minimal. They then conducted an experiment that took place on the outer parts of the block which provided 85 percent of solar power—much higher than the average (Alessandra Curelli "Solar Energy As A Form Giver For Future Cities."). This experiment provided numerical and visual evidence exhibiting how solar energy should be used in a modern city. This information could be applied to more than just modern cities around the world.

Many environmental activists are against the marking or digging up of any type of solid earth. For many companies who use fossil fuels as a source of energy, this is a problem. Solar energy scientists have developed a solution that would decrease solar energy’s environmental footprint. An experiment was conducted by an Indian scientist which used thermal power plants to place a numerical value on solar power potential in different parts of the ocean. In order to obtain these values, they used remote observations from satellites and conducted an experiment that lasted five years to help determine the optimal placement of solar panels. After three years of experimentation, they came to realize that placing solar panels on high density solar energy pockets—spots on the planet where sun light shines the hottest and brightest—were ideal (“Assured Solar Energy Hot-Spots Over Indian Landmass Detected Through Remote Sensing Observations From Geostationary Meteorological Satellite” 836). After the experiment ended, the results proved to many people unaware of the positive effects of solar energy that solar panels not only benefited the mainland but also allowed companies and cities to produce energy offshore, avoiding weather abnormalities and other factors that could destroy normal generators.

Solar energy is sweeping across the world because of advancements that make it more reliable, however, many people are not convinced that the price of solar panels have decreased. A prime example is Australia. Over the past five years, there has been an 80 percent increase in PV solar panel installations that has completely changed their energy industry (3.1 Julian Clifton). In Australia there is a monopoly of mammoth electricity companies that operate all the energy throughout the country. These companies impose large taxes on the civilians of Australia because there is a lack of competition. In order to level out costs, the Australian government raised taxes on the electricity companies. Solar energy was the immediate, affordable alternative in order to compete with the monopolized electricity companies. Because of its dense population, Queensland was the main target to test out solar panels. Data shows that 533 PV solar panel installations were completed with just a small tax fee of forty-four cents. Four years later the tax dropped to six cents (1.3 Western Australian Context). With these small tax numbers, there has been a large increase in PV solar panel installations; this case study dispels the myth of solar energy not being affordable.

Along with solar energy providing renewable energy to large companies, this technology is also replacing greenhouse energy systems. With our environmental crisis, many agriculture companies are trying to find alternative sources of energy to power their farms. In China, many farmers are beginning to make the switch from other energy sources to solar, and the change has produced more efficient and reliable energy. In China, many farmers practice an open form of farming which is the traditional way to farm all across the world. However, this form of farming causes the most damage to the environment. Many countries have started to implement closed forms of farming to help limit the destruction of the environment. In order for these closed farming conditions to work, countries need a reliable source of energy that does not produce harmful CO2 emissions. PV solar panels are a significant means to receive sun and directly supply energy to support the growth of farmer’s chosen crops. In 2013, 17 PV greenhouses were first introduced into the greenhouse project (Tianyue Wang, 3.1). Many large farming companies are hesitant to make the switch from fossil fuels to solar energy because of the fear of losing profits from the lack of energy production. Numbers from China’s “Golden Sun Project” produced more than $4,492,000 total(Tianyue Wang 3.3)—this brought in huge profits to the Chinese agriculture industry. Along with all these positive numbers, however, there can be drawbacks to making the switch to solar energy. Many PV greenhouse companies have suffered from them. Technological difficulties are the leading issues in the PV greenhouse initiative. Many of the systems being used are too complex. There is also an issue with the structure of PV greenhouse buildings—in order for the numerous panels to be placed on top of the buildings, there must be additional support for roofs, along with covering the panels after a long days work. These drawbacks lead many farmers to not want to make the switch and stick with fossil fuels that require less maintenance.

Many still believe that applying solar energy would not reverse the negative environmental effects, but studies have shown that solar energies carbon footprint is 95% lower than any of the fossil fuels (Solar City), this alone would help slow down the negative effects of fossil fuels by a substantial amount. Fossil fuels produce one of the leading causes of our environmental crisis CO2, which is a byproduct of fossil fuels; According to Solar City by installing just one solar energy house, “can reduce CO2 footprint by more than 80% per year”. These statistics are blocked by large companies in order to keep solar energy kept under the rug, we must become more aware and educated about how we can start to help our plant and try to save our environment. Fossil fuels may be more accessible and easier to get our hands on, but when it comes to the long term effects it will end up destroying our earth.  Coal mining which of one of the leading fossil fuels that large companies use is obtained by drilling into our earth’s surface and mining; this is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world and causes thousands of injuries and deaths, in 2010 an explosion in West Virginia Killed 29 miners(New York Times). According to Center for Climate Energy and Solutions “32% of global warming emissions comes from coal itself, the burning of coal creates sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide; these are all very harmful products to our environment”. The products of coal produce smog, in china many of the citizens have to wear mask due to the excess amount of smog produced from these coal plants. Many are not aware of the negative effects that coal along with other fossil fuels has on our environment. A world without fossil fuel is a clean one and one that future generations can enjoy.

Many people don’t believe that there is an environmental crisis. Some are aware that it is real but don’t know of the ways that we can help slow them down.  Solar energy is not the only renewable source that can slow down the destruction of our environment; Geothermal energy is an energy source that produces energy from the earth, geothermal is self-renewing and also produces large amounts of energy. Wind energy is another form of renewable energy, wind energy is one of the most natural and easiest ways to obtain energy and in some ways has a smaller ecological footprint than solar energy.  Hydroelectric energy is a form of energy that is obtained from a reliable water source, 20% of the worlds electricity consumption is produced by hydroelectricity (Energy Informative), with water being one of the most abundant materials on earth this is easy to believe, the list is endless of all the different ways to obtain clean renewable energy.. All of these energy sources have the capability to power large companies and even cites, but are blocked out by the large companies and now even our president who does not believe that fossil fuels have a negative effect on our environment.  Scientist believes that the earth will rise 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next 100 years (NASA), this would cause the warmer months to extend, which would disrupt earth’s natural cycle.  Bigger companies using cleaner energy is not the only way to slow down our environmental crisis, becoming more informed as a population is the biggest way to learn about how we can use clean energy in our everyday lives to help slow down global warming and all of our other environmental issues, the solution we need is right around the corner we just have to look.
