SOLARenergy

what is it?

• Solar power produces electricity by using solar panels; sunlight is collected then converted

• Can be installed in individual housing or in larger communities (ie. schools, malls, etc)

• Used mostly in remote locations

• 600 square meters of solar paneling can easily cost approximately 100,000 dollars.

• In one minute more sunlight falls on the earth than what is utilized by the whole population in one year

• Sahara desert can produce 450 tarawats. Global annual consumption = 13 TW

solar energy’s potential

solar energy trends

solar energy trends

solar energy trends

• Renewable, Clean source of energy, sustainable (environmental)

• Safer (socio-environmental)

• Reliable requiring minimal maintenance and quiet (social)

• No transportation of energy – no dependency on large energy networks (socioeconomic)

• More self-sufficient --> local power grid (economic)

• Self-sufficient, saves money in the long run (economic)

pros

• Sunlight is free, installation is not (economic)

• Large scale conversion of sunlight into electricity --> expensive for general use (socioeconomic)• Ie. school

• Unrealistic for LEDCs – too high of an initial cost (political)

• Cannot be stored, unlike oil, therefore cannot be transferred

cons