1. • Solar power has potential due to unlimited fuel, but current
technology efficiencies with land use prevents proliferation. 6
• PV cells are more efficient than CSP plants per unit area. 20,21
• PV cells are prolific and very consumer friendly. CSP collectors
are less practical to consumers despite higher individual
efficiencies.
• Efficiency increasing will lead to more investments.
• Renewables are resistant to volatility in the marketplace.
Solar Power’s Place in Modern Society as a Competitive Renewable Energy Source
Johnathon Angers
Louisiana State University College of the Coast & Environment, Baton Rouge, LA
Abstract
Background
Results Future Directions
Conclusions
References
• The world is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, which are progressive
drivers of climate change. Therefore, alternative sources of energy
are needed.
• Solar power is a reliable alternative that is currently exploding in
popularity due to its high theoretical potential.
• Solar power utilizes radiation from the sun to excite electrons
causing electricity generate. This is called the photovoltaic effect.1
• The Earth absorbs 174.7 W/m2
(~51% of incoming radiation),
giving a theoretical potential of 89,300 TW of power.1
• This potential represents more energy striking the earth’s surface
in 90 minutes (480 EJ) than worldwide energy consumption in the
year 2001 from all sources combined (430 EJ).1
• While tantalizing , the gap
between theoretical and
technical potential is
massive. This leads to
skepticism towards the
technology. Despite this,
the future of solar is
promising.
Current Technologies:
Photovoltaic Cells (PV Cells):
• PV cells made with colloidal quantum dot solids increased
efficiency by ~8%. 14 15
• Solar cells with nanowires and grapheme electrodes have
efficiency losses of ~4%; however, it can be used in flexible
devices.16
• Tesla Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada is soon to be the largest
battery manufacturing facility in the world.10
• Floating solar farms in Japan offer new use of under utilized land.11
• Graphene coated PV cells are able to separate positively charged
ions from rain and convert it into generated electricity. 17
• In 2014, Soitec, CEA-Leti and Fraunhofer ISE broke the world
record for solar cell efficiency at 46%. 18
Where It Stands:
Fig. 8a. Total estimated technical potential
for concentrating solar power in the United
States 19
Fig. 8b. Total estimated technical potential for
rooftop photovoltaics in the United States 19
Fig. 9a. Map of utility-scale generating
united current planned in the United States
to come online by January 2017 12
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP):
Fig. 7. Since 1976, The National
Renewable Energy Laboratory
(NREL) has compiled all highest
confirmed conversion
efficiencies of research cells.
This data is verified by
recognized test labs (e.g.
NREL,AIST, Fraunhofer). The
current world record in each
individual category is indicated
on the right of the figure with the
corresponding technology
symbol and its respective
efficiency. This plot is courtesy
of the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO.
13
Fig. 6. Distributed small scale residential solar
provides roughly 170kWh/kW per month. In
comparison, an average American household
consumes around 911 kWh per month. 12
Fig. 1. Radiation from the sun hits the
atmosphere and is either reflected or refracted.
Fig. 2. Although theoretical potentials for solar are astronomical,
efficiencies currently hold back the technology. As technology progresses,
the viability of solar will become more apparent.3
Fig. 3b. Growth in renewables is hardly affected by volatility in the
market. This means that solar’s growth should continue. 4
Fig. 3a. Compared to other renewables, solar represents a small
portion of the market share. This is due to the land required to get
significant returns on the costs of the technology. 4
Fig. 4d. A parabolic dish reflector
from Ripasso energy. Located in the
Kalahari Desert in South Africa, it
boasts ~32+% efficiency 9
Fig. 4a. Central receiver
design, also known as power
towers, utilizes a solar collector
surrounded by hundreds of
mirrors. Efficiency ~7.6-17.3%.5
Fig. 4c. Parabolic Trough
Reflector; highest percent market
share of CSP; higher efficiency
than IFR, Efficiency ~60%+ 7 8
Fig. 4b. Linear Fresnel
reflector concentrates solar
energy into an absorber tube.
Efficiency ~52%6 7
Fig. 5b. Tesla Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada.
Yearly capacity production of 35 gigawatt-hours
(GWh) 10
Fig. 5c. In 2015, the world’s largest
floating solar project broke ground in
Japan’s Yamakura Dam reservoir. It
consists of 51,000 Kyocera modules
installed over 180,000m2
of fresh water.
Estimated generation is 16,170 MWh per
year. 11
Fig. 5a. A typical small-scale
residential solar array. Efficiencies
hover around ~13% for these
systems. 6
This study is focused on solar energy and its feasibility as a
renewable energy source. Though theoretical potentials for solar
energy are seemingly endless when looking at future projections of
energy consumption, technical potentials driven by cell efficiencies
and land utilization are currently holding it back from competing
with other big renewable sources such as wind and hydro. Despite
this, solar technology is rapidly growing, and the number of projects
planned for solar capacity is higher than ever. With companies like
Tesla and Fraunhofer continuing to push the boundaries of both
current technologies and cell efficiencies, the future of solar looks
bright as a competitive renewable energy source.
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Picture Credit: (DeMenocal, 2002)
Picture Credit: (Rajendra,2014)
Picture Credit: (EIA, 2015)
Picture Credit: (NREL,2016)
Picture Credit: (Tesla,2016)
Picture Credit: (Occupy.com) Picture Credit: (Khan, 2016) Picture Credit: (Dastii.com) Picture Credit: (Ripasso Energyl, 2016)
Picture Credit: (Lopez, 2012)
Picture Credit: (Lopez, 2012)
Picture Credit: (Lee, 2016)
Picture Credit: (Ytimg.com) Picture Credit: (Kyocera, 2016)
Picture Credit: (Bredhoeft, 2016) Picture Credit: (Bredhoeft, 2016)
Picture Credit: (sunpower.com)
Fig. 9b. A utility-scale solar farm.