Is Solar the Solution to the Energy Crisis

Many leading experts agree that little time remains before the effects of climate change render life unbearable. Given the extent of the threat, why don’t you see rows of buildings with panels on every residential street and commercial structure? Why haven’t more people embraced solar as the solution to the energy crisis?

This technology promises nearly nonexistent electric bills, but even so, change is hard. Some people doubt what the technology can do or find the initial investment too risky, even with incentives. Others argue that current processes used to harness the sun’s power aren’t entirely green.

However, it’s hard to find permanent downsides to a limitless power supply. Is solar the solution to the energy crisis? Here’s what you should know.

Why Is Solar Off to a Slow Start?

Several factors explain solar energy’s slow start. One apparent reason is that change doesn’t happen overnight. Mining the elements used in battery and panel production and assembling those devices takes time — and money.

Businesses and consumers face considerable upfront costs for their initial solar installation. Those who have switched already met two conditions:

• They were convinced solar power’s benefits outweighed the installation costs.
• They had the requisite money and time for the installation.

Homeowners face additional concerns. Many people’s homes represent their biggest investment, and they want a nice return when selling. While educating prospects helps, many fear the upgrade will make it harder to find a buyer, possibly delaying a future move. Fortunately, it’s possible to find buyers gung-ho about solar’s benefits — but it may take longer.

Homeowners in the US can also take advantage of various governmental incentives, from federal solar energy credits on their taxes to state programs that cover part of the installation. However, they’ll often still need to replace their roof, which costs thousands.

Business owners also face challenges. Decades of stagnation have put increasing pressure on them to raise wages or risk losing the talent they need to run their enterprises. They also have to keep their shareholders happy.

However, they do have an incentive that homeowners lack. More than two-thirds of consumers will pay more for sustainability and prefer to conduct business with organizations that share their values. Marketing campaigns that highlight an enterprise’s solar initiatives will attract new customers.

The Many Benefits of Solar Energy

The biggest benefit of using solar power to solve the energy crisis is that it offers an unlimited source. Compare that to fossil fuels. Current projects estimate that only 47 years' worth of oil remains, and coal is similarly finite. Natural gas lies deep within the Earth, requiring fracking operations to harvest, which creates unique environmental hazards.

The biggest draw for consumers and businesses may be the ROI in terms of energy savings. California has already produced solar power surpluses, leading it to sell electricity to other states. How does this result in lower bills?

Most existing solar systems tie into the existing grid. This benefits consumers by keeping them connected to a reliable power supply when their panels don’t produce sufficient electricity to fuel all their home or business needs. Surpluses return to the electric company, netting people a tidy credit on their bill.

Over time, panels in sunny areas can produce so much electricity that consumers’ monthly bills consist of little more than the applicable taxes and fees to manage the infrastructure. It can be the difference between coughing up $400 during a long, hot summer and $20.

The Downsides of Solar

As clean as solar power is, current production practices aren’t entirely sustainable. There are ample supplies of the minerals necessary to meet current need projections, but the issue is how producers mine these resources. These operations create toxic waste, which not all nations dispose of responsibly.

Solar panel waste is another issue. New technologies render older systems obsolete, as consumers often reap higher savings from upgrading early. Where do used solar panels and batteries go? While manufacturers can recycle these items, reclaim precious minerals and avoid future mining, money is a deterrent.

For example, recycling one solar panel costs between $20 and $30. Sending the same device to the landfill only costs $1 to $2. Most facilities don’t handle these goods, so disposal requires making special arrangements for pickup, and it doesn’t come for free. Recycling batteries is even more vital, as they can leak toxins into the land and groundwater and pose a fire risk.

These problems are far from insurmountable. Just as solar technology itself has advanced, so will recycling capacity. However, history shows that people historically invest more in creating new products than handling their disposal — government incentives can help encourage companies to prioritize their development.

Innovations to Expand Solar Energy Production

How could solar power address the energy crisis and transform the world as it is today? Look at these exciting innovations that promise to expand production and make solar more accessible for everyone.

1. Solar Parking Lots

Anyone who has stood in a Phoenix parking lot at high noon in July has felt the sun’s power. Imagine if you could keep your vehicle cooler while you shop, all while charging your electric car and helping produce energy surpluses. Such visions could someday become a reality.

Why doesn’t every area have these already? Money plays a significant role. Such facilities would cost more to install than rooftop or ground-mounted panels because of the underlying structure necessary. However, these locations offer intriguing spots for miniature solar farms, using land already paved over instead of taking up farmland for new installations.

2. Solar Windows

Another place for solar panels that wouldn’t steal agricultural land exists on the sides of the buildings towering over our nation’s cities. New technology has created panels that look like traditional windows but generate power. The United States alone has 5 million to 7 million square meters of glass surface — a lot of space for producing energy.

3. Improved Battery Storage

Solar power is great when the sun shines, but what happens when it goes down? You need a way to store that energy, meaning batteries. However, technology is improving at breakneck speeds in this regard. The first models were so inefficient that people wondered if they could replace fossil fuels. However, evolving technology increases storage capacity, allowing electric cars to go further and homes to stay warm.

4. Portable Solar

Is solar energy a class issue? In one way, it is. Previously, only those who owned their homes could afford to take advantage of this power.

However, portable systems have evolved. You can now find solar generators that run off panels and offer enough power to fuel a small RV if you’re savvy about energy use. This technology is also evolving rapidly as more individuals seek to disconnect from the grid — at least while they travel.

Alternative Energy Beyond Solar

At the moment, solar seems like the best solution to the energy crisis. However, other technologies also offer promise. Here are some of the emerging competitors that can help make the world a more sustainable place without turning off the lights:

• Wind power: Wind is another limitless power source. Downsides include the land necessary for wind farms and the possible risk to birds. Installing wind farms at sea is one possible solution to the problem of using arable land.

• Biofuels: Could your garbage become energy? Perhaps. Most biofuels burn cleaner than gasoline, producing fewer emissions and solving the problem of what to do with all that trash instead of sending it to landfills.

• Ocean energy: The same forces that move the tides and create tsunami-level waves could exceed humanity’s energy needs, although the technology for harnessing it is in its infancy.

• Geothermal power: The Earth has hydrothermal reservoirs, which, when tapped, could power the planet for approximately 100 years. Although greener than other fuels, this source is not infinite.

Solar Has the Power to End the Energy Crisis

At present, solar power presents the best solution to the energy crisis. Much of the technology and infrastructure to harness such power already exists — what remains is to improve its efficiency and get more consumers on board.

The energy problem is a tough one with various influencing factors. Solar and other alternative energies will eventually need to replace finite fossil fuels, leaving the Earth cleaner and greener.