Category: Renewable Energy

Here Comes the Sun:

Recent News on How Solar Power is Altering the Energy Landscape

Each day the earth receives more energy from the sun than humans could consume over the course of a quarter of a century, yet we still seem to be in the early stages of learning how to use that energy. The possibilities of utilizing the sun’s heat as an energy resource have been explored through the years, beginning with primitive methods like using magnifying glasses to create fire. However, several factors are bringing the emerging technology to the forefront today. First, the robust global environmentalism movement has generated a keen awareness about the need to preserve the earth’s non-renewable resources and focus on renewable forms of energy. In addition, the current economic and political climate demands that we find new ways to power our lives.

Despite the shortcomings of solar energy, the recent news is promising. The success of several modern advances suggests that good things are on the horizon for solar power.

Overcoming the Solar Energy Storage Conundrum

The chief challenge to making solar energy a viable option for most of the world is that it’s only available when the sun is out – generally, half of each day. Although the sun provides an abundant source of clean energy, it’s not always accessible.

Recent news about a new solar project located the Nevada desert has renewed interest and shined a promising light on the future of solar energy. The project led by a division of California-based SolarReserve, LLC takes advantage of new technology involving salt. During the day, power is generated by the sun heating salt, which can be stored for an extended period of time. Although the technology that introduced this salt storage method was first tested decades ago, it never took off. Today, with increased efforts to develop alternative sources of energy, the interest in this process is growing.

Other companies are working to extend the sun’s heating powers using similar ideas. BrightSource Energy, Inc. is one of several companies that use a hybrid solar-thermal technology to prolong the effectiveness of solar power into the night. BrightSource plans to construct a plant where the effect of the sun’s daytime heat will be carried into the evening through operation of solar powered steam generators.

Governmental Involvement

With progress on the horizon in the private sector, the government is taking notice. The U.S. Department of Energy recently issued loan guarantees to American companies developing renewable energy technologies. Although critics feared that more borrowers would suffer the fate of energy company Solyndra at the expense of the American taxpayer, an independent oversight committee suggests that the loan guarantee program was a resounding success. In fact, a huge majority of the projects launched by this public funding achieved a great deal and have paved the way for new innovation in the industry. Not only are most of the borrowers on track to pay back their loans, the federal government will receive millions of dollars in interest from the program.

Solar Energy Leads to Job Creation

Research suggests that investment in solar energy helps with job creation. The Department of Revenue’s loan guarantee program has been credited with contributing to the creation of over 50,000 jobs for Americans. In addition, a report from the Solar Energy Industry Association indicates that the solar power industry currently employs a huge number of American workers, with the number expected to increase dramatically as existing technologies are perfected and new methods emerge. Some attribute this phenomenon to the fact that harnessing solar energy is a rather labor-intensive process.

Record Set in Germany

On one particular weekend in Germany in early 2012, approximately 50% of the country’s electricity was generated by solar power. Not surprisingly, that represented a world record. Although Germany is at the forefront of the movement to develop and utilize renewable energy, this achievement provides a shining example for nations across the globe.

As long as scientific innovation provides a glimmer of hope that solar power can replace (at least in part) our reliance on fossil fuels, the issue will remain near the top of the American political agenda. The same is true in many other countries, where efforts to utilize the technology far surpass that in the United States.

Brent Hardy oversees all corporate construction & facilities management activities for Extra Space Storage and leads corporate sustainability programs, implementing solar power, energy efficiencies and more. He writes about corporate sustainable practices at blog.extraspace.com/category/sustainability.