Solar is now a vital part of our energy future

The most recent climate reports paint an even gloomier picture than the previous alarming studies. How can this be? Scientists have warned of grave danger if we don't adopt clean energy very soon. This is nothing new. Why has mankind collectively failed to heed these warnings? Is it a matter of disrespect for science in general? Whatever the reasons, we are already paying an enormous price for burning fossil fuels. Climate change is real. Man’s activities have polluted the planet and we have an apparent need for alternative energy sources that don’t add to the deterioration of the planet. The sun provides a colossal resource for generating clean and sustainable electricity without toxic pollution or global warming discharges. The potential environmental impacts connected with solar power — land use and habitat loss, water use, and the use of hazardous materials in manufacturing — can vary considerably depending on the technology, which includes two broad categories: photovoltaic (PV) solar cells or concentrating solar thermal plants (CSP).

Solar systems impacted by the environment

Environmental factors can considerably affect where solar systems are deployed. Depending on their location, larger utility-scale solar facilities can raise anxieties about land degradation and habitat loss. Total land area requirements vary depending on the technology, the topography of the site, and the intensity of the solar resource. Estimates for utility-scale PV systems range from 3.5 to 10 acres per megawatt, while appraisals for CSP facilities are between 4 and 16.5 acres per megawatt. Unlike wind facilities, there is less chance for solar projects to share the land with agricultural uses. Land impacts from utility-scale solar systems can be minimized by placing them at lower-quality locations such as brownfields, abandoned mining land, or existing transportation and transmission corridors.

How is water affected by solar energy?

Solar PV cells do not utilize water for generating electricity. However, as in all manufacturing processes, some water is used to manufacture solar PV components. Solar thermal plants (CSP), like all thermal electric plants, require water for cooling. Water use depends on the plant design, plant location, and the kind of cooling system. CSP plants that use wet-recirculating technology with cooling towers withdraw between 600 and 650 gallons of water per megawatt-hour of electricity produced. CSP plants with once-through cooling technology have greater levels of water withdrawal, but lower total water consumption (because water is not lost as steam). Dry-cooling technology can reduce water use at CSP plants by approximately 90 percent. Moreover, the tradeoffs to these water savings are higher costs and lower effectiveness. Dry-cooling technology is significantly less effective at temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The geographical regions in the United States that have the greatest potential for solar energy also tend to be those with the driest climates, so careful thought of these water tradeoffs is essential. It is important to remember that solar still runs even when the sun is not shining!

More than twenty years have passed since diplomats from around the world emerged from a conference hall in Kyoto, Japan.  What came from this important meeting? The meeting produced the first deal ever to limit carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases. All but one of the world’s nations — the United States — have enlisted in the cause, making impressive commitments to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

Global carbon-dioxide emissions have finally stopped climbing. The use of coal in China may have peaked. The cost of wind turbines and solar panels is dropping quickly, putting renewable energy within the reach of smaller budgets in countries of the developing world.

Now is the time to join the solar revolution!

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