EVSP320 Solar Energy Research Outline

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1 Solar Power: Harnessing the Sun's Potential for Sustainable Energy Outline Sidney Welch American Public University System EVSP 320: Energy and Resource Sustainability Dr. Daniel Reed September 10, 2023

2 Introduction In an era marked by unprecedented technological advancements and rapid environmental changes, the global community faces an imperative challenge: the transition to clean and sustainable energy sources. This imperative, born from the undeniable impact of human activities on our planet's delicate ecological balance, has cast a spotlight on renewable energy alternatives, among which solar power stands as a beacon of hope. In this research paper, we embark on a journey to explore the captivating realm of solar power and delve into its significance as a cornerstone in our quest for a sustainable energy future. At the heart of our exploration lies a brief yet comprehensive overview of solar power, one of the most promising and accessible forms of renewable energy available to us today. This radiant energy source, harnessed from the sun's inexhaustible and abundant light, holds immense potential to revolutionize the way we meet our energy needs. As we embark on this journey, we will uncover the fascinating science behind solar energy generation, the technological advancements that have propelled it forward, and the various applications that make it a viable solution for powering our world. However, our pursuit extends beyond the realms of science and technology. We stand at a critical juncture in history, where the choices we make about our energy sources have profound implications for the health of our planet and the well-being of future generations. The importance of transitioning to clean and sustainable energy sources has never been more evident. The negative consequences of our reliance on fossil fuels, such as greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation, loom ominously. The urgency to pivot towards renewable energy options, like solar power, not only mitigates these ecological threats but also offers a pathway to energy security, economic resilience, and a brighter, more sustainable future.

3 As we navigate through the pages of this research paper, we will gain a deeper understanding of solar power's potential as a renewable energy source and the critical role it plays in addressing the global challenges of climate change and resource depletion. Through scientific exploration, technological innovation, and a commitment to sustainability, we aim to shed light on the path forward – one where the power of the sun fuels our progress and shapes a world that thrives on clean, inexhaustible energy. Background Information I. Method of Producing Solar Energy a. Explanation of photovoltaic (PV) technology i. “Photovoltaic panels increase the energy efficiency of tensile membrane structures, while at the same time tensile membrane structures provide large areas for harvesting solar power.” (Milosevic & Marchwinski, 2022) b. How solar panels work i. Carbon and silicon are neighboring elements in the Periodic Table, with each having four valence electrons. They can combine to create molecules like methane or form solid structures such as graphite and diamond. Similarly, silicon is used to make monocrystalline silicon panels. In atoms, there are regions called bands, including the valence and conduction bands, where electrons can exist. When photons with energies between 1.1 and 3 eV hit monocrystalline silicon, they can move electrons to the conduction band. This process is enhanced by adding phosphorus-doped silicon on the Sun-facing side and boron-doped silicon on the underside, creating a flow of current when exposed to sunlight. Solar panels function

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4 as diodes, allowing current flow in one direction through the formation of a PN junction between the N-type and P-type layers. The efficiency of monocrystalline silicon panels depends on their internal temperature. As they heat up during the day, efficiency decreases, impacting overall performance. Understanding these principles is vital for optimizing solar power generation (Krisciunas, 2023). c. Conversion of sunlight into electricity i. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (n.d), explain when sunlight falls upon a solar panel, the photovoltaic (PV) cells within the panel absorb this energy. These absorbed photons then generate electrical charges within the cells. These charges are compelled to move due to an internal electrical field within the cell, resulting in the flow of electricity. d. Description of concentrated solar power (CSP) technology i. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) can transform direct solar energy into thermal energy using a light condensing and thermal collecting device, providing steam drive for a steam turbine, and driving a generator to generate electricity (Dev & Harison, 2022). Discussion II. Benefits and Costs of Solar Energy a. Benefits i. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions

5 1. “According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, utility- scale solar power produces between 394 and 447 MWh per acre per year. Thus, an acre of solar panels producing zero-emissions electricity saves between 267,526 to 303,513 pounds, or 121 to 138 metric tons, of carbon dioxide per year.” (Eisenson, 2022). ii. Renewable and abundant energy source iii. Energy independence and security iv. Low operating and maintenance costs 1. Total operating and maintenance costs, per year for 5kWp is about $700-$800 for a residential unit (Otman, 2023). v. Job creation in the solar industry 1. According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (n.d), to attain decarbonization, we must greatly expedite the adoption of clean energy, leading to the creation of an estimated 500,000 to 1.5 million jobs in the solar industry by 2035.” b. Costs i. Initial high installation costs 1. “According to the Center for Sustainable Energy (n.d), the average 5-kilowatt (kW) residential system will cost $10,000-$15,000, prior to tax credits or incentives.” ii. Dependence on sunlight availability iii. Energy storage challenges

6 1. “The US Department of Energy states (n.d) the effectiveness of modern energy storage devices is constrained by the capabilities of the materials they are composed of.” iv. Land use concerns for large-scale installations III. Environmental and Social Impacts a. Environmental Impacts i. Reduction in air pollution and carbon emissions ii. Preservation of natural resources and ecosystems iii. Mitigation of climate change effects 1. The fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change underscores the significance of bioenergy and carbon capture and storage in meeting climate objectives, while it does not recognize solar energy as a strategically vital technological choice. Land use considerations and potential habitat disruption (Creutzig et al., 2017). iv. Land use considerations and potential habitat disruption 1. Substantial alterations to the landscape are typically necessary, including tasks like clearing vegetation, leveling the land, compacting soil, removing unnecessary roads, and constructing primary access routes. These changes can result in heightened erosion, increased sediment in local streams, reduced filtration of rainwater and air pollutants, decreased groundwater recharge, and an elevated risk of flooding (Rabaia et al., 2021).

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7 b. Social Impacts i. Economic growth 1. Both the overall consumption of renewable energy and solar energy exhibit positive effects on economic growth, despite their relatively low proportions in total energy consumption and renewable energy consumption. In other words, based on the paper's findings, it could be argued that renewable energy sources, including solar energy, played a significant role in driving economic activities in the USA from 1984 to 2018 (Bulut & Apergis, 2021). ii. Energy access in remote or underserved areas 1. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (ESSI, n.d) explains that solar-powered microgrids, combining solar energy with battery storage, offer a solution to provide electricity for rural areas while simultaneously addressing energy vulnerabilities and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These microgrids are equipped with technology that enables them to operate independently when disconnected from the main grid. In regions where fossil fuel- based electricity generation is costly, particularly in remote and island communities that rely on imported oil, microgrids can effectively substitute it with solar energy sourced and owned by the local community. This shift toward locally produced solar power has the potential to bolster the local economy as it keeps

8 financial resources within the community, benefiting the residents. These initiatives not only create local employment opportunities but also stimulate economic growth at the community level. IV. Feasibility as a National (US) Energy Source a. Solar Energy Potential in the US i. The United States holds a prominent position as one of the world's leading solar power producers. It has a rich history of pioneering solar adoption through significant projects spanning various technologies, including photovoltaic systems, concentrated solar power, and solar heating and cooling. Furthermore, the nation is progressively venturing into new frontiers such as floating PV installations, integrated solar with energy storage solutions, and hybrid power plants (Tabassum et al., 2021). ii. Assessment of rooftop solar potential 1. In Los Angeles, rooftop solar installations have the capacity to meet 30% of a building's energy needs while also contributing surplus electricity to the grid (Porse et al., 2020). iii. Utility-scale solar farms and their contribution 1. Across all 50 states, the solar industry, employing nearly 253,000 Americans, plays a pivotal role in the country's energy landscape. Utility-scale solar farms contribute significantly to this, boasting a nationwide total capacity of 80 GW, sufficient to provide electricity to 18 million homes. As the third-largest source of

9 renewable energy, utility-scale solar is on a continuous growth trajectory (ACP, 2023). b. Technological Advancements and Market Trends i. Decline in solar panel costs and improved efficiency 1. A substantial portion of the cost reductions in the last decade can be linked to an impressive 85% drop in module prices. Ten years ago, the module itself came at a price of approximately $2.50 per watt. Nowadays, an entire utility-scale PV system is available for about $1 per watt," explained David Feldman, Senior Financial Analyst at NREL. "Alongside parallel reductions in hardware costs for storage systems, the combined impact has made both PV and storage considerably more accessible and affordable energy resources nationwide (NRel, n.d). ii. Energy storage innovations and grid integration 1. Thermal Energy Storage (TES), when used together with Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), allows power plants to store solar energy. They can then release this stored electricity as needed to balance out changes in the output of renewable energy sources. a. (Mubarrat et al., 2023) iii. Government incentives and policies promoting solar adoption 1. Since the approval of the Solar Incentive Tax Credit in 2006, the U.S. solar market has witnessed extraordinary growth, expanding by over 10,000%. This remarkable growth has led to the creation

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10 of thousands of jobs and an infusion of billions of dollars into the U.S. economy through solar investments. Consequently, Congress has repeatedly extended the expiration date of the tax credit to sustain this flourishing industry. Although there were scheduled rate reductions, the credit remained at 30% from 2006 through 2019 (Tabassum et al., 2021). c. Outlook i. Projected growth of solar capacity in the US 1. When equipped with effective strategies, solar energy indeed has the potential to become the primary energy source in the United States' ambitious goal of achieving a carbon-free power sector by 2035 and establishing a net-zero emission economy by 2050 (Tabassum et al., 2021). ii. Role of solar power in achieving renewable energy targets iii. Integration with emerging technologies (e.g., electric vehicles, smart cities) 1. Electric vehicles (EVs) can be viewed as excellent energy storage solutions for solar PV systems in commercial and office buildings. This is because EVs remain unused during the daytime, aligning perfectly with the time when solar PV systems require energy storage (Kandasamy et al., 2017).

11 Conclusion In conclusion, solar power stands out as a remarkable and environmentally friendly energy source with immense significance. Its clean and renewable nature holds the key to a sustainable future, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating the harmful effects of climate change. However, as we've explored in this research, realizing its full potential requires ongoing research, development, and robust policy support. The continuous pursuit of innovation and investment in solar energy technology will undoubtedly shape our energy landscape and bring us closer to achieving a sustainable and cleaner future for generations to come. Solar energy's radiant promise illuminates the path toward a greener and more sustainable world, where clean power from the sun can illuminate our lives and lead us toward a brighter, more eco- friendly future.

12 Literature Cited Bibliography Acp. (2023, August 1). Utility-scale solar power facts. ACP. https://cleanpower.org/facts/solar- power/ Bulut, U., & Apergis, N. (2021). A new methodological perspective on the impact of energy consumption on economic growth: time series evidence based on the Fourier approximation for solar energy in the USA. GeoJournal, 86(4), 1969–1980. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-020-10171-x Creutzig, F., Agoston, P., Goldschmidt, J. C., Luderer, G., Nemet, G., & Pietzcker, R. C. (2017). The underestimated potential of solar energy to mitigate climate change. Nature Energy, 2(9), 17140–. https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2017.140 Department of Energy. (n.d.). https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2019/07/f64/2018-OTT- Energy-Storage-Spotlight.pdf Dev, D. R., & Harison, D. S. (2022). A Review on Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Emerging Technology. I-Manager's Journal on Electrical Engineering, 16(1), 38-44. https://doi.org/10.26634/jee.16.1.19196 Eisenson, M. (2022, November 1). Solar panels reduce CO2 emissions more per acre than trees - and much more than corn ethanol. State of the Planet. https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2022/10/26/solar-panels-reduce-co2-emissions-more- per-acre-than-trees-and-much-more-than-corn-ethanol/#:~:text=According%20to%20the %20Lawrence%20Berkeley,of%20carbon%20dioxide%20per%20year .

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13 Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI). (n.d.). Microgrids and energy improvements in rural areas. EESI. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/microgrids-and-energy- improvements-in-rural-areas Kandasamy, N. K., Kandasamy, K., & Tseng, K. J. (2017). Loss-of-life investigation of EV batteries used as smart energy storage for commercial building-based solar photovoltaic systems. IET Electrical Systems in Transportation, 7(3), 223–229. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-est.2016.0056 Krisciunas, K. (2023). How solar panels work, in theory and in practice. AIP Advances, 13(8). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0153883 Milosevic, V., & Marchwinski, J. (2022). Photovoltaic Technology Integration with Tensile Membrane Structures - a Critical Review. Tehnički Vjesnik, 29(2), 702–713. https://doi.org/10.17559/TV-20201122151410 Mubarrat, M., Mashfy, M. M., Farhan, T., & Ehsan, M. M. (2023). Research Advancement and Potential Prospects of Thermal Energy Storage in Concentrated Solar Power Application. International Journal of Thermofluids, 20, 100431–. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijft.2023.100431 NRel. (n.d.). Documenting a decade of cost declines for PV Systems. NREL.gov. https://www.nrel.gov/news/program/2021/documenting-a-decade-of-cost-declines-for- pv-systems.html

14 Office of ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLE ENERGY. (n.d.-a). Solar Futures Study. Energy.gov. https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-futures-study Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. (n.d.). How does solar work?. Energy.gov. https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/how-does-solar-work#:~:text=Photovoltaics %20Basics&text=When%20the%20sun%20shines%20onto,cell%2C%20causing %20electricity%20to%20flow . Otman. (2023, February 24). What are the solar panel maintenance cost?. Power From Sunlight. https://www.powerfromsunlight.com/operational-costs-solar-panel-system/ Porse, E., Fournier, E., Cheng, D., Hirashiki, C., Gustafson, H., Federico, F., & Pincetl, S. (2020). Net solar generation potential from urban rooftops in Los Angeles. Energy Policy, 142, 111461–. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111461 Rabaia, M. K. H., Abdelkareem, M. A., Sayed, E. T., Elsaid, K., Chae, K.-J., Wilberforce, T., & Olabi, A. G. (2021). Environmental impacts of solar energy systems: A review. The Science of the Total Environment, 754, 141989–141989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141989 Solar energy adoption: Information for homeowners and small businesses. Center for Sustainable Energy. (n.d.). https://energycenter.org/thought-leadership/blog/solar-energy-adoption- information-homeowners-and-small-businesses Tabassum, S., Rahman, T., Islam, A. U., Rahman, S., Dipta, D. R., Roy, S., Mohammad, N., Nawar, N., & Hossain, E. (2021). Solar Energy in the United States: Development,

15 Challenges and Future Prospects. Energies (Basel), 14(23), 8142–. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14238142

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