Solar System
Discovery Guides
Why Not the Sun? Advantages of and Problems with Solar Energy by Ethan Goffman I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. – Thomas Alva Edison, 1931 The oil embargo of the 1970s prompted a national surge of interest in solar energy. A solar water heater was installed in the White House, and photovoltaic panels first came into play, notably in California. While previously solar power as a direct source of electricity had been limited to esoteric functions, such as in spacecraft, companies began to form with the idea of using solar as a regular source of power for ordinary homes. Theoretically, solar might seem an ideal energy source, as it is free and virtually limitless. According to Greenpeace, ―The solar radiation reaching the earth‘s surface in one year provides more than 10,000 times the world‘s yearly energy needs‖ (4). Furthermore, ―harnessing just one-quarter of the solar energy that falls on the world's paved areas could meet all current global energy needs comfortably‖ (Flavin). Yet the technological barriers to harvesting this energy are great regarding collection, distribution, and storage.
President Carter inspecting a solar heating panel installed on the roof of the White House. Photo: Jimmy Carter Library. http://www.aip.org/history/newsletter/fall2003/carterphoto.htm
Through the end of the 20th century, solar remained a power source for the eccentric few, accounting for well under 1% of energy generation. As the energy crisis waned, it quickly became apparent that solar was not competitive with conventional energy sources, such as coal. One commentator well captures the frustration: ―For years, supporters of solar power have heralded every new technical breakthrough as a revolution in the making. Yet time and again it has failed to materialise, largely because the technology was too expensive and inefficient. It simply
Why Not the Sun? Advantages of and Problems with Solar Energy by Ethan Goffman I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. – Thomas Alva Edison, 1931 The oil embargo of the 1970s prompted a national surge of interest in solar energy. A solar water heater was installed in the White House, and photovoltaic panels first came into play, notably in California. While previously solar power as a direct source of electricity had been limited to esoteric functions, such as in spacecraft, companies began to form with the idea of using solar as a regular source of power for ordinary homes. Theoretically, solar might seem an ideal energy source, as it is free and virtually limitless. According to Greenpeace, ―The solar radiation reaching the earth‘s surface in one year provides more than 10,000 times the world‘s yearly energy needs‖ (4). Furthermore, ―harnessing just one-quarter of the solar energy that falls on the world's paved areas could meet all current global energy needs comfortably‖ (Flavin). Yet the technological barriers to harvesting this energy are great regarding collection, distribution, and storage.
President Carter inspecting a solar heating panel installed on the roof of the White House. Photo: Jimmy Carter Library. http://www.aip.org/history/newsletter/fall2003/carterphoto.htm
Through the end of the 20th century, solar remained a power source for the eccentric few, accounting for well under 1% of energy generation. As the energy crisis waned, it quickly became apparent that solar was not competitive with conventional energy sources, such as coal. One commentator well captures the frustration: ―For years, supporters of solar power have heralded every new technical breakthrough as a revolution in the making. Yet time and again it has failed to materialise, largely because the technology was too expensive and inefficient. It simply