Well, contrary to the beliefs of skeptics and denialists, the Sun is not causing climate change – but it certainly has the potential to bring about change of a different nature.
There is an American company revolutionising the manufacture of photovoltaic (ie, Solar) panels for generation of Solar Power. This technology looks extremely promising.
I have been saying for years that the key to using Solar for mass power generation is to blanket every roof/surface with solar panels, essentially making a city into its own power-plant.
This technology makes the dream a reality.
Check out the clip over at Conscious EarthÂ
July 20, 2007 at 10:11 am |
Your suggestion still does not solve the problem of a lack of sunlight at night. does it?
July 20, 2007 at 2:57 pm |
Ahh, yes my friend – but clearly you have not watched the clip which you will find at the Conscious Earth site.
Solar Power does not operate by producing electricity which is then immediately used. Otherwise, in daylight (and especially in summer), there would be more electricity generated than could be used. This is called – in layman’s terms – “surplus”.
Surplus energy is then stored – usually in a device called a “battery” – so that it can be used later, when there is a need.
This kind of thing occurs now with our Coal-burning systems. Hence why Power companies here in Victoria (for example) can sell surplus energy to another state like NSW or Queensland. In fact, the power blackouts Victoria experienced during the bushfires last summer were because the lines that provide surplus energy from NSW were damaged, and Victoria used more than it had; hence, power blackouts!
By making a city become one giant, solar-power generator, you maximise the amount of power you can generate in daylight. Power is fed back on to a centralised grid and stored for use at night (or low-light times, like Winter). You could still use other technologies to provide back-up in these times; Coal-burning could be one of these emergency back-ups – it would still drastically reduce carbon-based emissions wouldn’t it?
The beauty of this new technology is the fact that it can be manufactured cheaper, better, and in greater quantities – which is the problem with current Solar technology.
Another interesting point with Solartech is that it is relatively ‘guarded’ technology. No longer can you buy some panels and set up your own system (which I am told is quite easy). Now you need to get a registered Electrician, and go through a certificate and permit system which is expensive and tedious.
I’m sure there was a time when there were folk who didn’t see the necessity of putting phone lines into every household, or connecting Gas (in East Gippsland, where the Gas lines are only now being rolled out, there are people like that now!) or even Electricity. It will not hurt or cause any major dramas for every roof to have photovoltaic cells which catch sunlight and convert it to electricity, which is then put back into the grid and shared by everybody.
Unless of course the power companies decide to use it for their own profitable ends instead of providing a basic service!
July 26, 2007 at 4:48 am |
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