The solar industry and the utility sector experience many benefits in setting up solar plants, yet companies need to consider some of its challenges.
FREMONT, CA: Solar and wind power are one of the most promising energy sources. From photovoltaic windows or textiles on buildings to possible applications in cars, clothes, and gadgets, it is now the cheapest form of energy at the point of production.
Fuels such as fossil fuels have the advantage of being able to be burned at any time to provide energy. Even though solar power is intermittent, it is still unpredictable. Seasonal changes and day-night cycles influence power output the most, while unexpected variations are relatively small. While intermittency is still a challenge, it is possible to plan power management and infrastructure around the predictable aspects of solar power.
A study conducted by IRENA estimates that solar power can supply a quarter of the world's electricity needs. A solar-powered future faces multiple challenges, as do all energy technologies.
The following are a few challenges solar companies need to address.
Storage: It takes vast energy storage reserves to fully use solar power, as it is intermittent. This means electricity can be produced when the weather is sunny, then used when it is overcast or cloudy. Batteries are usually involved. They do, however, come with their problems, such as the need for vast quantities of lithium, which is in high demand among electric vehicles (EVs) and is associated with dangerous and polluting mining activities.
Research suggests it may be possible to store electricity generated by solar panels on rooftops by using the battery in the EV parked outside houses. The future holds other energy storage options, including electrolyzed hydrogen, which is the focus of much research, but this is not yet a practical solution.
Connectivity: The vast cabling infrastructure of the southwestern United States would enable large solar farms to extend over sparsely populated, very sunny areas like the deserts and transport the energy generated to major cities in the colder northeast.
The construction of such infrastructure would be an enormous undertaking, particularly since it would need to cross privately owned land. According to researchers, there is a major issue with distribution in the US, and there are many challenges associated with getting land allocated for new electricity distribution orders.
