This is almost embarrassing to say out loud…the United States, a great proponent of finding and using renewable energy sources, shows statistically as getting less than 1% of the energy needs met through the use of solar power.
The United States has good solar potential, or radiation nearly everywhere. But coal, gas and oil are more fully developed as an energy source, and viewed as more cost-efficient and reliable, therefore more widely used. Looking at cost-efficiency and reliability, however, what fails to get taken into account is the environmental pollution and the alarming disappearance of all our non-renewable resources.
Global warming has brought on demands for reduction in the creation of greenhouse gases. This combined with ever-escalating costs associated with finding, producing and bringing coal, gas and oil to market, is heating up the demand for alternative energy sources including and particularly solar energy, at all levels of the market.
To help drive down the cost of installing solar energy, there are many specific federal and state laws that permit homeowners, and private businesses, to credit their purchases of a solar power system against their annual income tax payments. By offering a 30% energy tax credit, the federal government is providing a strong incentive for renewable energy system purchase and installation. And in addition, there are many state and local rebates available to assist as well.
Industrial applications for solar energy have increased slowly in urban areas across the United States. However, solar energy has been the only available power source for many TV, radio and microwave stations in remote areas for some time. What is also increasing in the industrial area is the number of solar powered traffic signals and road signs.
There are a few states and cities, including and especially California, that are rapidly taking advantage of solar power. Using various methods of solar energy collection, distribution of power for these central power applications is very similar to their current grid methods, on a smaller scale.
If you want to see one of the United States more promising, and aggressive moves into the solar age, check out the U. S. Department of Energy’s alliance with Solar American Cities. Kicking off in 2007 with 12 cities, 25 current metropolitan areas are now working together with private companies, and government agencies; developing methods for municipal power solar energy use. According to a statement in Solar Panels Power, “[The] Cities . . . are taking action to make solar energy a more viable option for their communities. These Solar America Cities are using innovative approaches to remove market barriers to solar and to encourage adoption of solar energy technologies at the local level.” While their primary efforts have been focused on reducing costs for photovoltaic (PV) cells in order to create a more competitive market, their greatest achievement has undoubtedly been the streamlining of the permitting process. Solar energy installations are taking the forefront with rapid approvals, which, coupled with removal of other market barriers is helping to propel municipal power solar energy power adoption.
Deterrents for broader use of active solar energy systems through photovoltaic (PV) cells in the United States have been its cost and space requirements. One of the most promising new developments is coming from Sandia National Laboratories, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In the latter part of 2009, they announced the creation of “glitter-sized solar photovoltaics.” According to their news release on this new technology, both the cost of PV’s, and the space requirements for using the new PV cells will be dramatically reduced as the benefits of scale are introduced.
Through the potential for improvements in performance, reduced costs and higher efficiencies of the smaller PV cells, solar energy could be captured and used as diversely as on clothing used by hunters, hikers, and military personnel, who could then power items like cell phones, flashlights, etc., while in remote areas.
At the same time, commercial application potential is enormous. According to Sandia field engineer, Vipin Gupta, “Photovoltaic modules made from these microsized cells for the rooftops of homes and warehouses could have intelligent controls, inverters and even storage built in at the chip level. Such an integrated module could greatly simplify the cumbersome design, bid, permit and grid integration process that our solar technical assistance teams see in the field all the time.”
Requiring very little material to form “well controlled and highly efficient devices”, the new microcells will be significantly cheaper to produce, and much easier to install, especially when compared to current technologies.
While the United States may still be behind many other countries, including those in Europe, Asia and China, there is clearly an unprecedented incentive and desire as a nation to not only catch up, but surpass other countries in our development and use of solar power.
Want to find out more about solar power information, then visit Timothy Peters’s site at: www.HomeSolarPowerExplained.com
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