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Making Solar Energy More Economical

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Making Solar Energy More Economical
MAKING SOLAR ENERGY MORE ECONOMICAL

EE1001
Engineering Grand Challenge

1. Introduction
The purpose of this position paper is to present solutions to the following engineering grand challenge – making solar energy more economical. It outlines the problems, our proposed solutions, and the feasibility of these recommendations.
1.1 Motivation
One of the greatest motivators is the pressing issue regarding our current over reliance on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are limited and are non-renewable. According to credible projections, we will deplete petroleum in a 100 years, natural gas in 170 years and coal in 230 years. (Karin Zeitvogel, 2010)
It would be ideal if we eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels before they are completely exhausted. If we do not start finding alternative energy sources now, we may run into the risk of being forced to use coal in the near future, which causes heavy pollution or, in the worst case scenario, run into an energy crisis when an absolute end of fossil fuel is reached.
1.2 Focus
Our focus is on solar energy and proposing ways to make it more economical so that it will be widely adopted. The fact that the sun baths the Earth with more energy every hour than the world consumes in a year makes it a very promising resource to tap on.

2. Problems

Solar power is an attractive alternative to fossil fuels due to its huge availability and sustainability, but it is not without problems. Presently, solar energy is mainly captured by solar panels and then converted into electricity. However, the efficiency of today’s solar panels is only about 10 to 20 percent. Furthermore, given the high manufacturing costs of solar cells, the final electricity produced would has a cost 3 to 6 times as much as the current prices. (National academy of engineering, n.d.) Solar panels are not widely used today due to the high cost of installation and low efficiency which lead to more expensive energy generation per Watt.

Why Solar

There


References: Agricultural energy crops. (n.d.). BIOMASS Energy Centre. Retrieved from http://www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk/portal/page?_pageid=75,17372&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL Diane Lefrandt. (2012, September 12). Solar3D unveils its working prototype at an event hosted by the Institute for Energy Efficiency. Retrieved from http://iee.ucsb.edu/solar3d High Efficiency Design to Produce 200% of the Power Output of Conventional Solar Cells. (2010). Retrieved from http://solar3d.com/technology.php Karin Zeitvogel (AFP). (2010, November 15). Oil will run out 100 years before new fuels developed: study. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jv-QP6noOoD7u3wQqJG3xyvon-2Q?docId=CNG.c3a7214bcfe6083ee696ade4d9402691.6d1 Paul Denholm and Robert Margolis. (2008, November). Supply Curves for Rooftop Solar PV-Generated Electricity for the United States. Retrieved from http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy09osti/44073.pdf Sam Baldwin. (2011, April 20). Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy: Challenges and Opportunities. SuperCluster Expo Colorado State University. U.S. Department of Energy. Retrieved from http://energy.colostate.edu/docs/BaldwinTalkColoradoStateUniversity2011-04-20final.pdf
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