Economics And Politics Involvements In Solar Energy

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Introduction

In this world now days it is important to think about the alternative energy sources for electricity. Reasons for that are pollution, cost, safety and rapid increase of electric energy needs. Using alternative energy source helps many of the natural resources which uses now a days as energy resources. There are 2 types of energy:

Renewable energy sources: Solar energy, Wind energy, Wave energy, geothermal energy, Hydro-electric energy, Biomass energy, Tidal energy etc.

Non renewable energy sources: Oil & Gas energy, Nuclear energy, Coal energy etc.

Renewable energy source is energy generated from natural resources and it can be generated again and again when they need. It is available in many sources and much cleaner than most of the energy available on earth. Non-renewable energy is energy that is taken from sources that are available on earth in limited quantities and will finish or last long in some years. Non-renewable sources are not environmentally friendly and they are dangerous for human health.

Requirements Analysis

2.1) Technology behind Solar Energy

Solar energy technologies transform the energy in sunlight into electrical and Heat energy. There are two types of solar energy sources available:

• Solar thermal converter

• Solar photovoltaic converter

Solar electricity produces through photovoltaic, which is transform light energy into electricity. Photovoltaic panel have two or more thin layers, which are semi-conducting material. For this normally use silicon. Photovoltaic cells are interconnected and encapsulated to form a panel. Solar rays, which are coming from sun, are captured by the solar panels. When light comes to silicon, it generates electrons that are carried away by a metal grid as a direct current. Then sent through an inverter and converted into alternating current for normal use of electricity.

In Solar thermal collectors there are dark coloured panels used to absorb the heat which coming from the Sun. Solar panels take heat, and then transfer to fluids go through the panel. Solar thermal collectors use the sun’s energy to boil water into steam. This steam spins a turbine by use the high pressure. From this rotational energy formed and that is then transformed into electricity by using generator.

From above two methods electricity produces from solar energy and it help for normal electricity needs.

2.2) Technology behind Wind Energy

Wind turbines produce electricity by using the wind to drive a generator. Wind is a natural power. As natural source wind energy is clean, so wind energy does not give pollution and it will never run out. Now days Wind energy technology is rapidly increase, due to technology turbines are becoming low cost and more energetically than earlier. As natural energy source wind energy is renewable. Now day’s United Kingdom is at the hub of this high-technology industry.

Wind turbines producing electricity for the national grid through rotor blades. These blades rotate around a horizontal hub which is connected to a gearbox and a generator. These are located in turbine. Also turbine contains electrical components and is mounted at the top of the tower. This turbine called as a 'horizontal axis' machine.

The equation for energy or power is: P = 0.5 ρ v3 A

In Here, P – Power (W) ρ – Density of air (kg/m3) v - Wind speed (m/s)

A - Area = π D2 / 4 (m2) D – Diameter

So we can see through this equation if blade’s speed and diameter of that is increase then power automatically increases.

Small Turbines (≤10 kW)

Homes

Farms

Remote Applications

(Water pumping, telecom sites, ice making)

Configuration: 2 or 3 blades passive yaw

Generator: Direct-drive, permanent magnet, alternator

Controller: Electronic device that delivers DC power for charging batteries, AC power for utility interconnection

Medium Turbines (10 kW-1 MW)

Village Power

Hybrid Systems

Distributed Power

Configuration: 2 or 3 blades passive yaw, active yaw

Generator: Direct-drive or geared, induction, 1 or 3 phase power

Large Turbines (1 MW +)

Configuration: 2 or 3 blades active yaw

Generator: synchronous, induction, gear box, 3-phase AC

Central station wind farms

Distributed power

Community wind

Implementations

Stages of development of Solar Energy

1860- Early stage of solar technologies because an expectation that coal source will last quickly and coal is non-renewable energy.

Early 20th century- Development of solar technologies increases because of the increasing availability, economy, and utility of coal and petroleum.

Due to 1973 oil crisis and a 1979 energy problems a reorganization of energy policies around the world. It created renewed attention to developing solar technologies. 

Commercial solar water heaters began appearing in the United States in the 1890s. These systems saw increasing use until the 1920s but were gradually replaced by cheaper and more reliable heating fuels. As with photovoltaic solar water heater attracted renewed attention as a result of the oil crises in the 1970s but interest subsided in the 1980s due to falling petroleum prices.

Development in the area of ​​solar water heaters has grown steadily over the years 1990and growth rates have averaged 20% per year since 1999. Although generally underestimated, solar water heating and cooling technology is by far the most widely used solar with an estimated capacity to 154 GW in 2007.

Stages of development of Wind Energy

Wind power uses for at least 5,500 years to propel sailboats. Windmills used for water pumping and for milling grain since the 7th century.

In the United States, the development of the "water-pumping wind system" was the major factor in allowing the farming and ranching of vast. Wind pumps contributed to the expansion of rail transport systems throughout the world, by pumping water from water wells for the steam. The multi-bladed wind turbine atop a lattice tower made of wood or steel was, for many years, a fixture of the landscape throughout rural America. When fitted with generators and battery banks, small wind machines provided electricity to isolated farms.

1887- Scottish academic, Professor James Blyth, undertook wind power experiments that culminated in a UK patent in 1891. 

1887-1888- In the United States, Charles F. Brush produced electricity using a wind powered machine

1890- Danish scientist and inventor Poul la Cour constructed wind turbines to generate electricity, which was then used to produce hydrogen.

20th century early- Small wind turbines for lighting of isolated rural buildings were widespread.

1931- Larger units intended for connection to a distribution network were tried at several locations in USSR.

1979- The modern wind power industry began in 1979 with the serial production of wind turbines

Since then, they have increased greatly in size, with the Enercon E-126 capable of delivering up to 7 MW, while wind turbine production has expanded to many countries.

Economics & Politics Involvements

4.1) Economics & Politics Involvements in Solar Energy

The Western Sahara is an important region for a variety of reasons. The prevalence of sun makes it an ideal location for solar energy facilities, and the area is rich in phosphate. The disputed territory is also the subject of a tug-of-war between Morocco and the Algerian backed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which wants it to become an independent state.

When German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said that:

"The main thing is that everyone involved places their faith in negotiations and dialogue," Westerwelle said. "What we want to communicate to our partners is the message of non-violence."

Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri said that:

"You have heard the German Foreign Minister, who said appeals to violence, such as those unfortunately issued by Polisario and Algeria, will not lead to a solution," Fihri said. "We greatly value the statement that negotiations are the most important thing."

So from above statements we can justify the economical political involvements through solar energy.

4.2) Economics & Politics Involvements in Wind Energy

The UK had a different energy outlook in the 1980s. Nuclear energy was on the agenda, North Sea oil was plentiful and some coal reserves remained. While R&D investments were made in the wind energy sector, the industry was not considered a priority from a policy perspective and installed capacity grew very slowly.

The introduction of the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) in the 1990s provided a price support mechanism for renewable energy developers to compete for premium priced energy contracts. Bidders competed primarily on price; the lowest prices received government allocated capacity first.

For this we can compare UK and Denmark as follows:

UK

£140 million on R&D 1980-2000

1989 Electricity Act privatised UK electricity generation. The Non Fossil Fuel Obligation was intended to support the nuclear industry but was later expanded to include renewables.

DENMARK

£120 million (€140 million) on R&D 1980-2000

Stable financial support for 20 years: 85 per cent of retail price and later, a premium of 3p/kWh spurred domestic growth of wind energy.

Change of government in 2001 altered the support scheme and as a result, stalled domestic growth of wind energy.

Discussion

Solar Energy Comparison with other energy sources

There are many advantages of solar energy compare with other energy sources.

Use of cheap barren lands not frequently affected by climatic changes and that typically have sunny weather condition throughout the year

As solar power is free , it reduced operating cost

Reduced harmful effects to environment are compared to using other energy like crude oil

Renewable as long as the life time of the sun

Eliminates air pollution

Business and commercial use on a large scale as well as communities and individuals small scale

Also there are some disadvantages in solar energy sources.

Power producing plants adjust to solar energy only being available during the daytime because of sun.

Energy conversion rates are low compared to other source of energy

High capital cost requirement for the production of materials and installation of solar system

Wind Energy Comparison with other energy sources

There are many advantages in wind energy compare with other energy source.

Low cost – Competitive with nuclear, coal and gas on a level playing field

The fuel is free, abundant and inexhaustible

Clean energy - no resulting carbon dioxide emissions

Security of supply - Avoids reliance on imported fuels because wind is natural

Modular and rapid to install

Provides bulk power equivalent to other energy sources

Environment friendly - Agricultural activity can do around the land which is around wind turbines.

Wind Power is Limitless

In other hand there are some disadvantages also there in wind energy source.

Wind power is down to the winds unreliability factor. The winds strength is too low to support a wind turbine and this is where the use of solar energy or geothermal energy could be great alternatives.

produce allot less electricity than the average fossil fuelled power station if need to produce more electricity requiring multiple wind turbines

Construction can be very expensive and costly to surrounding wildlife during the build process.

Very noise pollution from commercial wind turbines is sometimes similar to a small jet engine.

Conclusion

From above we can conclude that wind energy and solar energy is good energy sources compare to other energy sources. There are some disadvantages. But as we know nothing is 100% advantage all have some sort of disadvantages.

As the safety solar and wind are natural so they are more safety than any other energy sources. Also they are renewable energy sources.