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Solar Electric

When you mention the words solar power, many people jump directly to solar electric power. This is not surprising. Much of the energy consumption of mankind is electric, and converting sunlight to electricity is a great way to wean ourselves onto renewable energy sources. However, it is not the only use for solar power, and it may surprise you to find out that it’s the least efficient use of the sun’s energy we have.

Solar electric power, or photovoltaic power, is generated when the sunlight striking a material generates an electric charge. The strength of the charge in relation to the amount of light striking the material is the conversion rate. The efficiency of that conversion is that rate compared to the possible electric potential in the light. Currently solar panels that you buy run around 25-30% efficiency.

This efficiency rate makes them roughly cost equivalent to burning fossil fuels over a 5-6 year period. If the panels last longer than that, they are a savings over the alternative means of generating electricity. If they don’t last that long, they are more expensive. The intriguing part of that statement is that it is a straight cost-benefit analysis. It doesn’t consider other factors, such as spiking costs for fossil fuels over the next 5 years, or possible reductions in cost. That statement doesn’t tell you that solar panels are engineered for a minimum of 10 years of use. It also doesn’t consider things such as carbon emissions, which contribute to global warming.

            If you take things such as that into account, there is a clear edge given to solar electric power. It doesn’t pollute, it is cheaper over the long term, and it insures you against future energy price spikes. So why isn’t solar power more prevalent? Well initial cost is the easy answer. If you consider it, do you have the cost of your next five years of power bills lying around? Most people don’t, and if they do they are saving it for a purpose.            

 

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