The Future is Bright

Image Gallery Uni-Solar's 1.5 Kilowatt PV shire roofing system, used to power the University of Deaver's Meyer-Womble Observatory at the top of Mt. Evans in Colorado.

Energy and Environment

How do we know solar is here to stay? Amoco is producing PVs.

By Molly Miller

"Technology that grew up in space can finally be brought down to earth."

—Frederico Peña U.S. Secretary of Energy

As we get closer to fully employing the simple, abundant, and absolutely free energy from the star at the center of our planetary system, we get closer to becoming a civilized society. A leap to solar power would solve about a hundred earthly problems. In his recent speech to the United Nations Special Session on Environment and Development, President Clinton made his best point on the topic of solar energy by quoting John Muir: "When we try to pick anything out by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe." PV (photovoltaic) energy produces no air pollution, hazardous waste, or noise, and requires no transportable fuels. Politically, it offers our nation freedom from being at the mercy of the Middle East and from the necessity of exploiting resources in our own nation's pristine natural areas, such as Utah. The only catch, of course, continues to be the cost.

OUR LAST BEST HOPE:

As we get closer to fully employing the energy of the sun, we get closer to being a civilized society...unchained to fuel from the Persian Gulf.

Solar cells or panels have been used in space for many decades to power most satellites and shuttles, but the private sector has had very little access to this technology because of the high cost of materials (crystalline silicon technology) that convert sunlight into electricity. The latest quest in the development of solar technology has been to bring that cost down. One of the most successful ways to emerge recently is the use of thin films of silicon. The thinness allows easier absorption of light and can be coupled with less expensive materials. Several promising new products that use thin film are on the market. As Germany and Japan manufacture and market more solar technology, the U.S. is pumping money into R & D and sponsoring government initiatives to try to keep up with the competition. Some government attention is better than none, but other countries have provided much stronger incentives for manufacturers and for consumers. The most encouraging evidence that solar is here to stay, and will become more marketable and more cost effective, is that existing manufacturers of PV systems are expanding production and building new plants. Despite mergers of American and foreign companies and joint ventures with German and Japanese companies, America still has the competitive edge on developing, manufacturing, and marketing in this high tech industry. But will we keep it? With an entrenched electric utilities grid, will solar energy be only for export or will it be made available to us in our homes and businesses?