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Learn About Seven Myths of Solar Electricity. Find out the truth about solar energy as an alternative source of power
Myths of solar electricity: Today there is much discussion and research on replacing our traditional power sources. Solar power is at the top of list as a possible alternative source of energy. With costs of traditional sources rising, and with the desire to protect our planet from harmful emissions from traditional fuel sources, many are even more desperate to find a solution.
As solar electricity gains in popularity and more people investigate its potential, there have come misunderstanding and myths. There are seven main myths about solar electricity that need to be dispelled.
So here we go, the 7 myths of solar electricity:
Myth # 1. Solar electricity cannot serve any significant fraction of U.S. or world electricity needs.
PV technology or photovoltaics can meet demands on any scale. Solar energy resources in a one hundred mile area of Nevada could supply the United States with all its electricity. A more reliable solution is to provide PV systems throughout the U.S. Current technology dictates that about a seventeen mile by seventeen mile area per state would be needed.
Myth # 2. Solar Electricity can do everything---right now!
While solar electricity will eventually become a major player in the world’s energy needs, the current capacity is not able to meet all the demands. As long as proper investments are made and sustained now the supply of solar electricity will become a significant factor in the future.
Myth # 3. Photovoltaics cannot significantly offset environmental emissions.
Photovoltaic systems produce no emissions or green house gases. As the number of kilowatts of PV electricity increase, the use of traditional fuels is offset, thus decreasing the emissions generated by traditional fossil fuels. Emission rate could become negative if the use of photovoltaic electricity increase sufficiently.
Myth # 4. Photovoltaics is a polluting industry.
The industry of photovoltaics is not 100% clean. The emissions of a PV system are clearly less than with fossil fuels. The only polluting possibility exists because the semiconductor processing can involve the use of chemicals and toxic materials.
Are you ready for more myths of solar electricity? Then here you go: Myth # 5. Photovoltaics on merely a cottage industry, appealing only to small niche markets.
The business of Photovoltaics has been growing more than thirty five percent per year over the past two years. Growth of the industry has shifted form remote off-grid consumer products to nearly sixty percent grid-connected distributed power. This represents significant growth for PV as a distributed power source.
Myth # 6. Photovoltaics is too expensive and will never compete with the “big boys” of power generation. Besides, you can never get the energy out that it takes to produce the system.
A PV electricity cost of current 15 to 25 cents per kilowatt hour is competitive in many applications. The newest generation of modules will have an energy payback of about two years. This means the modules will produce “free” and clean energy for the remaining twenty-nine years of their expected life.
Myth # 7. Nothing remains to be done. Essential R & D is complete, the product works – just close the laboratory and let industry fight it out.
Current photovoltaic technologies have substantial potential for improvement. Reach and development in processing and manufacturing is still in its infancy. Many new and next-generation devices and physics are only concepts. It is up us to make and manage the investments to own these developments. Investing in research and development for our future is good, sound business.
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