Some scientists had calculated a long time back that energy rained down on Earth by Sun in an hour is the same as the amount of energy consumed by humans worldwide in a year. This calculation led to the birth of the first conventional devices that harnessed solar energy.
First such devices came to being half a century ago. However, a question still remains as to whether we will be able to use solar energy in a much broader sense…? Even now the future of solar energy is as dim as it was half a century ago.
According to an estimate sunlight provides 0.01% of the total energy that is consumed in the United States and the figures are even worse in other parts of the world. The reason for this is that the state governments are not venturing as much money as they are pooling in other means such as nuclear power plants, coal and other means.
It is high time that we think about our planet, till now solar energy is the safest and the most environmental friendly source of energy. People all over the world want that solar energy should be the main source of energy in another fifteen years; however the lack of money is making the future of solar energy bleak.
Till now we have been using solar energy mostly is toys and some other conventional and non conventional gadgets. That means all we are doing till now is just experiments that tell us that the solar energy can be used to power devices.
All government agencies are throwing money on the development of biofuels. In the current fiscal year the Energy Department plans to spend $159 million on solar research. This amount is not even close to the amount that will be spent in other areas that include $303 million on nuclear energy and $427 million on coal and $167 million on other fossil fuel research and development.
Now researchers are trying to better the technology that can harness solar energy. They are hoping to expand the range of sunlight’s wavelengths that can be absorbed, and to cut the amount of energy the cells lose to heat. One goal is to make materials that force photons to ricochet inside the silicon to give up more of their energy.
Researchers want to leave no stone unturned in order to prove that there are some promising signs that solar energy can be used as the main source of energy. The Bush administration finally has shown some concern in the area and is planning to increase the funding towards the research.
Via: NYTimes
