Solar Criticisms:
- The process of producing solar panels can be harmful to the environment and releases a large quantity of CO2 emissions.
- Solar panels are only 12% efficient. [SolarExpert]
- Government "feed-in tariffs" for solar energy and other micro-renewables are not as effective in lowering CO2 emissions as other forms as subsiding, "an army of caulkers, insulators and energy auditors to descend on every home..." to make every house as energy efficient as possible. [TreeHugger]
- As most solar plants are in desserts, dust can be a major problem. Scientists have developed a self-cleaning coating for solar panels, used on the Mars Rover, that uses a electrically sensitive material deposited on glass or transparent plastic sheets and sensors to monitor dusk levels. When dust levels get too high, an "electric charge sends a dust-repelling wae cascading over teh surface of the material, lifting away the dust and transporting it off," the panels. [TreeHugger]
- Photon enhanced thermionic emission [PETE] cells, developed at Stanford University, allow solar panels to harness light and heat from the Sun simultaneously, which could double the current rate of solar panel efficiency. [Engadget]
Social Advancements Due to Solar Energy:
- MORE JOBS. England's first utility-scale solar plant was just announced, highlight government support for the solar industry. This government support has allowed Solarcentury, Britain's largest solar company, which was able to hire 150 new employees. [TreeHugger]
Development Achievements Due to Solar Energy:
- SolarAid is an amazing organization that has been bringing solar power to rural Africa through micro-lending, giving villages and schools electricity for the first time. [TreeHugger]
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