Photovoltaic Energy Era: Don’t Underestimate its Potential

On farms, rooftops, and even water, solar panels will become the energy of the future, as long as trends continue.

For environmentalists and the regular consumer, there is reason to be excited for the future of solar energy. Even though the Trump administration has placed a significantly lower emphasis on renewable energy, other countries have continued to pursue their Paris Climate Agreement emissions targets. In Australia, large-scale solar farms have popped up across the country as the amount of energy supplied by solar tripled in 2018. Boasting a 23% renewable energy proportion out of total energy, Australia sets itself up to be a forerunner in the race for 100% renewable energy. Portuguese Minister of Environment and Energy Transition Joao Matos Fernandes stated plans to launch Portugal’s first solar power capacity in June or July, offering 1,750 megawatts as it seeks to boost emission-free electricity production. Across the continent of Europe, more cities

Photo by Innovative Power Systems

Meanwhile, as the average price for PVC solar panels continues to plummet, environmental engineers are finding new ways to more effectively and unobtrusively place solar panels in accessible areas. Across the country, American farmers are investing in solar panel farms with space in between the rows to plant crops as well. The solar panels provide a dependable source of income, especially in the wintertime.

In Illinois, a state law, which 25% of Illinois energy usage to be made up of renewables, has incentivized and encouraged farmers to add this highly profitable “crop” to their farms. According to the Washington Post, a farmer could make around three times more in earnings than an average harvest would. This new option is especially hopeful for farmers who have been suffering from drought and unproductive crops, partially exacerbated by climate change. Having received an overwhelming number of requests to host mid-size solar farms under Illinois’ state program, the state has created a lottery for 100 contracts. The state anticipates about 1,000 applications.

However, some opponents are hesitant and believe that the fertile Illinois soil should not be wasted on solar panel farms when demand for major staples like wheat, corn, and soybean continue to grow.

In the sunny state of Califonia where solar panels have always been a popular option, Democratic State Senator Scott Wiener and Republican State Senator Jim Nielsen have sponsored a bipartisan bill called “Solar Bill of Rights.” If passed, the bill will standardize the process “for Californians to install solar energy panels and connect to the grid, and aim to protect and support those willing to generate and store their own energy,” according to Inverse. This bill would encourage more residents to independently install solar panels as they would still be able to receive compensation for any energy sent back to the public grid.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Arizona Public Service—the largest electric utility in the state—proudly announced the largest solar battery project in the United States, which plans to eventually store 100 MW of solar energy. This project comes as company leaders noticed that most residents are not using as many appliances when the solar generation is at its highest and tend to turn on the lights at night (when solar panels obviously are not generating energy immediately, and utility companies scramble to meet demand).

With new technology, however, this new battery project will ensure that the lights will come on quicker and meet the demands during the nighttime. The plans will also depend on lithium-ion battery technology, which is much cleaner than the more common natural gas-fueled facilities.

With other states also clamoring to fulfill renewable energy goals, environmentalists can expect that at least a portion of America’s duty from the Paris Climate Agreement will be fulfilled. According to the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, “since 2008, U.S. installations have grown seventeen-fold from 1.2 gigawatts (GW) to an estimated 30 GW today. This is enough capacity to power the equivalent of 5.7 million average American homes.” And with current trends, it seems like solar power will continue to spearhead the green energy movement.