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Article Contents

Introduction, 1 installed capacity and application of solar energy worldwide, 2 the role of solar energy in sustainable development, 3 the perspective of solar energy, 4 conclusions, conflict of interest statement.

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Solar energy technology and its roles in sustainable development

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Ali O M Maka, Jamal M Alabid, Solar energy technology and its roles in sustainable development, Clean Energy , Volume 6, Issue 3, June 2022, Pages 476–483, https://doi.org/10.1093/ce/zkac023

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Solar energy is environmentally friendly technology, a great energy supply and one of the most significant renewable and green energy sources. It plays a substantial role in achieving sustainable development energy solutions. Therefore, the massive amount of solar energy attainable daily makes it a very attractive resource for generating electricity. Both technologies, applications of concentrated solar power or solar photovoltaics, are always under continuous development to fulfil our energy needs. Hence, a large installed capacity of solar energy applications worldwide, in the same context, supports the energy sector and meets the employment market to gain sufficient development. This paper highlights solar energy applications and their role in sustainable development and considers renewable energy’s overall employment potential. Thus, it provides insights and analysis on solar energy sustainability, including environmental and economic development. Furthermore, it has identified the contributions of solar energy applications in sustainable development by providing energy needs, creating jobs opportunities and enhancing environmental protection. Finally, the perspective of solar energy technology is drawn up in the application of the energy sector and affords a vision of future development in this domain.

With reference to the recommendations of the UN, the Climate Change Conference, COP26, was held in Glasgow , UK, in 2021. They reached an agreement through the representatives of the 197 countries, where they concurred to move towards reducing dependency on coal and fossil-fuel sources. Furthermore, the conference stated ‘the various opportunities for governments to prioritize health and equity in the international climate movement and sustainable development agenda’. Also, one of the testaments is the necessity to ‘create energy systems that protect and improve climate and health’ [ 1 , 2 ].

The Paris Climate Accords is a worldwide agreement on climate change signed in 2015, which addressed the mitigation of climate change, adaptation and finance. Consequently, the representatives of 196 countries concurred to decrease their greenhouse gas emissions [ 3 ]. The Paris Agreement is essential for present and future generations to attain a more secure and stable environment. In essence, the Paris Agreement has been about safeguarding people from such an uncertain and progressively dangerous environment and ensuring everyone can have the right to live in a healthy, pollutant-free environment without the negative impacts of climate change [ 3 , 4 ].

In recent decades, there has been an increase in demand for cleaner energy resources. Based on that, decision-makers of all countries have drawn up plans that depend on renewable sources through a long-term strategy. Thus, such plans reduce the reliance of dependence on traditional energy sources and substitute traditional energy sources with alternative energy technology. As a result, the global community is starting to shift towards utilizing sustainable energy sources and reducing dependence on traditional fossil fuels as a source of energy [ 5 , 6 ].

In 2015, the UN adopted the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and recognized them as international legislation, which demands a global effort to end poverty, safeguard the environment and guarantee that by 2030, humanity lives in prosperity and peace. Consequently, progress needs to be balanced among economic, social and environmental sustainability models [ 7 ].

Many national and international regulations have been established to control the gas emissions and pollutants that impact the environment [ 8 ]. However, the negative effects of increased carbon in the atmosphere have grown in the last 10 years. Production and use of fossil fuels emit methane (CH 4 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and carbon monoxide (CO), which are the most significant contributors to environmental emissions on our planet. Additionally, coal and oil, including gasoline, coal, oil and methane, are commonly used in energy for transport or for generating electricity. Therefore, burning these fossil fuel s is deemed the largest emitter when used for electricity generation, transport, etc. However, these energy resources are considered depleted energy sources being consumed to an unsustainable degree [ 9–11 ].

Energy is an essential need for the existence and growth of human communities. Consequently, the need for energy has increased gradually as human civilization has progressed. Additionally, in the past few decades, the rapid rise of the world’s population and its reliance on technological developments have increased energy demands. Furthermore, green technology sources play an important role in sustainably providing energy supplies, especially in mitigating climate change [ 5 , 6 , 8 ].

Currently, fossil fuels remain dominant and will continue to be the primary source of large-scale energy for the foreseeable future; however, renewable energy should play a vital role in the future of global energy. The global energy system is undergoing a movement towards more sustainable sources of energy [ 12 , 13 ].

Power generation by fossil-fuel resources has peaked, whilst solar energy is predicted to be at the vanguard of energy generation in the near future. Moreover, it is predicted that by 2050, the generation of solar energy will have increased to 48% due to economic and industrial growth [ 13 , 14 ].

In recent years, it has become increasingly obvious that the globe must decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, ideally towards net zero, if we are to fulfil the Paris Agreement’s goal to reduce global temperature increases [ 3 , 4 ]. The net-zero emissions complement the scenario of sustainable development assessment by 2050. According to the agreed scenario of sustainable development, many industrialized economies must achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. However, the net-zero emissions 2050 brought the first detailed International Energy Agency (IEA) modelling of what strategy will be required over the next 10 years to achieve net-zero carbon emissions worldwide by 2050 [ 15–17 ].

The global statistics of greenhouse gas emissions have been identified; in 2019, there was a 1% decrease in CO 2 emissions from the power industry; that figure dropped by 7% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis, thus indicating a drop in coal-fired energy generation that is being squeezed by decreasing energy needs, growth of renewables and the shift away from fossil fuels. As a result, in 2020, the energy industry was expected to generate ~13 Gt CO 2 , representing ~40% of total world energy sector emissions related to CO 2 . The annual electricity generation stepped back to pre-crisis levels by 2021, although due to a changing ‘fuel mix’, the CO 2 emissions in the power sector will grow just a little before remaining roughly steady until 2030 [ 15 ].

Therefore, based on the information mentioned above, the advantages of solar energy technology are a renewable and clean energy source that is plentiful, cheaper costs, less maintenance and environmentally friendly, to name but a few. The significance of this paper is to highlight solar energy applications to ensure sustainable development; thus, it is vital to researchers, engineers and customers alike. The article’s primary aim is to raise public awareness and disseminate the culture of solar energy usage in daily life, since moving forward, it is the best. The scope of this paper is as follows. Section 1 represents a summary of the introduction. Section 2 represents a summary of installed capacity and the application of solar energy worldwide. Section 3 presents the role of solar energy in the sustainable development and employment of renewable energy. Section 4 represents the perspective of solar energy. Finally, Section 5 outlines the conclusions and recommendations for future work.

1.1 Installed capacity of solar energy

The history of solar energy can be traced back to the seventh century when mirrors with solar power were used. In 1893, the photovoltaic (PV) effect was discovered; after many decades, scientists developed this technology for electricity generation [ 18 ]. Based on that, after many years of research and development from scientists worldwide, solar energy technology is classified into two key applications: solar thermal and solar PV.

PV systems convert the Sun’s energy into electricity by utilizing solar panels. These PV devices have quickly become the cheapest option for new electricity generation in numerous world locations due to their ubiquitous deployment. For example, during the period from 2010 to 2018, the cost of generating electricity by solar PV plants decreased by 77%. However, solar PV installed capacity progress expanded 100-fold between 2005 and 2018. Consequently, solar PV has emerged as a key component in the low-carbon sustainable energy system required to provide access to affordable and dependable electricity, assisting in fulfilling the Paris climate agreement and in achieving the 2030 SDG targets [ 19 ].

The installed capacity of solar energy worldwide has been rapidly increased to meet energy demands. The installed capacity of PV technology from 2010 to 2020 increased from 40 334 to 709 674 MW, whereas the installed capacity of concentrated solar power (CSP) applications, which was 1266 MW in 2010, after 10 years had increased to 6479 MW. Therefore, solar PV technology has more deployed installations than CSP applications. So, the stand-alone solar PV and large-scale grid-connected PV plants are widely used worldwide and used in space applications. Fig. 1 represents the installation of solar energy worldwide.

Installation capacity of solar energy worldwide [ 20 ].

1.2 Application of solar energy

Energy can be obtained directly from the Sun—so-called solar energy. Globally, there has been growth in solar energy applications, as it can be used to generate electricity, desalinate water and generate heat, etc. The taxonomy of applications of solar energy is as follows: (i) PVs and (ii) CSP. Fig. 2 details the taxonomy of solar energy applications.

The taxonomy of solar energy applications.

Solar cells are devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity; typical semiconductor materials are utilized to form a PV solar cell device. These materials’ characteristics are based on atoms with four electrons in their outer orbit or shell. Semiconductor materials are from the periodic table’s group ‘IV’ or a mixture of groups ‘IV’ and ‘II’, the latter known as ‘II–VI’ semiconductors [ 21 ]. Additionally, a periodic table mixture of elements from groups ‘III’ and ‘V’ can create ‘III–V’ materials [ 22 ].

PV devices, sometimes called solar cells, are electronic devices that convert sunlight into electrical power. PVs are also one of the rapidly growing renewable-energy technologies of today. It is therefore anticipated to play a significant role in the long-term world electricity-generating mixture moving forward.

Solar PV systems can be incorporated to supply electricity on a commercial level or installed in smaller clusters for mini-grids or individual usage. Utilizing PV modules to power mini-grids is a great way to offer electricity to those who do not live close to power-transmission lines, especially in developing countries with abundant solar energy resources. In the most recent decade, the cost of producing PV modules has dropped drastically, giving them not only accessibility but sometimes making them the least expensive energy form. PV arrays have a 30-year lifetime and come in various shades based on the type of material utilized in their production.

The most typical method for solar PV desalination technology that is used for desalinating sea or salty water is electrodialysis (ED). Therefore, solar PV modules are directly connected to the desalination process. This technique employs the direct-current electricity to remove salt from the sea or salty water.

The technology of PV–thermal (PV–T) comprises conventional solar PV modules coupled with a thermal collector mounted on the rear side of the PV module to pre-heat domestic hot water. Accordingly, this enables a larger portion of the incident solar energy on the collector to be converted into beneficial electrical and thermal energy.

A zero-energy building is a building that is designed for zero net energy emissions and emits no carbon dioxide. Building-integrated PV (BIPV) technology is coupled with solar energy sources and devices in buildings that are utilized to supply energy needs. Thus, building-integrated PVs utilizing thermal energy (BIPV/T) incorporate creative technologies such as solar cooling [ 23 ].

A PV water-pumping system is typically used to pump water in rural, isolated and desert areas. The system consists of PV modules to power a water pump to the location of water need. The water-pumping rate depends on many factors such as pumping head, solar intensity, etc.

A PV-powered cathodic protection (CP) system is designed to supply a CP system to control the corrosion of a metal surface. This technique is based on the impressive current acquired from PV solar energy systems and is utilized for burying pipelines, tanks, concrete structures, etc.

Concentrated PV (CPV) technology uses either the refractive or the reflective concentrators to increase sunlight to PV cells [ 24 , 25 ]. High-efficiency solar cells are usually used, consisting of many layers of semiconductor materials that stack on top of each other. This technology has an efficiency of >47%. In addition, the devices produce electricity and the heat can be used for other purposes [ 26 , 27 ].

For CSP systems, the solar rays are concentrated using mirrors in this application. These rays will heat a fluid, resulting in steam used to power a turbine and generate electricity. Large-scale power stations employ CSP to generate electricity. A field of mirrors typically redirect rays to a tall thin tower in a CSP power station. Thus, numerous large flat heliostats (mirrors) are used to track the Sun and concentrate its light onto a receiver in power tower systems, sometimes known as central receivers. The hot fluid could be utilized right away to produce steam or stored for later usage. Another of the great benefits of a CSP power station is that it may be built with molten salts to store heat and generate electricity outside of daylight hours.

Mirrored dishes are used in dish engine systems to focus and concentrate sunlight onto a receiver. The dish assembly tracks the Sun’s movement to capture as much solar energy as possible. The engine includes thin tubes that work outside the four-piston cylinders and it opens into the cylinders containing hydrogen or helium gas. The pistons are driven by the expanding gas. Finally, the pistons drive an electric generator by turning a crankshaft.

A further water-treatment technique, using reverse osmosis, depends on the solar-thermal and using solar concentrated power through the parabolic trough technique. The desalination employs CSP technology that utilizes hybrid integration and thermal storage allows continuous operation and is a cost-effective solution. Solar thermal can be used for domestic purposes such as a dryer. In some countries or societies, the so-called food dehydration is traditionally used to preserve some food materials such as meats, fruits and vegetables.

Sustainable energy development is defined as the development of the energy sector in terms of energy generating, distributing and utilizing that are based on sustainability rules [ 28 ]. Energy systems will significantly impact the environment in both developed and developing countries. Consequently, the global sustainable energy system must optimize efficiency and reduce emissions [ 29 ].

The sustainable development scenario is built based on the economic perspective. It also examines what activities will be required to meet shared long-term climate benefits, clean air and energy access targets. The short-term details are based on the IEA’s sustainable recovery strategy, which aims to promote economies and employment through developing a cleaner and more reliable energy infrastructure [ 15 ]. In addition, sustainable development includes utilizing renewable-energy applications, smart-grid technologies, energy security, and energy pricing, and having a sound energy policy [ 29 ].

The demand-side response can help meet the flexibility requirements in electricity systems by moving demand over time. As a result, the integration of renewable technologies for helping facilitate the peak demand is reduced, system stability is maintained, and total costs and CO 2 emissions are reduced. The demand-side response is currently used mostly in Europe and North America, where it is primarily aimed at huge commercial and industrial electricity customers [ 15 ].

International standards are an essential component of high-quality infrastructure. Establishing legislative convergence, increasing competition and supporting innovation will allow participants to take part in a global world PV market [ 30 ]. Numerous additional countries might benefit from more actively engaging in developing global solar PV standards. The leading countries in solar PV manufacturing and deployment have embraced global standards for PV systems and highly contributed to clean-energy development. Additional assistance and capacity-building to enhance quality infrastructure in developing economies might also help support wider implementation and compliance with international solar PV standards. Thus, support can bring legal requirements and frameworks into consistency and give additional impetus for the trade of secure and high-quality solar PV products [ 19 ].

Continuous trade-led dissemination of solar PV and other renewable technologies will strengthen the national infrastructure. For instance, off-grid solar energy alternatives, such as stand-alone systems and mini-grids, could be easily deployed to assist healthcare facilities in improving their degree of services and powering portable testing sites and vaccination coolers. In addition to helping in the immediate medical crisis, trade-led solar PV adoption could aid in the improving economy from the COVID-19 outbreak, not least by providing jobs in the renewable-energy sector, which are estimated to reach >40 million by 2050 [ 19 ].

The framework for energy sustainability development, by the application of solar energy, is one way to achieve that goal. With the large availability of solar energy resources for PV and CSP energy applications, we can move towards energy sustainability. Fig. 3 illustrates plans for solar energy sustainability.

Framework for solar energy applications in energy sustainability.

The environmental consideration of such applications, including an aspect of the environmental conditions, operating conditions, etc., have been assessed. It is clean, friendly to the environment and also energy-saving. Moreover, this technology has no removable parts, low maintenance procedures and longevity.

Economic and social development are considered by offering job opportunities to the community and providing cheaper energy options. It can also improve people’s income; in turn, living standards will be enhanced. Therefore, energy is paramount, considered to be the most vital element of human life, society’s progress and economic development.

As efforts are made to increase the energy transition towards sustainable energy systems, it is anticipated that the next decade will see a continued booming of solar energy and all clean-energy technology. Scholars worldwide consider research and innovation to be substantial drivers to enhance the potency of such solar application technology.

2.1 Employment from renewable energy

The employment market has also boomed with the deployment of renewable-energy technology. Renewable-energy technology applications have created >12 million jobs worldwide. The solar PV application came as the pioneer, which created >3 million jobs. At the same time, while the solar thermal applications (solar heating and cooling) created >819 000 jobs, the CSP attained >31 000 jobs [ 20 ].

According to the reports, although top markets such as the USA, the EU and China had the highest investment in renewables jobs, other Asian countries have emerged as players in the solar PV panel manufacturers’ industry [ 31 ].

Solar energy employment has offered more employment than other renewable sources. For example, in the developing countries, there was a growth in employment chances in solar applications that powered ‘micro-enterprises’. Hence, it has been significant in eliminating poverty, which is considered the key goal of sustainable energy development. Therefore, solar energy plays a critical part in fulfilling the sustainability targets for a better plant and environment [ 31 , 32 ]. Fig. 4 illustrates distributions of world renewable-energy employment.

World renewable-energy employment [ 20 ].

The world distribution of PV jobs is disseminated across the continents as follows. There was 70% employment in PV applications available in Asia, while 10% is available in North America, 10% available in South America and 10% availability in Europe. Table 1 details the top 10 countries that have relevant jobs in Asia, North America, South America and Europe.

List of the top 10 countries that created jobs in solar PV applications [ 19 , 33 ]

Solar energy investments can meet energy targets and environmental protection by reducing carbon emissions while having no detrimental influence on the country’s development [ 32 , 34 ]. In countries located in the ‘Sunbelt’, there is huge potential for solar energy, where there is a year-round abundance of solar global horizontal irradiation. Consequently, these countries, including the Middle East, Australia, North Africa, China, the USA and Southern Africa, to name a few, have a lot of potential for solar energy technology. The average yearly solar intensity is >2800 kWh/m 2 and the average daily solar intensity is >7.5 kWh/m 2 . Fig. 5 illustrates the optimum areas for global solar irradiation.

World global solar irradiation map [ 35 ].

The distribution of solar radiation and its intensity are two important factors that influence the efficiency of solar PV technology and these two parameters vary among different countries. Therefore, it is essential to realize that some solar energy is wasted since it is not utilized. On the other hand, solar radiation is abundant in several countries, especially in developing ones, which makes it invaluable [ 36 , 37 ].

Worldwide, the PV industry has benefited recently from globalization, which has allowed huge improvements in economies of scale, while vertical integration has created strong value chains: as manufacturers source materials from an increasing number of suppliers, prices have dropped while quality has been maintained. Furthermore, the worldwide incorporated PV solar device market is growing fast, creating opportunities enabling solar energy firms to benefit from significant government help with underwriting, subsides, beneficial trading licences and training of a competent workforce, while the increased rivalry has reinforced the motivation to continue investing in research and development, both public and private [ 19 , 33 ].

The global outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted ‘cross-border supply chains’ and those investors working in the renewable-energy sector. As a result, more diversity of solar PV supply-chain processes may be required in the future to enhance long-term flexibility versus exogenous shocks [ 19 , 33 ].

It is vital to establish a well-functioning quality infrastructure to expand the distribution of solar PV technologies beyond borders and make it easier for new enterprises to enter solar PV value chains. In addition, a strong quality infrastructure system is a significant instrument for assisting local firms in meeting the demands of trade markets. Furthermore, high-quality infrastructure can help reduce associated risks with the worldwide PV project value chain, such as underperforming, inefficient and failing goods, limiting the development, improvement and export of these technologies. Governments worldwide are, at various levels, creating quality infrastructure, including the usage of metrology i.e. the science of measurement and its application, regulations, testing procedures, accreditation, certification and market monitoring [ 33 , 38 ].

The perspective is based on a continuous process of technological advancement and learning. Its speed is determined by its deployment, which varies depending on the scenario [ 39 , 40 ]. The expense trends support policy preferences for low-carbon energy sources, particularly in increased energy-alteration scenarios. Emerging technologies are introduced and implemented as quickly as they ever have been before in energy history [ 15 , 33 ].

The CSP stations have been in use since the early 1980s and are currently found all over the world. The CSP power stations in the USA currently produce >800 MW of electricity yearly, which is sufficient to power ~500 000 houses. New CSP heat-transfer fluids being developed can function at ~1288 o C, which is greater than existing fluids, to improve the efficiency of CSP systems and, as a result, to lower the cost of energy generated using this technology. Thus, as a result, CSP is considered to have a bright future, with the ability to offer large-scale renewable energy that can supplement and soon replace traditional electricity-production technologies [ 41 ]. The DESERTEC project has drawn out the possibility of CSP in the Sahara Desert regions. When completed, this investment project will have the world’s biggest energy-generation capacity through the CSP plant, which aims to transport energy from North Africa to Europe [ 42 , 43 ].

The costs of manufacturing materials for PV devices have recently decreased, which is predicted to compensate for the requirements and increase the globe’s electricity demand [ 44 ]. Solar energy is a renewable, clean and environmentally friendly source of energy. Therefore, solar PV application techniques should be widely utilized. Although PV technology has always been under development for a variety of purposes, the fact that PV solar cells convert the radiant energy from the Sun directly into electrical power means it can be applied in space and in terrestrial applications [ 38 , 45 ].

In one way or another, the whole renewable-energy sector has a benefit over other energy industries. A long-term energy development plan needs an energy source that is inexhaustible, virtually accessible and simple to gather. The Sun rises over the horizon every day around the globe and leaves behind ~108–1018 kWh of energy; consequently, it is more than humanity will ever require to fulfil its desire for electricity [ 46 ].

The technology that converts solar radiation into electricity is well known and utilizes PV cells, which are already in use worldwide. In addition, various solar PV technologies are available today, including hybrid solar cells, inorganic solar cells and organic solar cells. So far, solar PV devices made from silicon have led the solar market; however, these PVs have certain drawbacks, such as expenditure of material, time-consuming production, etc. It is important to mention here the operational challenges of solar energy in that it does not work at night, has less output in cloudy weather and does not work in sandstorm conditions. PV battery storage is widely used to reduce the challenges to gain high reliability. Therefore, attempts have been made to find alternative materials to address these constraints. Currently, this domination is challenged by the evolution of the emerging generation of solar PV devices based on perovskite, organic and organic/inorganic hybrid materials.

This paper highlights the significance of sustainable energy development. Solar energy would help steady energy prices and give numerous social, environmental and economic benefits. This has been indicated by solar energy’s contribution to achieving sustainable development through meeting energy demands, creating jobs and protecting the environment. Hence, a paramount critical component of long-term sustainability should be investigated. Based on the current condition of fossil-fuel resources, which are deemed to be depleting energy sources, finding an innovative technique to deploy clean-energy technology is both essential and expected. Notwithstanding, solar energy has yet to reach maturity in development, especially CSP technology. Also, with growing developments in PV systems, there has been a huge rise in demand for PV technology applications all over the globe. Further work needs to be undertaken to develop energy sustainably and consider other clean energy resources. Moreover, a comprehensive experimental and validation process for such applications is required to develop cleaner energy sources to decarbonize our planet.

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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110 Solar Energy Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best solar energy topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 simple & easy solar energy essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on solar energy, ❓ questions about solar energy.

• Solar Energy Installation Project Management 0 Pilot solar energy project Managers will run a pilot project to determine the feasibility of the project. A number of resources will be required to complete the project.
• Using Solar (PV) Energy to Generate Hydrogen Gas for Fuel Cells With the current technologies, an electrolyzer working at 100% efficiency needs 39 kWh of electricity to liberate 1 kg of hydrogen.
• Solar Energy in the United Arab Emirates The success of the solar power initiatives in the UAE is largely attributed to the wide range of financial incentives that the UAE government has offered to the companies that are prepared to advance the […]
• Renewable Energy: Comparison Between Biogas and Solar Energies Again, the research finds that the cost of installation is higher compared to solar energy sources. However, the paper is going to compare solar and biogas energy sources.
• Solar Energy in the UAE It is important to note that the nature of the solar field is modular, and that it has a number of parallel solar collector rows.
• New Techniques for Harnessing Solar Energy Due to the scarcity of fossil fuels and the expenses incurred in the mining of fossil fuels, it is important that we find a new source of energy to fulfill the energy needs of the […]
• Efficient Solar Refrigeration: A Technology Platform for Clean Energy and Water Refrigeration cycle capable to be driven by low grade energy, substituting gas-phase ejector used in conventional mechanical compressor.
• Making Solar Energy Affordable Solar energy is a type of energy that is obtained through tapping the sun’s rays radiant and converting it into other energy forms such as heat and electricity.
• Government Subsidies for Solar Energy This approach has enabled solar companies and developers to penetrate the energy market despite the high costs involved in developing solar power.
• The Sun’s Light and Heat: Solar Energy Issue The figure below provides an overview of the major parts of the solar system, which include the solar core, the radiative zone, the convective zone, the photosphere, the chromosphere, and the corona among others.
• Solar Energy: Review and Analysis Available literature shows that most commercial CSP plants in Spain and the United States using synthetic oil as the transfer fluid and molten salt as the thermal energy storage technology are able to achieve a […]
• Solar and Wind Energy in the Empty Quarter Desert However, the main bulk of the report focuses on the proposal to build a stand alone renewable energy source, a combination of a solar power wind turbine system that will provide a stable energy source […]
• Solar Energy Selling Framework The list of actions to complete the required activity goes in the following sequence: planning actions, sales pitch itself, and reflection. The actions, aimed at doing are the four stages of a sales pitch, that […]
• The Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Effect The key difference factor of the solar cells is the material and technology that is used. Photon behavior in a solar cell is defined by the materials used and the construction of the cell itself.
• Solar Energy Project: Stakeholder and Governance Analysis The stakeholders on this issue are the central governments of the three countries, the local government bodies the industrial and business groups and the civil society groups interested on the issue.
• Solar Energy: Commercial and Industrial Power Source This is made further possible by the inspirational circulars related to the application of more solar energy in the state. This is one of the major participations that came in to the notice.
• Solar Energy and Its Impact on Society He believed that the wheel was the extension of our feet, the hammer was an extension of our hands, and technology is the extension of our mind and mentality.
• Bismuth Vanadate Photocatalyst for Solar Energy 20 In the scheelite BiVO4, it is possible to find out a hybridized band structure with Bi 6s and O 2p orbitals.
• Solar Energy Power Plant & Utility Supply Contract The first assumption from the case above is that the advisement by SEPP to the US not to provide EEC certificates was made orally and was came after the contract had been signed.
• Solar Energy Industry in the UAE The UAE International Investors Council insists that the sustainable use of the available financial resources, particularly, FDI, should be viewed as the foundation for enhancing the development of the state industries, especially as far as […]
• Solar Energy: Definition and Ways of Usage Observers believe that the energy from the sun has the potential to satisfy the world’s energy requirements. Energy from the solar is free, and we can never deplete solar energy.
• Solar Energy Panels in UAE This report will examine the future of solar energy and the incentive schemes that can be put in place to develop the United Arab Emirates solar energy industry.
• How Solar Energy Can Save the Environment? Over the past few decades, the level of greenhouse gasses in the environment has been on the rise. The only cost in the production of solar energy is making the solar panels.
• Solar & Wind Sources: Hybrid Energy System Of the Australian capital cities, Darwin, Australia is the smallest and is located in the north-most part of the country. The following is the analysis of the factors to be considered.
• Solar Energy Houses’ Benefits In the same breadth, another advantage of the solar energy houses is that they reduce the emission of carbon dioxide through other processes.
• Solar Energy Business Model Based in Melbourne Competitiveness The concentration of solar energy consultancy industry Industry concentration is a term used to define the measure of the number of organizations as well as the size of the organizations, which are considered predominant […]
• Tecck Industries: Business Climate and Ethics The moral issues in the current business climate emanate from the values that the different sections of the society hold. Tecck Industries recognizes that there are laws that govern certain aspects of the ethical, moral, […]
• Making Solar Energy More Affordable The use of solar energy can be critical for environmental and economic sustainability of many communities that can be located in different regions of the world.
• Wind and Solar Energy as a Sources of Alternative Energy Fthenakis, Mason and Zweibel also examined the economical, geographical and technical viability of solar power to supplement the energy requirements of the U.S.and concluded that it was possible to substitute the current fossil fuel energy […]
• Alternative Sources of Energy: Solar, Wind, and Hydropower Countries, which depend on oil are getting worried because they are not certain of the availability of this source of energy in future, also, the prices of oil has been escalating over the years, and […]
• Evolution of Solar Energy in US The policy of solar energy in the US is established by the federal, public entities and the state that addresses energy issues of production, consumption like the standards on gas mileage.
• Is Solar Energy Good for the State of New Jersey? The state of the New Jersey is second to California in terms of the use of solar energy. As people are waking up to the reality that the limited world’s resources are increasingly being depleted, […]
• The Use of Solar Energy Should be Adopted in All States in the U.S. The emphasis on renewable sources of energy has been enhanced by the fact that the limited world’s resources are increasingly being depleted; thus, the states have adopted the use of solar energy so as to […]
• The Affordability And Efficiency Of Solar Energy
• The Depletion of Non-Renewable Energy Source and the Development of Solar Energy as the Best Alternative
• Solar Energy’s Place In The Power Industry
• The Potential of Solar Energy and Its Progress in Developing Nations
• Solar Energy Is A More Effective Source Than Wind Energy
• The Ethics Of The Solyndra Solar Energy Panels
• The Right Time For Using Solar Energy For Houses
• Why Residential Solar Energy Is A Positive Form Of Progress In Our World Today
• The Use Of Solar Energy Does Not Pollute The Environment
• Solar Energy: The Ultimate Renewable Energy Resource
• The Description of Solar Energy and Its Potential as the Energy of the Future
• The Many Uses and Applications of Solar Energy
• The Effect of Public Policies on Inducing Technological Change in Solar Energy
• Understanding Technological Optimism and Pessimism and the Benefits of Passive Solar Energy
• Way Forward for Solar Energy Players in India
• The Solar Energy Principles in the Government of the United States
• Unexpected Rapid Fall of Wind and Solar Energy Prices: Backgrounds, Effects and Perspectives
• The Effect Of Solar Energy On Silicon Solar Cell Technology
• The Factors to Consider in Determining a Good Production of Solar Energy
• The Importance of Solar Energy in Napal
• The Impact of Solar Energy Technologies in China
• Solar Energy Is Not A Solution To The American Energy Crisis
• Solar Energy Development And Environmental Considerations
• The Pros And Cons Of Wind And Solar Energy
• The Positive Impact Of Solar Energy On People, And Country
• Solar Energy: Potential to Facilitate Household Rural Electrification
• The Rapid Growth of Solar Energy in China and Its Potential
• Solar Energy Collecting As Alternative Energy Source
• The Use of Solar Energy in Canada and in Other Parts of the World
• The Marketing of Solar Energy for Domestic Purposes
• The Effect of International Trade Policies on the Solar Energy
• Sustaining the Environment Through Solar Energy
• The Effects Of Solar Energy On The Environment
• The Status of Solar Energy Integration and Policy in Nigeria
• Wind Turbine Energy, Static Electricity And Solar Energy
• The Impacts of Solar Energy on Daily Life
• The Impact Of Solar Energy On The Energy Industry
• The Solar Energy Of Renewable Energy
• Using Solar Energy For Functional Working Of Machine
• Utilization of Solar Energy for Thermal Desalination
• Solar Power : Advantages And Challenges Of Solar Energy
• The Environmental Advantages Of Solar Energy
• A Comparison of the Development and Status of the Solar Energy Markets in Kenya and Tanzania
• Solar Energy as the Cheapest and Best Alternative Energy on Earth
• The History and Application of Solar Energy
• Using Homemade Solar Cookers And Solar Energy
• Why Is Solar Energy Vital for the Future?
• What Is the Most Important Thing About Solar Energy?
• Are Promotion Programs Needed to Establish Off-Grid Solar Energy Markets?
• Can Solar Energy Save the World?
• How Is Solar Energy Converted Into Electricity?
• What Are the Advantages of Solar Energy?
• How Is Much Less Solar Energy Received at 60 Latitudes?
• What Are the Main Disadvantages to Solar Energy?
• How Can Solar Energy Change the World?
• How Is Solar Energy Made?
• Why Residential Solar Energy Is a Positive Form of Progress in Our World Today?
• What Does Solar Energy Mean?
• What Are the Sources of Solar Energy?
• Why Is Solar Energy Good?
• Does Solar Energy Have a Future?
• What Are the Interesting Facts About Solar Energy?
• How Can Solar Energy Help the Environment?
• Why Solar Energy Is the Future?
• Can Solar Energy Production Be Attractive or Profitable for Business?
• What Is Solar Energy?
• How Vital Is Solar Energy?
• Is Solar Energy Expensive?
• What Is the Current Research on Solar Energy?
• How Efficient Is Solar Energy?
• Do Solar Panels Work at Night?
• Why Solar Energy Is the Best?
• Who Is Researching Solar Energy?
• What Is the Biggest Problem With Solar Energy?
• Which Subsidy Mode Improves the Financial Performance of Solar Energy Firms?
• How Has Solar Energy Given to Society?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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Solar Research: MSc theses

Ecosystem services and solar landscapes.

'Designing a multifunctional solar landscape near the Millingerwaard by deploying ecosystem services', Tine Lambert, 2022

The urgency of energy transition often leads to solutions that do not relate to the existing landscape, putting ecosystems under pressure. The challenge is to ensure that the implementation of renewable energy does not adversely affect ecosystem services, but instead improves them. This master’s thesis investigated how a multifunctional solar landscape near the Millingerwaard in the municipality of Berg and Dal (NL) can improve spatial quality through the deployment of the concept of ecosystem services. First, 16 spatial guidelines were obtained from the literature. Current ecosystem services in the area were analyzed, resulting in a map that shows the trade-offs, synergies and hotspots between ecosystem services and energy generation. Next, expert surveys were used to assess and value the spatial quality of various function combinations with PV. All findings were incorporated into a design which shows that a multifunctional solar landscape can bring about positive changes for spatial quality. The use of the different methods stimulates designing sustainable projects that connect people, energy and biodiversity, based on the synergy of different ecosystem services.

Energy on the Edge

'Building smart strategies for the uncertainties of energy and housing development on the edge of Nijmegen', Tim Kisner, 2022

Integration of energy transition with other societal goals is slowly becoming a more widespread approach. In recent years, combinations of energy with agriculture, nature and infrastructure have been proposed regularly. The combination of energy and these functions often implies a focus on the open landscape: outside the city, far from where the energy is consumed. This regularly leads to opposition. To spare these landscapes, opponents often suggest to ‘use every roof’ for solar energy generation. Although it is arguable whether this will satisfy the energy demand of the entire nation, locating energy generation near the user seems tangible and fair. To investigate the opportunities of bringing production and consumption together, this master thesis investigated the true integration of energy and housing development. An ‘Energy on the Edge’ approach is developed, reaching for integration beyond mere utilizing of roof space. The approach is employed to study synergies between energy and housing development at the western city edge of Nijmegen. Here, electricity production is used to stimulate housing development while coping with future uncertainties regarding both functions. Instead of ‘outsourcing’ energy development to the countryside, it is brought into the city. This master thesis establishes a new concept for living with renewable energy: Living in the Power Plant. The concept utilizes energy to improve urban landscape quality - a promising approach to address opposition to conventional, often monofunctional interventions for energy transition in our rural landscapes.

Forestvoltaics

'Photo Forestry - Exploring design principles for multifunctional carbon mitigation landscape development', Sam van den Oetelaar, 2022

Afforestation is becoming politically popular to boost biological carbon sequestration to reduce climate change effects. Similarly, the use of solar panels is also getting popular. In densely built and planned countries, multifunctionality of the landscape is a significant factor for the spatial quality of the landscape. Therefore, with an afforestation challenge that has large spatial implications, there is a need for proper forest design for climate, nature and human activities. This master examines the potential synergies between silviculture and renewable energy production. The research consists of two parts: [1] research for design (RFD) and [2] research through designing (RTD). RFD yielded 11 design considerations covering carbon sequestration, forest health, recreation and Forestvoltaics (FV) - a promising function combination between photovoltaic energy production and forest development. RTD yielded a landscape design in which an FV system is integrated in a multifunctional carbon mitigation landscape. Four general design principles are defined; they expand the knowledge base on designing multifunctional carbon mitigation landscapes. It is concluded that the FV system is suitable for creating synergies. However, the proposed concept is novel and conceptual, and additional studies are required to examine its full potential.

Empowering energy estates

'empowering energy estates: a new estate as a means for sustainable energy in wijhe, overijssel' joost andréa, 2021.

In order to realign and better embed renewable energy technologies in the landscape, inspiration is found with the estate (landgoed), as it is an integrative production landscape that unifies agricultural, cultural-historical, recreational, and ecological values. In the last decade several (suggestive) designs were made for ‘energy estates’ (energielandgoederen) in the Dutch landscape. Although a promising concept, the elaboration into design guidelines for specific landscape types is still lacking. This thesis has the objective to develop design guidelines for a sustainable energy estate in the landscape context of West Overijssel. It builds upon the existing knowledge of sustainable energy landscape design as well as the activation of the design knowledge embedded in the historical estate type that is found in the region. By a comparative case study, thirteen essential spatial characteristics of the this estate type were identified. The final design illustrates that it is indeed possible to employ the estate as a means for designing sustainable energy landscapes and that the estate type characteristics possess enough flexibility to adjust them to the contemporary program. 

Solarchipelago

'solarchipelago: designing energy transition in the ijmeer along ecosystem change' david de boer, 2020 climate change mitigation calls for a transition towards more sustainable energy sources. however, allocating the space for renewable energy technologies like pv systems in complex and dense metropolitan regions is no easy task. this is the case for the ijmeer between amsterdam and almere as well. the ijmeer is also an ecosystem under pressure. the objective of this research is to design an energy transition in the ijmeer that aligns with the way that ecosystems change, such as through the process of succession. a method of research through designing is used to come to useful design principles and guidelines. a design for the ijmeer was created using a modular approach. two modules are presented that combine both renewable energy generation as well providing an infrastructure for succession to occur. multiple stages of succession simultaneously present in these modules allow for more habitat diversity for flora and fauna. the modules performance is based on constant working principles but include variables as well to provide different system responses. the modules variables and composition can adapt to the characteristics of multiple areas of the ijmeer, while also supporting other metropolitan functions like infrastructure and urban expansion while providing renewable energy. the resulting design guidelines were evaluated together with the principles in the conclusion., not just another solar field, 'not just another solar field: a multifunctional energygarden for mastwijk, the netherlands' florian becker, 2020 by 2030, the regional energy strategy (res) u16 regio around utrecht demands to provide 3.6twh of renewable electricity. in more concrete terms, this means a surface of 3,600 hectares of solar fields that are arising in the landscape within the next nine years. though this goal might not be realistic, even the appearing of a single hectare of solar field in the landscape should not go without careful planning anymore. plenty of research has demonstrated that solar fields can host many additional functions without decreasing their productivity. especially in densely populated regions like the res u16, scarce surfaces should not simply be allocated to single function land uses. this master thesis builds upon existing knowledge on multifunctional solar fields to identify a set of design guidelines. these are combined with guidelines of garden design to inform the recent concept of energygardens. after forming a set of design guidelines, a fraction of them is tested in a design for an energygarden of mastwijk in the province of utrecht. the energygarden mastwijk is a real project, which is currently developed and planned to be implemented in 2022., the bright side of solar energy.

'The bright side of solar energy: How solar energy can be used as a tool to improve landscapes,' Coos van Ginkel, december 2019 It is estimated that roughly 30,000 hectares of solar fields will be required on land in the Netherlands by 2050. Landscape experts urge that this energy transition should not harm the existing landscape but rather be used to improve spatial quality. The objective of this project was to explore how an integral design for a 1,500ha multifunctional solar landscape in the Northwest Haarlemmermeer can improve the spatial quality of the region.

Eco solar corridor

'Eco solar corridor: Discovering the symbiotic strength of utility-scale solar energy systems and ecological networks in Brummen, the Netherlands,' Dominik Kriska, december 2019

While the need for utility-scale solar energy systems in landscapes is rising to reach the national climate goals, the rivalry with agriculture and the development of nature is increasing too. The combination of solar panels and agriculture was already tested in several projects, however the possible combination of solar energy with ecological networks has not been researched in depth yet. The objective of this research was to explore potential synergies arising from the implementation of solar fields in a gap of an ecological networks at Brummen, the Netherlands.

Circular urban energy park

'Circular urban energy park: Transformation of the Hemwegcentrale,' Yingzi Wang, augustus 2019

According to the recommendations by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Netherlands need to achieve an 95% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2040 compared to 1990. One of the measures that are taken is the closure of powerplants running on fossil fuels, like the Hemwegcentrale in the harbour of Amsterdam. This project explored the potentials of the Hemwegcentrale area as a sustainable urban energy landscape, in the complex context of a dynamic urban development in the next two decades.

Perceiving without grieving

'Perceiving without grieving: shaping solar energy for an energy neutral Zeeburgereiland (Amsterdam),' Tom van Heeswijk, March 2016

Amsterdam decided that all new construction projects, from 2015 on, must be energy neutral by avoiding fossil fuels in building-related energy consumption, while increasing the energy efficiency. The neighbourhood Zeeburgereiland in Amsterdam is planned as a dynamic and attractive island for dwelling and recreation, which aims to be energy-neutral by promoting renewable energies. This thesis investigated which physical and psychological attributes influence people’s liking and disliking of renewable energy, consequently formulating implications for design that could account for public preference.

Solar Energy Thesis Statement

Show More Thesis statement: The United States government should expand the use of solar energy. Introduction: The United States has been debating using solar energy whether it is profitable or unprofitable. I. Solar energy protects from environmental pollution. A. Solar energy produces less amount of CO2. B. Solar energy does not need raw materials. II. Solar energy is a rational economic resource. A. The cost of solar energy is cheaper. B. Solar energy industries create jobs. III. Solar energy is efficient. A. Solar power is an infinite resource. B. The weather is not affected by solar energy. Conclusion: United States government should expand the use of solar energy because of benefits for the environment and money. Solar Energy The United …show more content… Solar energy produces less amount of CO2. According to the article, the solar energy produces and discharge 0.07 to 0.2 CO2E/kWh compared to the fuel coal, which releases between 1.4 and 3.6 pounds CO2E/kWh. (“Benefits”). The solar energy emissions are small. According to International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) such as manufacturing, operation of maintenance, and installations are at a minimum of emissions. Solar energy is silent. There is no moving machine to convert into energy. Solar energy does not produce raw materials. According to the article, the process of converting solar energy to electric or heated energy does not need other non-renewable energies that produce waste …show more content… The most accessible converter of solar energy is solar panels and solar photovoltaic cells. The Photovoltaic converters convert straightly from solar light to electricity. According to the book, “A specialized category of solar cells that called the multi-junction or tandem cells are used in the applications which require very low weight and very high efficiencies such as the satellites and the military applications” (Encyclopedia). These things are used in the rooftop, spacecraft, and handheld calculators. According to the article, “The modern SQ Limit calculation is a maximum efficiency of 33% for any type of single junction solar cell . The original calculation by Shockley and Queisser was 30% for a silicon solar cell” (“Solar Efficiency”). This range is highly efficient and the effective percentage of starting the solar energy industries. The solar energy is an infinite resource. Even if the energy is loose, the vast amount of energy is heated by the sun every day. According to the scientist, “Every hour millions of kilowatts of solar energy hit the earth’s surface, which, if consumed, can altogether change the life of common man.” (Bhutta). The using of solar energy will also decrease dependency on the fossil fuel

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Acquiring and Modeling of Si Solar-Cell Transient Response to Pulsed X-Ray

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• Other Affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
• Other Affiliation: OSU Nuclear Reactor Laboratory, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
• Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Applied Physical Sciences
• Other Affiliation: Department of Engineering Physics, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, United States
• We report on the acquisition and modeling of the transient response of a commercial silicon (Si) solar cell using a benchtop pulsed X-ray source. The solar-cell transient output to the X-ray pulses was acquired under the dark and steady-state light illumination to mimic the practical operation of a solar cell under different light illumination levels. A solar-cell circuit model was created to develop a fundamental understanding of the transient current/voltage response of solar cell at read-out circuit level. The model was validated by a good agreement between the simulation and experimental results. It was found that the solar-cell resistance ( $R$ ) and capacitance ( $C$ ) depend on the light illumination, and the resulting variation in $RC$ time constant significantly affects the solar-cell transient response. Thus, the solar cell produced different transient signals under different illumination intensities in response to the same X-ray pulse. The experimental data acquired in this work proves the feasibility of using solar panels for prompt detection of nuclear detonations, which also builds a practical mode of X-ray detection using a low-cost self-powered detector.
• pulsed X-ray
• Nuclear detonation detection
• transient response
• https://doi.org/10.17615/essh-cy93
• https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2021.3067193
• In Copyright
• Attribution 4.0 International
• IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
• U.S. Department of Defense, DOD
• Defense Threat Reduction Agency, DTRA, (HDTRA1-19-1-0024)
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

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Solar storm knocks out farmers’ high-tech tractors – an electrical engineer explains how a larger storm could take down the power grid and the internet

Assistant Clinical Professor of Electrical Engineering, Mississippi State University

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David Wallace does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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The geomagnetic storm that began on May 10, 2024, generated stunning aurora borealis, more commonly known as the northern lights, that could be seen as far south as Mexico . They also generated headaches for farmers whose GPS-guided tractors were idled in the middle of planting season .

Geomagnetic storms occur when a large bubble of superheated gas called plasma is ejected from the surface of the Sun and hits the Earth. This bubble is known as a coronal mass ejection. The plasma of a coronal mass ejection consists of a cloud of protons and electrons, which are electrically charged particles. When these particles reach the Earth, they interact with the magnetic field that surrounds the planet. This interaction causes the magnetic field to distort and weaken, which in turn leads to the strange behavior of the aurora borealis and other natural phenomena.

The May 2024 storm, rated G5 on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 1-to-5 Geomagnetic Storms scale , disrupted GPS communications enough to throw off tractor guidance , which requires centimeter-level precision . Stronger storms would have much more serious consequences. As an electrical engineer who specializes in the power grid, I study how geomagnetic storms also threaten to cause power and internet outages and how to protect against that.

Geomagnetic storms

Stronger solar storms have happened, and one caused havoc with one of the earliest electronic technologies. On Sept. 1 and 2, 1859, telegraph systems around the world failed catastrophically. The operators of the telegraphs reported receiving electrical shocks, telegraph paper catching fire, and being able to operate equipment with batteries disconnected . During the evenings, the aurora borealis could be seen as far south as Colombia. Typically, these lights are only visible at higher latitudes, in northern Canada, Scandinavia and Siberia.

What the world experienced that day, now known as the Carrington Event , was the largest recorded account of a geomagnetic storm, far stronger than the May 2024 storm.

Geomagnetic storms have been recorded since the early 19th century, and scientific data from Antarctic ice core samples has shown evidence of an even more massive geomagnetic storm that occurred around A.D. 774 , known as the Miyake Event. That solar flare produced the largest and fastest rise in carbon-14 ever recorded. Geomagnetic storms trigger high amounts of cosmic rays in Earth’s upper atmosphere, which in turn produce carbon-14 , a radioactive isotope of carbon.

A geomagnetic storm 60% smaller than the Miyake Event occurred around A.D. 993 . Ice core samples have shown evidence that large-scale geomagnetic storms with similar intensities as the Miyake and Carrington events occur at an average rate of once every 500 years.

Scientists were able to estimate the strength of the Carrington Event based on the fluctuations of Earth’s magnetic field as recorded by observatories at the time. There was no way to measure the magnetic fluctuation of the Miyake Event. Instead, scientists measured the increase in carbon-14 in tree rings from that time period. The Miyake Event produced a 12% increase in carbon-14 . By comparison, the Carrington Event produced less than a 1% increase in carbon-14, so the Miyake Event likely dwarfed the G5 Carrington Event.

Knocking out power

Today, a geomagnetic storm of the same intensity as the Carrington Event would affect far more than telegraph wires and could be catastrophic. With the ever-growing dependency on electricity and emerging technology, any disruption could lead to trillions of dollars of monetary loss and risk to life dependent on the systems. The storm would affect a majority of the electrical systems that people use every day.

Geomagnetic storms generate induced currents, which flow through the electrical grid. The geomagnetically induced currents , which can be in excess of 100 amperes, flow into the electrical components connected to the grid, such as transformers, relays and sensors. One hundred amperes is equivalent to the electrical service provided to many households. Currents this size can cause internal damage in the components, leading to large scale power outages.

A geomagnetic storm three times smaller than the Carrington Event occurred in Quebec, Canada, in March 1989. The storm caused the Hydro-Quebec electrical grid to collapse . During the storm, the high magnetically induced currents damaged a transformer in New Jersey and tripped the grid’s circuit breakers. In this case, the outage led to five million people being without power for nine hours .

Breaking connections

In addition to electrical failures, communications would be disrupted on a worldwide scale. Internet service providers could go down, which in turn would take out the ability of different systems to communicate with each other. High-frequency communication systems such as ground-to-air, shortwave and ship-to-shore radio would be disrupted. Satellites in orbit around the Earth could be damaged by induced currents from the geomagnetic storm burning out their circuit boards. This would lead to disruptions in satellite-based telephone, internet, radio and television.

Also, as geomagnetic storms hit the Earth, the increase in solar activity causes the atmosphere to expand outward. This expansion changes the density of the atmosphere where satellites are orbiting. Higher density atmosphere creates drag on a satellite, which slows it down. And if it isn’t maneuvered to a higher orbit, it can fall back to Earth.

One other area of disruption that would potentially affect everyday life is navigation systems. Virtually every mode of transportation, from cars to airplanes, use GPS for navigation and tracking. Even handheld devices such as cell phones, smart watches and tracking tags rely on GPS signals sent from satellites. Military systems are heavily dependent on GPS for coordination. Other military detection systems such as over-the-horizon radar and submarine detection systems could be disrupted, which would hamper national defense.

In terms of the internet, a geomagnetic storm on the scale of the Carrington Event could produce geomagnetically induced currents in the submarine and terrestrial cables that form the backbone of the internet as well as the data centers that store and process everything from email and text messages to scientific data sets and artificial intelligence tools. This would potentially disrupt the entire network and prevent the servers from connecting to each other.

Just a matter of time

It is only a matter of time before the Earth is hit by another big geomagnetic storm. A Carrington Event-size storm would be extremely damaging to the electrical and communication systems worldwide with outages lasting into the weeks. If the storm is the size of the Miyake Event, the results would be catastrophic for the world, with potential outages lasting months if not longer. Even with space weather warnings from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, the world would have only a few minutes to a few hours notice.

I believe it is critical to continue researching ways to protect electrical systems against the effects of geomagnetic storms, for example by installing devices that can shield vulnerable equipment like transformers and by developing strategies for adjusting grid loads when solar storms are about to hit. In short, it’s important to work now to minimize the disruptions from the next Carrington Event.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on March 18, 2022. It was updated to include news of the May 2024 solar storm.

• Telecommunications
• Solar flare
• Cosmic rays
• Electrical engineering
• Solar storm
• Geomagnetic storm
• Coronal mass ejection
• Electrical grid
• Geomagnetically induced currents
• Solar storms
• Satellite navigation

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Strong geomagnetic storm reaches Earth, continues through weekend

NOAA space weather forecasters have observed at least seven coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun, with impacts expected to arrive on Earth as early as midday Friday, May 10, and persist through Sunday, May 12, 2024. 

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued a Geomagnetic Storm Warning for Friday, May 10. Additional solar eruptions could cause geomagnetic storm conditions to persist through the weekend.

• The First of Several CMEs reached Earth on Friday, May 10 at 12:37 pm EDT.  The CME was very strong and SWPC quickly issued a series of geomagnetic storm warnings. SWPC observed G4 conditions at 1:39 pm EDT (G3 at 1:08 pm EDT).
• This storm is ongoing and SWPC will continue to monitor the situation and provide additional warnings as necessary.

This is an unusual and potentially historic event. Clinton Wallace , Director, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center

CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. They cause geomagnetic storms when they are directed at Earth. Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface , potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations. SWPC has notified the operators of these systems so they can take protective action.

Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora on Earth . A severe geomagnetic storm includes the potential for aurora to be seen as far south as Alabama and Northern California.

Related Features //

New Atlanticist

May 14, 2024

What to know about Biden’s new tariffs on Chinese EVs, solar cells, and more

By Atlantic Council experts

It’s open season on seagulls. On Tuesday, the Biden administration announced sweeping tariff increases on China across a range of strategic industries, including quadrupling tariffs to 100 percent on electric vehicles (EVs), such as the low-priced Seagull EV from Chinese automaker BYD. Other industries that the new tariffs impact include lithium-ion batteries, semiconductors, aluminum and steel, solar panels, and medical products. The changes are designed to take aim at China’s nonmarket trade practices and overcapacity, while boosting US industries. To decipher what’s behind the move and what to expect next, we put five burning questions to our experts.

1. What is the Biden administration trying to accomplish with these tariffs?

The Biden administration’s objectives are threefold. First, it seeks to foster the growth of the fledgling US clean energy complex against Chinese rivals, many of which have received vast subsidies from national, provincial, and local governments. 

Second, and relatedly, the tariffs aim to ensure that clean energy technologies are not dominated by a sole supplier. This action reduces the probability that a single entity can establish control over vital technologies such as EVs, lithium-ion batteries, and other products.

Third, the tariffs may slow China’s development of certain dual-use technologies that have latent military potential. Lithium-ion batteries, for instance, are used for not only EVs and electricity grid storage, but also for military applications such as diesel-electric submarines, aerial drones, and unmanned maritime platforms. 

The tariffs will, all else being equal, curb China’s industrial capacity, which could be repurposed for its defense industrial base. They will also reduce the probability that China will be the first to make technical or commercial breakthroughs in battery technologies, such as solid-state batteries, that could be military game-changers. 

— Joseph Webster is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center, where he leads the center’s efforts on Chinese energy security.

Fundamentally, Biden administration officials are trying to avoid repeating the mistakes of past decades when, they believe, the United States (and its allies) did not do enough to counter China’s unfair trade practices until it was too late and Chinese products flooded markets and cost jobs. Now they want to get ahead of the curve, especially on EVs with a staggering 100 percent tariff. It’s worth noting that only 1 percent of all US EV imports currently come from China—so this is about the future, not about now.

It’s not that China hasn’t been creating overcapacity for decades; it’s that the sectors China is now doing it in are considered critical for national security. That is what is driving so much of this reaction.

— Josh Lipsky is senior director of the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center and a former adviser to the International Monetary Fund.

The Biden administration has made several large strategic bets in industrial policy around semiconductors, EVs, solar, and infrastructure investment. As the administration has sought to onshore productive capabilities throughout these supply chains, one looming concern has been overcapacity and the potential for gluts of cheap imports shuttering newly built US plants. In many respects, these tariffs are preventive measures to guard against that possibility. By taking preventive measures, rather than post hoc remedies, the administration may also be trying to signal to the private sector that any investments they make in onshored critical supply chains will be protected from wild price swings. In this regard, this slate of tariffs attempts to make the long-term math on supply chain resilience work.

— Sarah Bauerle Danzman is a resident senior fellow in the GeoEconomics Center’s Economic Statecraft Initiative.

The Biden administration has two main goals. The first is protecting infant or currently undeveloped industries supported by the Inflation Reduction Act and other efforts. The second is protecting US critical supply chains, such as for personal protective equipment, the importance of which became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Posing the announcement as the outcome of the long-running, multiyear investigation under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, the Biden administration believes that its tariffs will be much more effective than Trump-era tariffs, which the Biden team believes inadvertently caught intermediate goods that hurt US producers. These tariffs will be more targeted to the two goals above. For example, semiconductor tariffs are expected to be on imports of chips themselves, not final products that include semiconductors.

— David Hathaway is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub and principal for China at the Asia Group.

2. What will be the practical effect on the affected industries in the United States and China, and on the fight against climate change?

In the short term, this will likely raise the price of key clean energy goods, or at least prevent these goods from decreasing as quickly in price as they otherwise would. However, emerging markets could very well be flooded with extremely cheap clean energy items from China, which could help them in their energy transition, but might also be seen as threatening from the perspective of the United States.

—Sarah Bauerle Danzman

Due to existing high tariffs, there is virtually no trade in EVs between the United States and China. But China is, by far, the largest exporter of lithium-ion batteries to the United States. Chinese imports are especially consequential for grid storage that complements intermittent solar power. Consequently, and depending on details of the tariffs, US efforts to decarbonize its grid could slow down. 

Certain critics of the tariffs will likely decry their impact on the US electricity grid. But the reality is it’s too soon to say how the tariffs will impact the global fight against climate change, in either the short term or the long term. In the short term, higher US tariffs will divert certain clean energy products to other markets, including China’s own domestic market. It’s possible that short-term trade diversion could actually deliver a higher environmental return on investment, given global carbon emission patterns. For instance, deploying solar and battery storage projects in certain coal-addicted Chinese provinces would deliver greater climate benefits than, say, installing more clean energy capacity in California. Over the long term, the tariffs could deliver climate benefits by preventing a single country from forming its own clean energy cartel. The Chinese government has a long history of using economic coercion to achieve its desired political ends. It is naïve to believe that Beijing would not exercise this same leverage in certain clean energy fields. 

—Joseph Webster

It’s worth noting that tariffs on several major ticket items, such as lithium-ion batteries, don’t kick in until 2026. This gives some adaptation time but also signals that the United States doesn’t think this policy will actually change China’s behavior.

—Josh Lipsky

There will likely be impacts to affected US industries, which could indeed complicate US efforts on climate change. The announcement included tariffs on some batteries, for example. For China, the tariffs, if effective, may blunt China’s ability to trade in products seeing heavy overcapacity, although Chinese producers will likely seek to shift to other markets, including in Europe. (See more below.)

—David Hathaway

3. How will this move affect the broader economies of both countries?

Tariffs on Chinese EVs will have comparatively little impact since US consumers are not buying many Chinese EVs. Economic impacts are more likely in other sectors in which replacements for Chinese products are considerably more expensive. However, the administration likely believes that the tariffs are necessary to support its goals to protect key industries, increase capacity via friendshoring, and secure critical supply chains.

Tariffs do create deadweight loss, so we can expect them to exact some costs on the US economy. The Biden administration has insisted that this approach to tariffs is more targeted and less inflationary than the across-the-board tariffs that former President Donald Trump has proposed. The tariffs have a couple of years to set in, which may help with adjustment. And, as mentioned above, the certainty in price protection that these tariffs afford producers could induce new investments in the US supply chains for these items.

4. How might China react?

China won’t be shocked—in fact, it’s likely that US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken previewed this announcement on their respective trips there in April. China will, as is typical, play a long game—and accelerate its own reshoring policies as it tries to expand production in a range of countries, including Mexico. The United States is aware of that strategy, and that’s why you’ll see a lot of shuttle diplomacy between Mexico City and Washington ahead of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement renewal in 2026.

China has likely already baked such actions by the United States into its thinking. It must already understand that actions on trade are to be expected in the run-up to the US presidential election in November. However, the Biden administration is certainly expecting some form of material retaliation, likely below a level that could be considered escalatory. There is an awareness that one Chinese industry response may be to shift production to places such as Southeast Asia and Mexico. I understand that the US government is working actively with partners to prevent this.

I expect the Chinese government to consider more export controls on raw and processed critical minerals. The problem is that this might create short-term supply constraints for the United States. But the Section 301 tariffs cover some of these minerals, and so such moves will only further help the administration achieve its goals of independence from Chinese supply.

As David mentioned, Chinese companies are likely to try to invest in third markets to serve the United States and other protected markets. Attempts to build EV battery plants in places with trade agreements with the United States, such as Mexico, will further push Washington to engage with partners to shore up their investment regulatory regime. The United States may also start thinking about how to address ownership and control issues in its supply chain, especially since rules of origin through which tariff rates are set are based on the location of production, rather than on who ultimately owns that productive capacity.

5. How does the US approach compare with Europe’s?

That’s the million- or trillion-dollar question. If Europe and the Group of Seven (G7) countries match or mirror US policies at the summit in Italy in June, it may cause Beijing to realize that this time is different. On the other hand, if Europe hedges coming out of its own antidumping review, it could affirm China’s view that their challenge is primarily with the United States, not the rest of the advanced economies. The next few weeks will be telling.

At the same time, the United States is not only going to rely on the G7 here. Watch for coordination with countries that have been skeptical of the United States, including Brazil, because they also share a concern about Chinese overcapacity.

I really hope that the United States provided ample notice to Brussels about this move. The Europeans are currently undertaking their own anti-dumping review of Chinese EVs, and their market is far more vulnerable to Chinese EV imports than the United States’. 

Europe is a bit handicapped compared to the United States when it comes to a more forceful use of tariff policy. The Biden tariffs arising from this Section 301 review are quite prospective in nature; they are anticipating a problem and applying tariffs preventively, particularly with respect to EVs. Additionally, the United States is able to pass well-funded industrial policy measures to further aid domestic production. The European Union (EU) has traditionally been more attentive to World Trade Organization rules around when and how to apply tariffs, and generally needs evidence of actual, realized harm before it acts. This means that EU producers will have to be hit hard by Chinese imports before the EU is likely able to act to protect them. Additionally, the intra-EU politics of industrial policy is much more complicated than in the United States, which further limits its scope of action.

The tariffs may force Brussels’ hand, since higher tariffs in the United States on Chinese goods could result in substantial trade diversion to Europe. Brussels will have to act quickly, either to put its own tariffs in place or to accept a flood of Chinese-made products. 

Further reading

Sun, Apr 7, 2024

Ursula von der Leyen set Europe’s ‘de-risking’ in motion. What’s the status one year later?

New Atlanticist By Jörn Fleck , Josh Lipsky , David O. Shullman

The European Commission president presented a new economic vision for the European Union’s relationship with China in March 2023.

Mon, May 13, 2024

What US tariffs on Chinese batteries mean for decarbonization—and Taiwan

EnergySource By Joseph Webster

In response to Beijing’s attempts to cement its dominant position across the “new three” technologies of solar photovoltaics (PVs), electric vehicles (EVs), and batteries, the Biden administration is poised to issue tariffs on key Chinese products. A look at China’s battery exports, and its associated battery complex, reveals both opportunities and risks for US and allied […]

Thu, May 9, 2024

China builds more utility-scale solar as competition with coal ramps up

China's transition to more utility-scale solar installations furthers its decarbonization efforts. However, regional resource limitations, limited interprovincial electricity transfers, and cheap coal present structural and economic headwinds.

Related Experts: Joseph Webster , Josh Lipsky , Sarah Bauerle Danzman , and David Hathaway

Image: People use their phones in front of the BYD Seagull that is displayed at the Auto Shanghai show, in Shanghai, China April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song

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MEDIA ADVISORY: NOAA Forecasts Severe Solar Storm; Media Availability Scheduled for Friday, May 10

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For Immediate Release [May 9, 2024]   

MEDIA ADVISORY

NOAA forecasts severe solar storm; media availability scheduled for May 10

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) — a division of the National Weather Service — is monitoring the sun following a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that began on May 8. Space weather forecasters have issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for the evening of Friday, May 10. Additional solar eruptions could cause geomagnetic storm conditions to persist through the weekend.

A large sunspot cluster has produced several moderate to strong solar flares since Wednesday at 5:00 am ET. At least five flares were associated with CMEs that appear to be Earth-directed. SWPC forecasters will monitor NOAA and NASA’s space assets for the onset of a geomagnetic storm.

CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. They cause geomagnetic storms when they are directed at Earth. Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations. SWPC has notified the operators of these systems so they can take protective action. Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora on Earth. A severe geomagnetic storm includes the potential for aurora to be seen as far south as Alabama and Northern California. 

WHAT:     Media availability via teleconference on the unfolding space weather event and Geomagnetic Storm Watch. 

WHO:     Experts from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center

WHEN:                Friday, May 10, 2024; 10 a.m. EDT 

         CALL-IN #:    630-395-0205

          INTERNATIONAL (TOLL FREE): 800-988-9736

        PASSCODE: 8186632

VIDEO :     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dr2BIlDGDk&feature=youtu.be . 

Video Caption: NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite captured the eruption from the sun that occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024. Credit: NOAA

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center is the official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings and alerts. Visit www.spaceweather.gov for updates. The public can subscribe to receive NOAA space weather alerts, warnings, and watch information at pss.swpc.noaa.gov .  

Contact:   Erica Grow Cei, [email protected] , 202-853-6088

               NWS Public Affairs, [email protected] , 301-427-9000

Solar panels must not be built on good farmland, ministers say

A ministerial statement will be laid before Parliament making clear that such projects should only be given the go-ahead when ‘necessary’

Councils will be urged by ministers not to approve planning permission for solar farms on high-quality farmland as part of Rishi Sunak’s drive to protect food security .

A written ministerial statement will be laid before Parliament on Wednesday making clear that such projects should only be given the go-ahead when absolutely “necessary”.

A new planning framework unveiled six months ago was meant to make the position clear, but ministers fear projects are still being approved that fall short of their demands.

Councils will also be told to take into account whether other solar farms are nearby when considering an application for a new one, thereby focusing on the “cumulative” impact.

‘Rising threats’

Claire Coutinho, the Energy Security Secretary, told The Telegraph: “As the Prime Minister set out this week, rising threats around the world mean we must have a renewed emphasis on our security.

“That means protecting our food security whilst also delivering the cheap energy we need.

“We are taking further steps today to make sure we can get that balance right.

“I want to see more solar on rooftops and where that’s not possible for agricultural land to be protected and for the cumulative impact on local villages to be considered where they are facing a high number of solar farm applications.

“We will make sure we reach our solar targets in a sensible way, that delivers clean, cheaper energy but does not compromise our food security.”

Planning permission

However, in a separate move, farmers will be allowed to build wind turbines without planning permission under government plans to boost agriculture.

The Government will consult on allowing a single, small-scale wind turbine to be built under permitted development rights, it said on Tuesday as part of measures to support the sector.

Under current rules only wind turbines below 11.1m high can be constructed without planning permission, which experts say is smaller than most commercially available equipment.

There have been calls for permission to be extended to turbines as high as 30m, still well below the 120-150m of the largest onshore wind farms.

The intervention in solar farms comes amid signs in some parts of rural England that the conversion of agricultural land into solar farms is leading to disgruntlement from residents.

Critics have warned that such changes can undercut the UK’s ability to grow its own food. Others have said that the projects amount to eyesores that blot the landscape.

But environmentalists argue that it is essential the UK grows its clean energy sectors if it is to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2050, a target both the Tories and Labour support.

Wednesday’s intervention builds on a National Policy Statement issued earlier in the year which sought to make it harder to build on land with a grade of 1 to 3a, which is the highest quality land.

However, ministers fear that the statement alone has not had the desired impact and so want to provide more explicit guidance for both developers and those making planning decisions.

The written statement is expected to make clear that solar farms should only be built on high-quality land where “necessary” and that for the biggest projects, it should be avoided.

The plan was discussed at Cabinet on Tuesday when Ms Coutinho briefed colleagues about the announcement.

The move matches Mr Sunak’s big-picture approach to Net Zero which has seen him argue that while the transition to clean energy must be made it should be done while minimising negative impacts and financial costs for households.

Keep the UK safe

It also comes after the Prime Minister reframed the election campaign around the theme of security in a speech on Monday in which he argued Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party did not have the policies necessary to keep the UK safe.

Mr Sunak gathered British farmers at Downing Street on Tuesday for an event which was used to highlight the importance of the country growing its own fruit and vegetables for food security reasons.

Steve Barclay, the Environment Secretary, had said: “Food security is vital to our national security, which is why today’s summit is so important, bringing together government and key representatives from the farming and food sector at Downing Street.”

Tom Bradshaw, the president of the National Farmers’ Union, said: “It was good to return to Number 10 today to see and hear the Prime Minister champion British food production, putting it at the top of the national political agenda. Food security is national security.”

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