Renewable Energy Technology; Solar Power

Running head: Renewable Energy Technology; Solar Power 1
Briefing paper on Renewable Energy Technology: Solar Power
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Renewable Energy Technology; Solar Power 2
Date: 20th July 2019
Subject: Renewable Energy Technology: Solar Power
Purpose: The primary purpose of this briefing paper is to provide an insight on solar power
technology, a renewable technology which can help in significantly addressing the needs as well
as the challenges associated with energy generation, in terms of biophysical and psycho-social
aspects. Additionally, the paper is expected to give a roadmap to various agencies, governmental
as well as no-governmental on renewable sources of energy which will vastly promote
sustainability, which in turn meets the future demands of the next generations.
Background
With the rise in population, climatic changes as well as economic patterns, the existing
energy generating sources will not be in a position to meet the future human demands. Thus, it
implies that a combination of demand reduction, enhanced energy efficiency, as well as an
instant shift to sources of clean energy will be the only way out. This statement significantly
rhymes with the UN Copenhagen agreements, which, despite its primary focus on climate
change, the major attention is directed towards implementation of global emissions reductions
(Chen et al., 2011). The central issue, being on the investments towards the feasible solutions of
climate change and public health.
From the basics, solar energy; famously known as photovoltaic system captures the sun’s
rays using photovoltaic cells, and then convert it into a clean, and renewable energy. This
electricity can be used in operating the home appliances, as well as industrial appliances
depending on the amount generated (Dincer, 2011). There is a huge potential in solar energy.
However, various stakeholders have not fully come out to exploit this potential. The future
pressures concentrate on the ever-increasing temperatures, community attitudes, population

Renewable Energy Technology; Solar Power 3
growth, and the necessity to reduce the rate of greenhouse emissions. These facts are only
addressed by adopting a clean and sustainable form of generating energy. Hence, it’s a call for
every person to join hands to significantly promote solar energy technology which is not only
sustainable but also renewable in the sense that future demands will be essentially met (Foley et
al., 2012).
Table 1: Sanity Table Comparing Solar and Other Conventional Methodologies on Biophysical
and Socio-Economic Aspects
Publishing
details
Yea
r
Biophysical Socio-economic
Solar Conventional
sources of
energy
Solar Conventional
sources of energy
Hickey &
John,
Hodge &
Milligan
2014
2011
Solar energy does
not generate
emissions that
may be harmful to
health
Conventional
sources are
associated with
greenhouse
gases emission
which blocks
the ozone layer
and results in
climate change
Solar energy
being a clean
source, it
does not
result in any
health
impacts to
human
Blocking of the
ozone layer cuts the
supply of oxygen
and may lead to
short life-span. The
increased
temperatures
associated causes’
sunburn, which
irritates the human
skin.
Hill et al.,
Johansson
&
Burnham
2012
2015
The solar-based
technology does
not emit harmful
gases that might
raise the
temperature of the
earth.
The generated
emissions cuts
the supply of
oxygen and
eventually lead
to the rise of
temperature in
the earth’s
surface.
solar energy
will result in
a lot of cost-
saving
opportunities,
Additionally,
solar energy
requires a
relatively low
amount of
capital in
putting a
solar plant
These sources
requires a huge
amount of capital in
erecting the plant
and are as well grid-
connected.
Markvart 2016 Solar power
technology does
not result in any
environmental
Conventional
sources of
energy
significantly
Solar
technology
can be used
both in large
Conventional
sources of energy
are limited to large
scale, which is then