Solar Energy And Its Social Consequences
To understand the social consequences of solar energy, one must be aware of
what solar energy is. Solar energy is a radiant energy produced in the sun as a
result of nuclear fusion reactions. It is transmitted to the earth through space
in quanta of energy called photons, which interact with the earth’s atmosphere
and surface. The strength of solar radiation at the outer edge of the earth’s
atmosphere when the earth is at its average distance from the sun is called the
solar constant. The intensity of energy actually available at the earth’s
surface is less than the solar constant because of the absorption and scattering
of radiant energy as photons interact with the earth’s atmosphere (Thorsen,
1997, Encarta). The amount and strength of the solar energy available at any
point on the earth depends on the day of the year, time of day, the latitude of
the collection point, and the orientation of the object used in
collection.
The earth is rich in abundant natural resources. However, the
earth’s natural resources are being consumed at an astronomical rate. It will
only be a matter of time before those resources are depleted and we are forced
to consider other alternatives. We can wait until every resource has been
consumed and go back to living the way mankind did a century ago, or we can
continue to move forward and explore the possibilities of harnessing the power
of something that remains constant in our lives—the sun.
Mankind has been
using the natural energy of the sun for ages. Interactions between the sun’s
energy, the oceans, and the atmosphere produce winds that have been used for
centuries to turn windmills. Modern applications of wind energy, when attached
to generators, produce electricity. Through photosynthesis, solar energy
contributes to the growth of plant life masses that can be used as fuel, such as
alcohol or methane.
Solar energy is a clean and safe source of natural
energy that should be considered as an alternative energy source for the future.
The sun is not indigenous to any one country. It is a resource that can be
utilized globally. Individuals and countries could possibly become more self
sufficient in energy resources (Alcorn, 1997, p. 212).
An idea that has
been proposed to produce power on a large scale would involve placing giant
solar modules in earth’s orbit where energy generated from sunlight would be
converted to microwaves and beamed to antennas on earth to be converted to
electric power (Thorsen, 1997, Encarta). To produce as much power a five nuclear
power plants, ten million pounds and several square miles of solar collectors
would have to be assembled in orbit and an earth based antenna five miles in
diameter would be required. This vision requires an exorbitant amount of money.
To my knowledge, there isn’t a government on earth that is willing, thus far, to
fund such a project.
The potential future uses of solar energy are
confronted with opposition. So far, the cost of constructing devices that would
be able to harness a free energy source is at the top of the list. I realize
there is a lot of money involved, but I really can’t think of any technological
discovery that was free to begin with. Every invention has come about through
scientific research, and research requires money. Some have expressed concern
regarding certain industries having to change their products to supply the new
needs of society (Alcorn, 1997, p. 213). Due to new and expected futures
advances in technology, the world will always be forever changing. Some
industries will initially absorb some monetary and opportunity costs, but it is
the price they will have to pay for progression. Another public concern is
Mother Nature. If we experience too many cloudy days in a row; then we will need
a backup source of energy. Perhaps it would be a good idea to explore the
possibilities and fund the research for solar energy before we deplete our
backup resources.