thesis statement in solar energy

Guide: Writing a Research Paper on Solar Energy

You already know how to deal with the research paper in general. Let us pay 2-minute attention to the basics just to freshen up your memory and then we will talk about the specific rules and ideas for writing on solar energy. You research paper should include:

• Abstract. Short summary of your work, like the annotation in a book.
• Introduction. Clear and precise thesis statement is a must.
• Annotated bibliography/Materials. Sources of information you used to complete the research paper.
• Methods/Methodology. Scientific methods you used to conduct a research and evaluate the results.
• Results. What you have understood as a result of the research.
• Discussion. The interpretation of your recent findings.
• Summary/Conclusions. Summarize your findings and draw a conclusion. If the dilemma wasn’t solved, state what you think is needed to solve it.

You have this list in your course book, definitely, but most probably the description of each part is rather vague which might be rather confusing.

How to Write a Stellar Research Paper on Solar Energy

Idea #1. State the topicality

You should show that your research covers actual issues, relevant to the moment. Example. Solar energy was the fastest growing source of global energy in 2016, showing dynamics better than other types of energy production. Such data is contained in a recent report of the International Energy Agency, which is one of the most credible organization for quoting in your solar energy research paper. There are services that offer people to write my research paper for me .

Idea #2. Show the understanding of trends

Don’t just state something, explain it and show international correlations.

Example. The result is largely due to lower prices and a change in government policy that facilitates a departure from traditional energy sources such as coal. For example, China plays an important role in expanding the use of renewable energy sources. This country accounts for almost half of all new solar panels installed around the world.

Idea #3. Pay attention to negative sides and assumptions

Don’t make your paper too shallow — elaborate on side effects.

Example . Today, harmful substances are used, for the manufacture of solar cells, which in one way or another can harm nature. Already ready photocells contain poisonous elements, such as lead, cadmium, gallium, arsenide. The service life of solar batteries is 30 – 50 years, so the problem f the subsequent processing of modules arises, and the solution of the issue of their utilization has not been found so far. A significant drawback of the process of obtaining solar energy is the so-called impermanence. Solar systems are not able to work at night, and in the evening the efficiency of stations significantly decreases. Just as the absence of sunlight and its excessive radiation reduces the efficiency of the system as a whole, it is necessary to provide for the cooling of the modules additionally.

Idea #4. Give illustrative real-life examples

Solar power may have been on the verge of breaking in the MENA region, but it appears back on track.

To make the results of your research more descriptive, use engaging examples.

Example. In 2016 Tesla, Inc. joined by the company SolarCity, which creates solutions for the transition of homes to solar energy. One of their first joint projects was the almost 100 percent conversion of the Pacific island of Tau to “green” energy. The new “goal” of Tesla was the island of Kauai, which is part of the Hawaiian archipelago. Enjoying a year-round abundance of sunshine, this US state practiced “green” energy before the arrival of Tesla. Nevertheless, the solutions on the island could not solve the problem of electricity consumption at night, since solar panels generating energy without saving it. The new system installed by the company is equipped with 52 MWh Powerpack 2 accumulators assembled at the Tesla factory in the United States, and the power of the solar farm itself is 13 MW.  Now the Hawaiian Islands have the opportunity to increase the share of solar energy consumption up to 100, what they intend to achieve by 2045.

Idea #5. Show the ability of big-picture thinking

Show that you understand the market’s perspectives.

Example. Many experts note that the “new era” of solar electricity has come, expecting that the growth of solar electric power will be higher than any other types of renewable energy sources up to 2022. In fact, the agency’s experts admitted that they underestimated how fast green energy is growing, noting that many countries will be in the center of the solar boom in the coming years. For instance, it is expected that the renewable energy potential in India will double by 2022, outstripping the EU. However, representatives of the International Energy Agency said that, despite these encouraging figures, there is still uncertainty ahead. This is due to Donald Trump’s plans to revive the coal industry.

Writing on solar energy don’t forget that it is a speedy growing field and you should use only the most recent case study and reports. Otherwise you can hire professional research paper writers online who provide academic writing services for students. Good luck!

Author: Bhok Thompson

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Knowledge Base

Guide for students: how to write a persuasive essay on solar energy 1.

I. The Art of Writing a Persuasive Essay

The power of persuasion.

Can you imagine having the ability to modify a person’s perception, influence their judgment, or even incite them to take action? This is the potential of a well-written persuasive essay. This form of writing isn’t merely about presenting facts; it’s about crafting your argument in a way that convinces your reader to align with your viewpoint.

Techniques and Tactics

Creating persuasive content is a product of employing an assortment of methods and tactics, not a magical spell. Using rhetorical questions, language that triggers emotions, and arguments grounded in evidence are all techniques at your disposal. Their effective use will elevate the persuasiveness of your essay.

II.Defining a Persuasive Essay

Definition of a persuasive essay.

A persuasive essay is a genre of academic writing where the writer is tasked with expressing a point of view on a particular topic and supporting this position with reasoned arguments and substantiating evidence.

Purpose of a Persuasive Essay

The main aim of a persuasive essay is not to provide information or tell a story. It is designed to convince the reader to subscribe to your point of view. It’s about influencing them to perceive things from your perspective.

Characteristics of a Persuasive Essay

Persuasive essays possess a unique structure and composition. A clear position, rational reasoning, robust evidence, and emotional resonance are some of the distinct characteristics of this type of essay.

III.Key Components of a Persuasive Essay

• Introduction

Your persuasive essay’s introduction should captivate the reader. It must seize the reader’s attention, provide a concise preview of the content to follow, and present your thesis statement, a succinct encapsulation of your primary argument.

It’s possible you’re contemplating, “I wish there were someone to write my essay .” However, mastering the craft of the persuasive essay isn’t only beneficial for your academic success. It’s a skill that will serve you in many aspects of life beyond college, and with patience and practice, it becomes an integral part of your communication and influencing toolbox.

• Body Paragraphs

The main part of your essay is formed by the body paragraphs. Each paragraph presents a distinct argument in support of your thesis, backed by well-researched evidence such as data, anecdotes, or expert testimony.

Counter-argument

Incorporating a counter-argument and subsequently refuting it can fortify your essay. It demonstrates that you have considered differing viewpoints, but still resolutely stand by your position.

The conclusion is where your essay comes to an end. It reiterates your thesis and main points, leaving the reader contemplating the influence of your ideas. It should inspire the reader to take action or reconsider their existing viewpoint.

IV.The Process of Writing a Persuasive Essay on Solar Energy

Research and understanding.

The initial step is conducting thorough research. Grasp the intricacies of solar energy, its pros and cons. Consider the arguments supporting and opposing its use.

Some key research topics include:

• The concept of solar energy
• The advantages and disadvantages of solar energy
• The practicality of solar energy as a predominant energy source

Formulating a Thesis Statement

After gaining a comprehensive understanding of solar energy, construct a precise and compelling thesis statement. It serves as the cornerstone of your essay, and therefore, it needs to be robust.

Creating an Outline

The next step is to formulate an outline. This acts as a guide for your essay, ensuring you incorporate all your significant points and evidence.

A typical outline for a persuasive essay looks like this:

• Captivating hook
• Background information
• Thesis declaration
• First argument + supporting evidence
• Second argument + supporting evidence
• Counter-argument + rebuttal
• Restating of thesis
• Recap of arguments
• Final reflections/call to action

Writing a persuasive essay can be a challenging task, which is why some students resort to the best paper writing services for help. But remember, there’s a unique sense of accomplishment and skill growth when you author it yourself. It’s all part of your academic journey.

Writing the Essay

With your research, thesis, and outline in place, you can begin writing. Don’t strive for perfection in the first draft. Simply let your thoughts flow. Refining and editing can always be done later.

Revising and Editing

Finally, review and edit your essay. This stage ensures that your essay is coherent, free from mistakes, and most importantly, convincing.

In conclusion, authoring a persuasive essay on solar energy provides an opportunity to contribute significantly to a vital conversation. Not only can you alter opinions and incite action, but you also enhance valuable skills in the process. Acquiring proficiency in the art of the persuasive essay is a skill worth possessing, and there’s no better time to start honing it than now.

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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.

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 as an Alternative Source of Energy It is of essence to note that, with the depletion of fossil fuels, more emphasis is now being put on the use of solar energy as an alternate energy source.
• 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.
• 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 […]
• 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.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• 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: 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.
• 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 […]
• 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 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?
• Solar System Essay Topics
• Atmosphere Questions
• Photosynthesis Research Ideas
• Climate Change Titles
• Ecosystem Essay Topics
• Environmental Protection Titles
• Government Regulation Titles
• Green Building Questions
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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• The exponential growth of solar power will change the world

An energy-rich future is within reach

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I t is 70 years since AT&T ’s Bell Labs unveiled a new technology for turning sunlight into power. The phone company hoped it could replace the batteries that run equipment in out-of-the-way places. It also realised that powering devices with light alone showed how science could make the future seem wonderful; hence a press event at which sunshine kept a toy Ferris wheel spinning round and round.

Today solar power is long past the toy phase. Panels now occupy an area around half that of Wales, and this year they will provide the world with about 6% of its electricity—which is almost three times as much electrical energy as America consumed back in 1954. Yet this historic growth is only the second-most-remarkable thing about the rise of solar power. The most remarkable is that it is nowhere near over.

To call solar power’s rise exponential is not hyperbole, but a statement of fact. Installed solar capacity doubles roughly every three years, and so grows ten-fold each decade. Such sustained growth is seldom seen in anything that matters. That makes it hard for people to get their heads round what is going on. When it was a tenth of its current size ten years ago, solar power was still seen as marginal even by experts who knew how fast it had grown. The next ten-fold increase will be equivalent to multiplying the world’s entire fleet of nuclear reactors by eight in less than the time it typically takes to build just a single one of them.

Solar cells will in all likelihood be the single biggest source of electrical power on the planet by the mid 2030s. By the 2040s they may be the largest source not just of electricity but of all energy. On current trends, the all-in cost of the electricity they produce promises to be less than half as expensive as the cheapest available today. This will not stop climate change, but could slow it a lot faster. Much of the world—including Africa , where 600m people still cannot light their homes—will begin to feel energy-rich. That feeling will be a new and transformational one for humankind.

To grasp that this is not some environmentalist fever dream, consider solar economics. As the cumulative production of a manufactured good increases, costs go down. As costs go down, demand goes up. As demand goes up, production increases—and costs go down further. This cannot go on for ever; production, demand or both always become constrained. In earlier energy transitions—from wood to coal, coal to oil or oil to gas—the efficiency of extraction grew, but it was eventually offset by the cost of finding ever more fuel.

As our essay this week explains, solar power faces no such constraint. The resources needed to produce solar cells and plant them on solar farms are silicon-rich sand, sunny places and human ingenuity, all three of which are abundant. Making cells also takes energy, but solar power is fast making that abundant, too. As for demand, it is both huge and elastic—if you make electricity cheaper, people will find uses for it. The result is that, in contrast to earlier energy sources, solar power has routinely become cheaper and will continue to do so.

Other constraints do exist. Given people’s proclivity for living outside daylight hours, solar power needs to be complemented with storage and supplemented by other technologies. Heavy industry and aviation and freight have been hard to electrify. Fortunately, these problems may be solved as batteries and fuels created by electrolysis gradually become cheaper.

Another worry is that the vast majority of the world’s solar panels, and almost all the purified silicon from which they are made, come from China. Its solar industry is highly competitive, heavily subsidised and is outstripping current demand—quite an achievement given all the solar capacity China is installing within its own borders. This means that Chinese capacity is big enough to keep the expansion going for years to come, even if some of the companies involved go to the wall and some investment dries up.

In the long run, a world in which more energy is generated without the oil and gas that come from unstable or unfriendly parts of the world will be more dependable. Still, although the Chinese Communist Party cannot rig the price of sunlight as OPEC tries to rig that of oil, the fact that a vital industry resides in a single hostile country is worrying.

It is a concern that America feels keenly, which is why it has put tariffs on Chinese solar equipment. However, because almost all the demand for solar panels still lies in the future, the rest of the world will have plenty of scope to get into the market. America’s adoption of solar energy could be frustrated by a pro-fossil-fuel Trump presidency, but only temporarily and painfully. It could equally be enhanced if America released pent up demand, by making it easier to install panels on homes and to join the grid—the country has a terawatt of new solar capacity waiting to be connected. Carbon prices would help, just as they did in the switch from coal to gas in the European Union.

The aim should be for the virtuous circle of solar-power production to turn as fast as possible. That is because it offers the prize of cheaper energy. The benefits start with a boost to productivity. Anything that people use energy for today will cost less—and that includes pretty much everything. Then come the things cheap energy will make possible. People who could never afford to will start lighting their houses or driving a car. Cheap energy can purify water, and even desalinate it. It can drive the hungry machinery of artificial intelligence. It can make billions of homes and offices more bearable in summers that will, for decades to come, be getting hotter.

But it is the things that nobody has yet thought of that will be most consequential. In its radical abundance, cheaper energy will free the imagination, setting tiny Ferris wheels of the mind spinning with excitement and new possibilities.

This week marks the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. The Sun rising to its highest point in the sky will in decades to come shine down on a world where nobody need go without the blessings of electricity and where the access to energy invigorates all those it touches. ■

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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “The solar age”

Leaders June 22nd 2024

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From the June 22nd 2024 edition

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New study shows mysterious solar particle blasts can devastate the ozone layer, bathing Earth in radiation for years

Distinguished Professor, Charles Sturt University

Senior Scientist, University of Natural Resources and Life Science (BOKU)

Disclosure statement

Alan Cooper features in the ABC Megafaunal Extinctions documentary mentioned in the article.

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

Charles Sturt University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

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The remarkable aurora in early May this year demonstrated the power that solar storms can emit as radiation, but occasionally the Sun does something far more destructive. Known as “solar particle events”, these blasts of protons directly from the surface of the Sun can shoot out like a searchlight into space.

Records show that around every thousand years Earth gets hit by an extreme solar particle event, which could cause severe damage to the ozone layer and increase levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the surface.

We analysed what happens during such an extreme event in a paper published today . We also show that at times when Earth’s magnetic field is weak, these events could have a dramatic effect on life across the planet.

Earth’s critical magnetic shield

Earth’s magnetic field provides a crucial protective cocoon for life, deflecting electrically charged radiation from the Sun. In the normal state, it functions like a gigantic bar magnet with field lines rising from one pole, looping around, and plunging back down at the other pole, in a pattern sometimes described as an “inverted grapefruit”. The vertical orientation at the poles allows some ionising cosmic radiation to penetrate down as far as the upper atmosphere, where it interacts with gas molecules to create the glow we know as the aurora.

However, the field changes a great deal over time. In the past century, the north magnetic pole has wandered across northern Canada at a speed of around 40 kilometres per year, and the field has weakened by more than 6% . Geological records show there have been periods of centuries or millennia when the geomagnetic field has been very weak or even entirely absent.

We can see what would happen without Earth’s magnetic field by looking at Mars, which lost its global magnetic field in the ancient past, and most of its atmosphere as a result. In May, not long after the aurora, a strong solar particle event hit Mars . It disrupted the operation of the Mars Odyssey spacecraft, and caused radiation levels at the surface of Mars about 30 times higher than what you would receive during a chest X-ray.

The power of protons

The Sun’s outer atmosphere emits a constant fluctuating stream of electrons and protons known as the “solar wind”. However, the Sun’s surface also sporadically emits bursts of energy, mostly protons, in solar particle events – which are often associated with solar flares.

Protons are much heavier than electrons and carry more energy so they reach lower altitudes in Earth’s atmosphere, exciting gas molecules in the air. However, these excited molecules emit only X-rays, which are invisible to the naked eye.

Hundreds of weak solar particle events occur every solar cycle (roughly 11 years) but scientists have found traces of much stronger events throughout Earth’s history. Some of the most extreme were thousands of times stronger than anything recorded with modern instruments.

Extreme solar particle events

These extreme solar particle events occur roughly every few millennia . The most recent one happened around 993 AD, and was used to show that Viking buildings in Canada used timber cut in 1021 AD .

Less ozone, more radiation

Beyond their immediate effect, solar particle events can also kickstart a chain of chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere that can deplete ozone. Ozone absorbs harmful solar UV radiation, which can damage eyesight and also DNA (increasing the risk of skin cancer), as well as impacting the climate.

In our new study , we used large computer models of global atmospheric chemistry to examine the impacts of an extreme solar particle event.

We found such an event could deplete ozone levels for a year or so, raising UV levels at the surface and increasing DNA damage. But if a solar proton event arrived during a period when Earth’s magnetic field was very weak then ozone damage would last six years, increasing UV levels by 25% and boosting the rate of solar-induced DNA damage by up to 50%.

Particle blasts from the past

How likely is this deadly combination of weak magnetic field and extreme solar proton events? Given how often each of them occurs, it appears likely they happen together relatively often.

In fact, this combination of events may explain several mysterious occurrences in Earth’s past.

The most recent period of weak magnetic field – including a temporary switch in north and south poles – began 42,000 years ago and lasted about 1,000 years. Several major evolutionary events occurred around this time , such as the disappearance of the last Neanderthals in Europe and the extinctions of marsupial megafauna including giant wombats and kangaroos in Australia .

An even bigger evolutionary event has also been linked to Earth’s geomagnetic field. The origin of multicellular animals at the end of the Ediacaran period (from 565 million years ago), recorded in fossils in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges , occurred after a 26-million-year period of weak or absent magnetic field .

Similarly, the rapid evolution of diverse groups of animals in the Cambrian Explosion (around 539 million years ago) has also been related to geomagnetism and high UV levels. The simultaneous evolution of eyes and hard body shells in multiple unrelated groups has been described as the best means to both detect and avoid the harmful incoming UV rays, in a “flight from light”.

We are still only starting to explore the role of solar activity and Earth’s magnetic field in the history of life.

• Ozone layer
• Solar flare
• Space weather
• UV radiation
• Earth's magnetic field

Lecturer in Indigenous Health (Identified)

Lecturer in Visual Art

PhD Scholarship

Senior Lecturer, HRM or People Analytics

Centre Director, Transformative Media Technologies

File(s) under embargo

Reason: A thesis chapter in preparation to submission to academic journal

until file(s) become available

Constraining Explosion Physics and Progenitors of Transients via Statistical Inferencing of All Sky Survey Data Streams

Advancements in astronomical imaging all-sky surveys are revolutionising the field of time domain astronomy. However, the immense volume of alert data presents a critical bottleneck in maximizing scientific returns from these surveys. Effectively analyzing alert streams to discover transients in unexplored physical parameter spaces is crucial for enhancing scientific output. Building robust infrastructure to identify, prioritize, and execute efficient follow-up strategies on alert streams from all-sky surveys becomes critical. My thesis confronts this challenge through a multidisciplinary approach, by integrating statistical methods, machine learning algorithms, and hydrodynamical simulations to constrain transient explosion properties and motivate effective follow-up initiatives.

I analyze a sample of 45 Type II supernovae from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) public survey using a grid of hydrodynamical models in order to assess whether theoretically driven forecasts can intelligently guide follow-up observations supporting all-sky survey alert streams. I estimate several progenitor properties and explosion physics parameters, including zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) mass, mass-loss rate, kinetic energy, 56 Ni mass synthesized, host extinction, and the time of the explosion. This work involves simulations of real-time of evolving incomplete light curves of the sample (∆t < 25 days, ∆t < 50 days, all data) leading to the conclusion that certain physical parameters exhibit greater reliability as indicators of true values during early epochs. This study emphasises the vital role of real-time modeling of transients, supported by multi-band synthetic light curves tailored to survey passbands, for identifying interesting transients based on their progenitor and explosion properties and determining critical epochs for follow-up observations.

In my thesis, I report multi wavelength observations and characterization of the ultraluminous transient AT 2021lwx (ZTF20abrbeie; aka“Barbie”) identified in the ZTF alert stream, that was flagged as an anomaly by the Recommender Engine For Intelligent Transient Track-ing (REFITT). From a spectroscopically measured redshift of 0.9945, and slowly fading g and r light curves spanning over 1000 observer-frame days that peak with an absolute magnitude of Mr = −25.7 mag, AT 2021lwx has an extraordinary peak pseudo-bolometric luminosity of log (Lmax/[erg/s]) = 45.7. The total radiative energy is over 10 53 erg, and as of today, the transient continues to decline slowly following a t −5/3 power-law. Modeling available photometry with MOSFiT suggests that AT 2021lwx is a tidal disruption event (TDE) candidate involving a ≈ 14 or 15 solar mass star accreting onto a supermassive black hole (SMBH) with mass M BH ≈ 10 8 solar mass. But, intriguingly, no host galaxy associated with the theorized SMBH is detected yet. The Pan-STARRS non-detections do not definitively exclude the existence of a galaxy hosting AT 2021lwx. Utilizing EzGal, upper limits on the stellar mass for different stellar population models were determined. These upper limits suggest that a 10 10 solar mass host galaxy cannot be ruled out.

The enhanced sensitivity of upcoming large-scale all-sky surveys enables the early detection of transients, providing unique insights into their progenitor systems, an example being detection of shock cooling emission (SCE) in light curves of stripped-envelope supernovae(SESNe). Leveraging a statistically significant sample of these events with early detections from all-sky surveys presents an invaluable opportunity to constrain their environments, pro-genitors, and explosion properties. In my final study contributing to this thesis, I analyze a sample of 16 SESNe identified from the ZTF survey, characterised by prominent shock cooling emission features in their light curves. By modeling the SCE and the radioactive peak in these transients, I derive estimates of progenitor radius, mass of the extended envelope and explosion properties of SESNe. This analysis yields upper limits and ranges for the compactness and envelope structures of the SESN progenitors that exhibit SCE in their light curves. I conclude my thesis with a summary of the findings and their future applications.

Degree Type

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Physics and Astronomy

Campus location

• West Lafayette

Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair

Additional committee member 2, additional committee member 3, additional committee member 4, usage metrics.

• Stellar astronomy and planetary systems