Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
one-third, and with all the research and development this can only improve.
Europe is one of the leaders in this fi eld and it is hoped that by 2020 it can
produce 688 GW of power, with expectations nearly double this target by
2030. This would ensure that by 2020 Europe would produce 12% of its
power from the sun, with the sunbelt countries potentially hitting the same
target by 2030. Worldwide, 9% of all power could feasibly be provided by
solar energy by 2030, with this increasing to 20% by 2050. However, it is
not just about the energy produced; countries are also embracing it as a
sustainable clean energy source, hence a way of cutting their carbon dioxide
emissions and helping impact positively on climate change. If solar energy
continues to increase, it is predicted that by 2050 4,047 million tonnes of
CO
2
could be cut worldwide every year. The last but equally important
factor, due to the global fi nancial climate, is the added bonus of jobs using
this technology and Fig. 12.8 shows the possibility for this over the next 20
years. All these compelling arguments should continue to drive govern-
ments to keep striving to enhance their implementation, research and deve-
lopment of solar technologies.
The most major obstacle to implementation of the technology is that,
despite silicon being the second most abundant element in the earth's crust,
for it to be used in PVs it must be purifi ed to a high level to produce better
effi ciency. However, to achieve the correct purity the cost is $40 per kg. The
simplest solution to this problem may be to use a lower purity of silicon but
unfortunately to date this is not an option that has been researched to an
acceptable level.
4.64
3.62
in million
1.62
2015
2020
2030
12.8
Job creation opportunities from PVs.
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