Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 10.12
Solar roofs installed in She
eld after the introduction of
newsolartariffintheUnitedKingdominApril2010.SeealsoColourInsert.
The recommendation for developing countries is to install 'a
small number of large systems' in the short term in order to learn
and master the technology. Meanwhile, the national grids should be
upgraded to a very high standard, minimising transmission losses.
Solar roofs can then be introduced on a large scale with confidence,
producing energy during daytime.
The policies introduced by governments make a huge difference
since the technology is ready for use. A continuing research and
development process will gradually bring down the cost. The UK
government's introduction of solar tariff of 41.3 pence (
£
0.41) per
unit (kWh) from April 2010 is already showing this effect. Solar
roofs producing 2-3 kW power are mushrooming throughout the
country. News releases indicate that over 300,000 solar roofs have
been installed within the first two years alone during the past two
years (Fig. 10.12). These solar roofs are equivalent to about 1 GW
power station. Making use of this opportunity, new companies are
created to install solar roofs round the country, without any cost to
the households. If this becomes a profitable business in the United
Kingdom,withlowsolarinsolation,manycountriesroundtheglobe
could do well with the solar roof business. In particular, countries
in the sun-belt could thrive with the solar roof business, producing
energy from indigenous solar power.
10.10 Energy from Solar Farms and Deserts (MW Range)
Solarenergyproductionisnolongeranicheactivity.Solarfarmsare
increasing output to 5-10 MW scale and beginning to cover some
of the desert areas. Professor Kurokawa's work in the Gobi desert
