How to Increase Development of Solar Energy Sources

Solar energy is often hailed as the savior of the planet, a "free" energy source that will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and reverse global warming. After all, the argument goes, the sun already provides us with all the power we need. We just need to harness and distribute it. Despite the obvious benefits of solar energy, however, many obstacles exist to hinder its development and widespread adoption.

Instructions

• 1

  Educate people. According to WeatherQuestions.com, one of the biggest barriers to the development of solar energy is that many people don't see the benefits of the technology, especially on a personal scale. Rather, they see only the costs associated with solar energy development. Teach people that the technology may be expensive at first but will eventually pay for itself. Also, new technological innovations may help to lower the cost in the future.

• 2

  Increase incentives. Most new solar energy developments are in European countries, with Germany alone accounting for 55 percent of the world's solar production. This may be due largely to the tax credits that many European countries provide for solar development and adoption. One of the ways to make more Americans see the benefits of solar power is for the government to offset the costs of development. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says that extending the federal Renewable Energy Tax Credit may help increase development of new solar projects. Also, some states have Renewable Portfolio Standards that require a certain portion of the state's energy to be derived from renewable resources. Expanding these standards and increasing oversight may help increase solar development.

• 3

  Improve technology. Solar power is actually impractical in many parts of the world, especially in large cities or areas that experience cold or overcast weather for much of the year. People relying on solar power in these areas would experience intermittent service, forcing them to either shut off the power or go back to the grid. And the cost of transporting solar-generated energy from sunnier regions to those that are less sunny would end up costing more than it currently costs to supply "grid" energy. Solar power has caught on in in some seemingly unlikely places such as African villages because the people can be supplied with simple, inexpensive solar panels. Upgrading technology to supply large cities and colder regions would help the development of solar power as a reliable energy source.