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. Moreover, the adoption of this approach can make societies less dependent on natural resources such as oil and coal that can eventually become depleted. At present, the main objective is to make solar energy technologies more affordable.
Their price should reflect the purchasing power of contemporary buyers who want to make sure that their investment will break in the future. In many cases, some of these consumers believe that it is not reasonable to buy such products. To a great extent, this task is related to the work of engineers, since these professionals can make technologies more energy-efficient.
Moreover, they should find solutions that can reduce the cost of manufacturing such products. For instance, they can select the materials that can be viewed as the best ratio of price and quality. Thus, one can say that these professionals can contribute to the spread of these technologies in various countries. These are some of the main details that should be taken into account.
There are several ways of making this technology more affordable. First of all, engineers may need to focus on the process of manufacturing, because high production expenses often make solar energy technologies less affordable [1].
This problem can be partly explained by the need to use very expensive materials through which the electric charge travels. However, there are some alternative solutions. For instance, it is possible to construct sells that are composed of tiny cylinders. The main advantage of this approach is that it eliminates the need for high-purity materials that are usually very costly. In turn, the application of tiny cylinders can make solar panels less expensive. This is one of the suggestions that can be made.
Apart from that, researchers speak about the use of nano-crystals that can increase the efficiency of solar cells [1]. Therefore, the investment into this technology can be more justified. By adopting this approach, the engineers may not necessarily decrease the cost of such products. However, they can dramatically increase the efficiency of these technologies and their overall value. If this approach is adopted, a greater number of people will be willing to purchase such products. This is one of the details that should be taken into account.
Moreover, it is important to speak about the improvement of energy storage devices which are critical for people’s ability to harness solar energy. In particular, one can mention the use of such materials Glauber’s salt and paraffin wax because they are less expensive [2]. This strategy can help manufacturers offer products better correspond to the purchasing power of clients who may have different levels of income. These are some of the recommendations that can be considered.
Overall, this discussion shows that the adoption of solar energy can be made possible provided that engineers find ways of making these technologies more economical. At present, there are materials that can reduce the costs of producing solar energy technologies. Moreover, there are ways of making solar energy technology more efficient. So, they can be of great value to consumers and investors. Finally, engineers can significantly make these technologies more affordable. These are the main arguments that can be put forward.
References
- C. Zuchora-Walske, Solar Energy. New York: ABDO Publishing Company, 2013.
- R. Naggi, Solar Energy and Its Uses. New York: Pinnacle Technology, 2009.