Future of solar energy looks bright

Professor of Engineering Angus Rockett spoke about the positives and negatives of solar energy during his speech titled “Photovoltaics as Part of a Renewable Energy Economy” Monday at 4 p.m. in the ACES library.

While it’s still an evolving technology, solar energy can already be found in a few places on campus.

The Gable Home, 1900 S. First Street, Champaign, was created by the 2009 Solar Decathlon team and won second place in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon. The house has 40 solar panels on it.

The house runs almost completely on solar energy, said Patrick Chapman, one of the team’s advisors and professor of electrical and computer engineering. “On average, we generate more power than we use,” he said.

A unique aspect of the house’s technology is that it converts the solar energy directly to electricity, instead of being converted to heat.

Other buildings powered by solar energy include the Business Instructional Facility, which uses solar cells on its roof.

Also, there is a single solar cell module outside Grainger Library. Rockett said solar energy is an expanding industry.

“The industry has been growing about 40 percent a year in recent years,” he said.

While solar cells are expensive right now, they are becoming more affordable.

“Prices are coming down. Prices are low enough now that it make sense for consumers to invest,” Rockett said.

Chapman said this price decrease should make solar energy a more viable option.

“I think that, just in general, as solar energy becomes cheaper, it will become more attractive,” Chapman said.

At 10 percent efficiency, solar energy is more efficient than other renewable sources of energy, including wind energy, Rockett said.

Another benefit is people do not have to go through the power grid because solar cells can be installed on their roofs, he added.

However, rare elements involved in making solar cells make solar energy problematic due to lack of sources, Rockett said.

Also, storage systems are needed in order to preserve the energy.

Curtis Manahan, graduate student, said he found the lecture interesting but did not think the University should install more solar cells.

“I think it (solar energy) has great possibility for growth and widespread use,” he said. “With the current amount of money they’re making, I don’t think it’s worth it to currently invest in it,” he said.

Source - Daily illini