Summary reader response (Analysis) draft 1

 University of Minnesota Duluth's article ''Solar Power: A Feasible Future'' (Thomas, 2017) talks about what are solar panels and what are they made up of. 

According to Nathan Thomas, a solar panel consists of numerous small cells known as photovoltaic cells (PV cells) "linked together make up a solar panel" (Dhar, Harvey, 2022). These cells are made up of "a top layer of metal conductor strips" "a layer of antireflective coating" and "two silicon layers and a metal backing" (Thomas, 2017). Silicon are semiconductors which are an in between of proper conductors like metals and insulators such as rubbers and may not conduct electricity at room temperatures, only when heated up (Thomas, 2017). 

Photovoltaic cells ''converts sunlight to electricity''(Thomas, 2017) "by allowing photons, or particles of light, to knock electrons free from atoms, generating a flow of electricity" (Dhar, Harvey, 2022). The positively charged (p-type) semiconductors lack electrons while the negatively charged (n-type) semiconductors have extra electrons that move over to the p-type to fill the lack of electrons knock one of these donated electrons free, leaving a new hole for another electron to fill its place (Thomas, 2017). Sunlight also known as photons "knock one of these donated electrons free, leaving a new hole for another electron to fill its place"(Thomas, 2017). With these happening millions of times per second, the "electrons that are knocked loose get directed into a path" which creates electric currents (Thomas, 2017). 

Solar-powered energy production is actually a very viable form of renewable electrical energy production as compared to other well-known forms of renewable electrical energy production, hydro-powered and wind-powered. This is because solar panels are known to be less impactful on humans and wildlife directly, especially once they are built.  

The largest risk associated with hydroelectric energy production is that dams can negatively affect humans and wildlife directly. A dam requires “a running water source” to be dammed which shuts out aquatic animals from returning to their breeding ground (Giaquinto, n.d.). Statistics have shown that ”wild salmon numbers in the Pacific Northwest’s Columbia River basin are down some 85 percent since the big dams went in there a half century ago” (Davenport, Boulder, Colo, 2012) and “A 2018 study predicted that fish stocks on Asia’s Mekong River could drop by 40% as a result of dam projects” (Diehn, 2020) Animals and humans that rely on these aquatic lives as food source in turn get affected and can also deny both human communities and animals' access to water to sustain themselves (Giaquinto, n.d.). The dammed rivers also “lack the natural transport of sediment” (Davenport, et al., 2012) and the “downstream land becomes less fertile and riverbeds can become deeper or even erode away” (Diehn, 2020). 

So why is a solar power also a better source of renewable energy compared to wind energy? In order to harvest wind energy, windmills have to be built. The direct impact windmills can have on surrounding human population and wildlife include extended exposure to noise pollution and also pose as a danger to wildlife (Rinkesh, n.d.). As the blades spin, it creates noise levels around “50-60 dB(A) at a distance of 40 meters” (Impacts of Wind-Energy, 2007, Noise levels sect, para. 1), a similar level to an average conversation (Impacts of Wind-Energy, 2007). For humans it may simply annoying to live with on a daily basis, however to animals that depend heavily on audio cues, this can affect many aspects of their lives such as hunting, mating calls or simply just getting around (Rinkesh, n.d.). Flight-based animals can also crash into these blades, due to the blade size and heft, taking its life (Rinkesh, n.d.). 

Despite solar power looking as a stronger potential candidate than its alternative renewable energy generation counterparts, solar panels have its major flaws and can pose a great threat to the environment itself. Solar panels are of very “low efficiency” (Graham Sawrey, 2022) and when located in an ideal spot and top-notch equipment, only generates a poor “22% conversion rate” (Graham Sawrey, 2022). Production of solar panels generate toxic waste, starting from mining which creates land and air pollution due to the burning of fossil fuels to refining of materials which can cause water pollution as well. “1 ton of coal to manufacture every residential PV array” (Graham Sawrey, 2022) where the average “residential solar panel is typically around 5.5 feet long and just over 3 feet wide” (Sara Matasci, 2022). Afterwards, in the actual production of these panels, mainly Asian countries where solar panels are produced, the toxic wastes generated are thoughtlessly discarded into the environment Graham Sawrey, 2022) and the compounds found in solar panels are especially toxic including cadium and lead just to name a few (Graham Sawrey, 2022). 

In conclusion, despite the drawbacks of using solar panels as a form of renewable electrical energy generation, it is still the one that is the most eco-friendly. The pollution caused during the mining, manufacturing and disposal can be strictly regulated to reduce its impact on the environment greatly and the United States have already taken a small step where “manufacturers are required to make sure these high-value substances are recycled rather than tossed in a landfill” (Graham Sawrey, 2022). 

 

 

References 

Nathan Thomas (2017, October 6), "Solar Power: A Feasible Future" University of Minnesota Duluth https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/213630/SolarPower_AFeasibleFuture.pdf?sequence=1 

Michael Dhar, Ailsa Harvey (2022, February 11) "How do solar panels work?" Live Science https://www.livescience.com/41995-how-do-solar-panels-work.html 

Rober Giaquinto (n.d.) “Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydroelectric Energy” Green Geeks 

https://www.greengeeks.com/blog/hydroelectric-energy/ 

Missy Davenport, Boulder, Colo (2012, September 18) “The Downside of Dams: Is the Environmental Price of Hydroelectric Power Too High?” Scientific American 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-dams-hurt-rivers/ 

Sonya Angelica Diehn (2020, 25 June) “Five ways mega-dams harm the environment” Made for minds. 

https://www.dw.com/en/five-ways-mega-dams-harm-the-environment/a-53916579  

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2007. Environmental Impacts of Wind-Energy Projects. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/11935  

Rinkesh Kukreja (n.d.) “Various Pros and Cons of Wind Energy (Wind Power)” Conserve Energy Future 

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-wind-energy.php  

Rinkesh Kukreja (n.d.) “Causes and Effects of Noise Pollution on Humans and Animals” Conserve Energy Future 

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-noise-pollution.php  

National Research Council; Division on Earth and Life Studies; Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology; Committee on Environmental Impacts of Wind-Energy Projects (2007)  

“Environmental Impacts of Wind-Energy Projects” National Academies 

https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/11935/chapter/6#158 

Graham Sawrey (2022, September 27)  “10 Disadvantages Of Solar Energy & Cons Of Solar Panels” ECAVO 

https://ecavo.com/solar-energy-disadvantages/#pollution  

Sara Matasci (2022, June 1) “Solar panel size and weight explained: how big are solar panels?” EnergySage 

https://news.energysage.com/average-solar-panel-size-weight/#:~:text=A%20residential%20solar%20panel%20is,rated%20for%20300W%20per%20panel.