Part Sixteen

Sustainability Speak

• Solar Energy 
     

• The UK’s largest ever research project into the long term future of PV (photovoltaic) solar energy will start in April 2008 (£6.3M over 4 years at Durham University).
• PV is becoming cost effective as a distributed electricity generation option.   
• Global production of PV cells has increased by 50% (2007 on 2006), and the continuing growth of solar power has seen demand for silicon start to outstrip demand.
• 3,800 megawatts worth of PV cells were produced in 2007 (50% more than in 2006). 
• Producers are investing heavily in refining and production capacity.
• Some predictions suggest that a third of all new electricity production installed each year from 2008 to 2015 will be from PV.
• Creating electricity from coal creates 1,000 grams of carbon per kilowatt hour, from gas 500 grams, and from PV 58 grams.
  (NB : Up to 65% of off-site generated electricity can be lost during grid transmission to the end user).

• Some of the materials used currently for large scale production of solar cells may not be sustainable themselves in 20 years time.
• Ultra-thin solar cells are being researched in order to use less material.
• Alternative cheaper and more sustainable materials are being researched.
• Solar power currently provides only about 0.04 per cent of the world’s total energy use.
• Spain and Germany, which enjoy commercial subsidies, are currently leading the industry’s growth.

 Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development