The Daily Need

Need to see

The power of the sun

By

April 14, 2011

In “Beyond the Light Switch,” a two-hour, two-part documentary series that is being broadcast on public television stations across the country, David Biello, energy and environment editor at Scientific American magazine, walks viewers through a series of scenarios that outline what the nation’s energy future might look like. What if America invests in carbon capture? Could we see a nuclear power renaissance? Is wind power possible? What is a super grid, anyway?

In this excerpt, Biello explains how solar panels work and concludes that solar energy might not cost as much as we think it does.

To see the documentary series, check you local listings. Read more about it at:  beyondthelightswitch.com.

Last modified: April 14, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Tags: , ,
 
SUGGESTED STORIES
  • Differing views on fracking's impact
    Studies conducted on the counties above the Marcellus and Barnett Shale for example — where extensive drilling has already taken place — present mixed economic results.
  • thumb
    Too much solar energy?
    The proliferation of privately owned solar has large power companies in Germany worried.
  • thumb
    Nominee has industry ties
    Energy secretary nominee had deep connections to industry, including as a paid adviser to BP until 2011.

Comments

  • Darkstar5d

    I agree solar panels can be a great help with generating clean power on a massive scale, there is a need to bring the cost down as well, compared to most of the other concepts it doesn’t do any damage to the enviornment.

    Even though this is the case I personally feel that there hasn’t been enough advancement made to utilize this technology I know this sounds strange but I realize that.

    If the right steps where taken there is a way to use solar panels more effectively with less of the junk additions that need to be added.

    I won’t go into my solution due to a project I am focused on currently but in time I will try an idea I have to see if solar panels can have a greater reliablity of generating power.

    I do not hold a degree all I have is a simple idea that I am most certain will work if applied correctly and of course will take time to look into.

    There are ways it is possible to generate zero emission electricity on a massive scale, so far there are a few methods being looked into that are promising but only go but so far.

    In my opinion we need to go further then what the current methods happen to be. lets see what happens.

  • Darkstar5d

    I agree solar panels can be a great help with generating clean power on a massive scale, there is a need to bring the cost down as well, compared to most of the other concepts it doesn’t do any damage to the enviornment.

    Even though this is the case I personally feel that there hasn’t been enough advancement made to utilize this technology I know this sounds strange but I realize that.

    If the right steps where taken there is a way to use solar panels more effectively with less of the junk additions that need to be added.

    I won’t go into my solution due to a project I am focused on currently but in time I will try an idea I have to see if solar panels can have a greater reliablity of generating power.

    I do not hold a degree all I have is a simple idea that I am most certain will work if applied correctly and of course will take time to look into.

    There are ways it is possible to generate zero emission electricity on a massive scale, so far there are a few methods being looked into that are promising but only go but so far.

    In my opinion we need to go further then what the current methods happen to be. lets see what happens.