Energy and Place Project
a. How does energy production and consumption impact place?
b. How does your sense of place, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs
influence your perception and decisions relating to energy production and consumption?
b. How does your sense of place, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs
influence your perception and decisions relating to energy production and consumption?
1. What did you learn about energy or energy resources from the research and design of your infographic? How has your perspective around energy production and use changed as a result of what you have learned?
I learned that solar panels have evolved over time and have become much more efficient. However, today we do not commonly use the most efficient materials for solar cells because of the high costs. Today most commonly used solar panels are 20-25% efficient, but the most efficient solar panel that has been created is 40% efficient. I was pretty surprised to see that one of the reasons solar panels are not a larger source of energy is because of the cost of the efficient panels. At the same time this seems hopeful to me because we have the technology to be able to improve solar energy, we just need the money to get there. I always thought that the most efficient technology would be the cheapest, but this is obviously not the case. This has made me realize that not even with renewable energy sources, the cheapest energy is the most widespread energy.
2. What were you trying to convey to your audience through the creation of your infographic? Explain your rationale for focusing on this particular topic/question.
I wanted to focus on something related to solar energy which inherently connects to battery technology. I continued to focus on solar energy and came across a timeline of solar cells and how their materials have evolved rather than how the batteries for solar panels have evolved. When I saw that we most commonly use silicon in solar panels today (20-25% efficiency) instead of more efficient materials that have 15-20% more efficiency than silicon, this surprised me. I thought that this would be interesting to show readers, who probably would have made the same initial assumption I had, that cost plays a larger factor in what energy we use. I also wanted the readers to be aware that what is holding us back more than anything is the lack of money or subsidies the solar industry has to create more efficient solar cells and batteries. Knowing that we can still progress in making solar panels allows people to support the solar industry and realize that solar panels are not a dead end when it comes to energy.
I learned that solar panels have evolved over time and have become much more efficient. However, today we do not commonly use the most efficient materials for solar cells because of the high costs. Today most commonly used solar panels are 20-25% efficient, but the most efficient solar panel that has been created is 40% efficient. I was pretty surprised to see that one of the reasons solar panels are not a larger source of energy is because of the cost of the efficient panels. At the same time this seems hopeful to me because we have the technology to be able to improve solar energy, we just need the money to get there. I always thought that the most efficient technology would be the cheapest, but this is obviously not the case. This has made me realize that not even with renewable energy sources, the cheapest energy is the most widespread energy.
2. What were you trying to convey to your audience through the creation of your infographic? Explain your rationale for focusing on this particular topic/question.
I wanted to focus on something related to solar energy which inherently connects to battery technology. I continued to focus on solar energy and came across a timeline of solar cells and how their materials have evolved rather than how the batteries for solar panels have evolved. When I saw that we most commonly use silicon in solar panels today (20-25% efficiency) instead of more efficient materials that have 15-20% more efficiency than silicon, this surprised me. I thought that this would be interesting to show readers, who probably would have made the same initial assumption I had, that cost plays a larger factor in what energy we use. I also wanted the readers to be aware that what is holding us back more than anything is the lack of money or subsidies the solar industry has to create more efficient solar cells and batteries. Knowing that we can still progress in making solar panels allows people to support the solar industry and realize that solar panels are not a dead end when it comes to energy.