Introduction
Certain factors such as the need to conserve environmental purity as well as the increasing pressure on fossil fuels have prompted the increased use of alternative sources of fuel, renewable energy to be precise. Renewable energy has been cited as not only cheap to exploit but also the most environmentally friendly sources of energy due to the reduced instances of environmental pollution associated with such energy (Pasqualetti 204). Solar energy, for instance, has been largely exploited globally due to its free availability, especially along the tropics where it is abundant throughout the year.
Despite the increased preference of solar energy, there are certain barriers that hinder harnessing and exploitation of solar energy. Such hindrances range from political, social to economic barriers. This paper will thus majorly dwell on some of the inherent social barriers that not only inhibit but also redirect, discourage and even halt major solar energy projects.
Claim
In 2011, a resident of California in the United States of America sued his neighbor on claims that the neighbor’s redwood trees prevented him from harnessing maximum solar insolation since their shades covered a significant part of his overhead solar panels (Margolis, and Jarett 43). Since the redwood trees were neither serving as firebreaks nor were they on the boundary, the complainant lost the case and was thus forced to construct an alternative aerial stand for his panels.
However, the initial cordial and neighborly relations that existed between the two neighbors ceased, and they continued living in animosity. Even when there was announced power rationing programs and thus subsequent blackouts, the neighbor with the panels could not allow his colleague even to charge a phone at his premises.
The case of two neighbors as highlighted above is a typical social barrier that hinders extensive harnessing of solar energy. The harnessing of solar energy has been cited as a source of social conflicts especially when creating open space for installation of solar panels. Tapping solar energy requires free and open space that allows insolation from the sun to reach the solar panels. In shaded regions, therefore, maximum insulation cannot be achieved since the trees block the sun rays and instead, only shades reach the panel.
Communal acceptance is another barrier that greatly hinders harnessing of solar energy, majority of the community members have developed a negative attitude towards solar energy. Communal acceptance refers to the willingness of members of society to embrace solar energy projects. Limited communal acceptance of solar energy has been attributed to two major reasons. The initial reason is that the society has not been effectively enlightened on the positives of solar energy as well as the technology behind its harnessing and hence still harbors the ancient notions and perceptions about solar energy.
The second reason is that the mega companies that own huge investments in fossil fuels are afraid of losing their fortunes amidst global calls to curb environmental pollution and have thus gone a notch higher to influence the society in their favor. As a result, therefore, most members of society reject solar energy even without justified proofs to substantiate their claims nut rather base their arguments on propaganda and other hearsays.
Another social barrier to exploitation of solar energy relates to the nature of the equipment used in harnessing solar energy. For instance, the solar panels are made of toxic metals, among them, mercury, cadmium, and lead. The society has been taught about the dangers of radioactivity, especially about renewable sources of energy such as nuclear. In other words, the entire society fears any source of energy associated with emissions since it is directly related to cancers and other health complications. The fact that solar panels are made of the three toxic metals, therefore, makes them be classified under radioactive material by the illiterate society and thus all efforts are done to shun such substances. In the long run, people, especially those with little knowledge on radioactivity and solar panels, vehemently reject solar energy and subsequently influence other in society to follow suit.
Counter Claims
Social conflicts are part and parcel of any complete society comprising of different personalities with different character traits (Fischer, Jenny and Sunyoung 67). The claim that harnessing of solar energy is a source of social conflicts is only a coining by the antagonists who might be for the continued use of fossil fuels perhaps to safeguard their investments. Despite the dense forest cover in the certain area, solar panels can be erected in such a way that the shades do not affect them at all. For instance, with the current technology, it is possible to produce overhead stands for solar panels that are taller than standard trees height and hence totally avoiding the need to cut down trees so as to create an open area for the panels. This might only require a few meters of additional transmission cables.
Similarly, there are regions with sufficient solar insolation which goes to waste day by day. For example, the Sahara desert in Africa has neither trees nor does is it inhabited. Setting up mega solar harnessing station will neither require cutting down trees nor displacing settlements but rather investment policies that will see such like areas turn from useless deserts to profitable sites for harnessing solar energy. Hence, there are numerous solutions to the perceived issue of solar energy harnessing being a source of social conflicts.
Solar panels are not radioactive; this is a notion propagated by the antagonist of solar energy. Solar panels have lead, cadmium, and mercury as a constituent element. However, the metals are combined with other chemical constituents that allow them to neither radiate nor dissociate at any point within their lifespan (Huijts, Molin and Linda 528). On the same note, there are crystal clear instructions on how to dispose-off worn out solar panels. Therefore, there is now way in which the mercury or lead contained in the solar panels can be of any harm to the user. Rather than leaving the society to hold onto fallacies and other unjustified perceptions, various governments should embark on sensitization programs aimed at increasing the understanding of the society about the equipment used in harnessing solar energy.
Principally, the issue of communal acceptance can only be regarded as a barrier since there are no efforts as at the moment, to enlighten and brief the public about the benefits of operating with an environmentally friendly source of energy (Boboc 484). Fossil fuels have been in existence for an undoubtedly long period. It is even possible that some members of the current generation know of fossil fuels and hydropower as the only sources of energy. Rather than blaming the community for its reluctance to embrace solar energy, there should be efforts to implement practical solar energy projects for the doubting souls to actually confirm. In fact, such practical projects coupled with extensive public awareness and sensitizations are bound to yield tremendous communal acceptance. Sometimes, people reject abstract and theoretical ideas until they confirm to themselves the practicality of such ideas.
Conclusion
As argued in this paper, it is apparent that social barriers play a major role when it comes to migration from the current dependency on fossil fuels towards embracing solar energy as an alternative source of energy. Similarly, social acceptability of solar energy is the inherent factor that determines the adoption and implementation of solar energy as a clean source of fuel. As a result, therefore, there is the need to carry out extensive public awareness and understanding especially on solar energy within the society so as to increase social acceptability. Such efforts should be beefed up by government policies, laws, and regulations that promote the use of solar energy, not only as a source of domestic energy but also for industrial applications to encourage adoption. There is scientific proof that solar energy, alongside other sources of renewable energy, has the potential to supply the current load for up to 70 years. However, this can only be achieved if appropriate strategies and policies are embarked on at an earlier stage like now.
Works Cited
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Fischer, Remco, Jenny Lopez, and Sunyoung Suh. "Barriers and Drivers to Renewable Energy Investment in Sub-Saharan Africa." Journal of Environmental Investing 2.1 (2012).
Huijts, Nicole MA, E. J. E. Molin, and Linda Steg. "Psychological factors influencing sustainable energy technology acceptance: A review-based comprehensive framework." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 16.1 (2012): 525-531.
Jacobson, Mark. “Mark Jacobson: Barriers to 100% Clean Energy Are Social and Political, Not Technical or Economic.” EcoWatch, 20 Nov. 2015, www.ecowatch.com/mark-jacobson-barriers-to-100-clean-energy-are-social-and-political-no-1882122292.html
Margolis, Robert, and Jarett Zuboy. "Nontechnical barriers to solar energy use: review of recent literature." 2006, print.
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