Introduction
Modern technological trends are moving towards the application of sustainable energy resources. Sustainable energy is that which is balanced on the lines of consumption and supply (Berndes, 2003). Concerning this, the utilization of such energy sources promotes the maintenance of controllable collateral implications. Sustainable energy leads to insignificant levels of environmental degradation. Additionally, the sustainability of energy resources can be understood according to their longevity. Such sources are deemed to fulfill the needs of the present while guaranteeing their progressive benefits into the future. Sustainable development has become a mainstream topic that is addressed in various forums globally. Hitherto, various technologies have been developed to counter the problem of natural resource depletion. Considerable focus is being shifted from the overreliance on fossil fuels to the application of “clean technologies”. Currently, the adoption of sustainable technologies in the automotive industry is the holy grail of achieving economic equality across the globe.
Problem solution
The application of solar technology in automotive engineering is aligned with the goals of sustainable development. The solar technology applies the concept of conversions in creating energy systems used to power cars. In this case, energy borne in sunlight is transformed into electricity that would be used in various ways. This conversion is done either directly or indirectly. Fundamentally, harnessing solar energy is done in many ways. Direct methods include the application of photovoltaics in the establishment of energy systems. Indirectly, concentrated solar power is used to provide electricity for industrial applications. The mechanisms employed by both methods are different. In photovoltaics, the photovoltaic effect of physical states is used to transform light energy into electricity (Grätzel, 2005). On the other hand, concentrated solar power systems employ the use of lenses to focus the sun rays into beams.
Background
The automotive industry has adopted the concepts of photovoltaics in car manufacture. Initially, photovoltaics provided an answer for domestic energy consumption. This technology provided electricity to small-scale establishments. Significant applications included the use of photovoltaic technology in powering calculators (Randall, 2003). These devices used singular solar cells to operate. Additionally, the new technology was an important energy source that was popular in individual homes. Such households were energized through photovoltaic systems installed on their roofs. In recent years, the costs of operating solar electrical systems have reduced significantly. This is because of the wide acceptance accorded to solar technologies. Consequently, many households are connected to solar grids around the globe. These establishments utilize photovoltaic (PV) technologies in converting light into electricity. There has also been a considerable rise in government investment in the establishment of solar power stations around the world. These installations generate several hundred megawatts of energy to power industrial and domestic applications. Evidently, solar photovoltaics has proved to be a cost-effective method of harnessing energy from the sun. The fact that this energy is renewable adds merit to its applicability in the automotive industry.
The development of commercial solar power generation is attributed to the 80s. During this time, various governments installed concentrated power plants that would pave the way to a future of sustainable development. Currently, solar technology is applied in car manufacture. In the past few decades, prototypes have been created to evaluate the viability of solar vehicles in transportation. This development gives promises of the shift from overreliance on fossil fuels to the application of renewable energy sources to boost the transport industry.
Photovoltaics
A photovoltaic cell is a setup that uses the fundamental principles of the photovoltaic effect. Through this, light energy is transformed into electricity to be used in various applications. Also known as the solar cell, photovoltaic cells were first constructed by a scientist known as Charles Fritts. This discovery was made in the 1880s (Juneja, 2013). After that, a German industrialist called Von Siemens further developed photovoltaics. This occurred at a time when scientists acknowledged the potential benefits of using the technology in energy production. In the 1930s, another engineer created a light cell that employed the use of silver selenide. This replaced photocells that used copper oxide to convert light into electric current. Further into the 40s, various researchers made significant advances in improving the attributes of photovoltaic cells.
In conventional systems, PV installations have become widely accepted in the field of energy production. In the automobile industry, solar powered cars are designed to charge their batteries during daytime. This is achieved by connecting the vehicle’s power plugins to sets of photovoltaic cells. Nevertheless, photovoltaic systems have some limitations. The efficiency of a PV system is contingent on the intensity of sunlight. The amount of direct current produced by the system is proportional to the perceived light energy expressed by the sun. Practically, the direct current is hard to achieve in this context. This creates the need to employ inverters that would transform light energy to alternating current before the appropriate conversions are made. Many solar cells are contained in modules that are connected to form arrays. Inverters are additionally attached to this setup to influence the efficiency of the power production process. PV systems are usually associated with grids that distribute power in various geographical locations. In first world countries, this chain is integral in availing electricity to individual consumers. The nature of power demand calls for the inclusion of energy storage mechanisms that serve diverse purposes. Backup generators are also a necessary approach to ensuring the sustainability of solar power systems.
In solar power technology, hybrid systems exist. These installations combine the use of PV and concentrated solar power systems to produce electric current. Additionally, other means of energy production are coupled with the setup. The creation of hybrid cars has emerged in recent years. These vehicles obtain their power from combustion engines and solar cells. The PV technology is used to operate car accessories such as car stereo. Hybrid systems are used to optimize power production in the context of energy demand goals, and promoting the sustainability of nonrenewable fuel consumption. Hybrid systems are mostly established in islands and other remote areas across the globe.
Reports by the International Energy Agency highlight the prospects posed by the application of solar energy in industry. In the years to come, solar is a promising alternative to conventional forms of energy production.
Solar technology in the automotive industry
In the automotive industry, solar technology has been used in the creation of solar vehicles (Alnunu, 2012). A solar vehicle denotes an electric machine that depends on direct solar energy for power. In such innovations, solar panels use the concept of photovoltaic effect to provide vehicular components with electrical energy. the term “solar vehicle” is derived from the basic functions of solar power systems in automotive engineering. In this case, solar energy is responsible for a vehicle’s propulsion. Nevertheless, other auxiliary functions may be covered by such power systems.
Most solar vehicles have been created to operate on land. Solar cars employ PV technology in their functions. PV cells provide electricity that would propel vehicular motors. These vehicles are created using state-of-the-art technology that features aerospace concepts and designs used in the bicycle industry. However, the production of solar cars is limited to the energy requirements of such vehicles. Recent innovations have had little consideration for the consumer preferences. The energy capabilities of solar cars is determined by their surfaces. This creates a need to manufacture lightweight vehicle bodies. Compared to conventional vehicles, solar cars are not designed for convenience.
Currently, solar vehicles are used for demonstrational purposes in engineering design. Governments manage such initiatives in the creation of sustainable innovations. On a commercial scale, some solar-charged vehicles are availed to consumers in a limited basis. This is evident through the hosting of solar car rallies in various parts of the world.
Quadruple bottom line analysis
This framework can be used to assess the sustainability of solar technologies in the automotive industry.
Environmental
Solar power systems have positive influences in the cause of environmental conservation (Omer, 2008). These installations derive solar power through nondestructive means. The use of solar vehicles in transportation may help mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Such environmental implications are common phenomena in the utilization of fossil fuels as sources of energy. Additionally, solar energy cannot be depleted. This is contrary to the application of natural gas in power generation. Fossil fuels can be stripped from environmental sources owing to prolonged and indiscriminate human exploitation.
Nevertheless, solar technologies have some negative environmental impacts. Land use conflicts present themselves during the establishment of solar car manufacturing plants. To make solar vehicles, vast areas of land must be cleared to create room for production zones. Additionally, solar car producers demand special materials such as silicon and arsenide. The clearing of land to build manufacturing plants along with the obtainment of raw materials is deleterious to the environment. This has an adverse implication on the purity of ecological systems that include natural habitats.
Social
The application of solar energy in the automotive industry would advance the interests of many societies. This concerns the aspect of transportation and connectivity. For a long time, world capitals have controlled energy production (Patel, 1991). This has led to the marginalization of developing countries on international matters. Further, this aspect has promoted the exploitation of weak economies through the manipulation of energy costs and availability. Capitalists derive their dominance from the control of energy distribution and sales. Solar energy provides a plausible solution to third world problems through significant social empowerment.
Additionally, the availability of solar energy is advantageous to people living in remote regions of the world. The inaccessibility of some destinations hamper efforts to create development projects. Among these places, include mountainous areas and deserts. Solar energy is readily available in most parts of the world. Regarding remote areas, the accessibility to sunlight is an integral requirement for the pursuance of production goals. Solar car production may thrive in such locations. The creation of such-like solar power initiatives would go a long way in spearheading the establishment of development projects that would improve living standards in poverty-stricken and remote regions of the world.
Economic
The application of solar technologies in the automotive industry is economically promising. It is a practical alternative to the application of fossil fuels in transportation systems. Current concerns have shed light on issues of energy costs. The cost of fossil fuels is ever increasing in the modern economic context (Olah, 2005). This problem is further aggravated by financial shortcomings experienced by developing nations. The socioeconomic characteristics of such populations cannot help the people to cope with modern financial trends. To meet the economic needs of the people sustainably, governments should invest in the production of solar cars. This would be an integral step in lessening the adverse effects associated with economic inequality in such regions.
The initial cost of producing solar powered cars is significantly high. This is due to the technological demand needed by the automotive industry. The materials used to assemble automobile units are also expensive to manufacture. However, the running costs incurred thereafter are low compared to the utilization of conventional vehicles. Additionally, minimal maintenance costs may be incurred if necessary. In the capitalist sense, the manufacture of solar vehicles is a probable solution to the world’s transportation problems.
Governance
The manufacture of solar powered cars is a technical venture. The research initiatives directed into the creation of solar vehicles is resource-intensive. A critical consideration in the aspect of governance is financing. The establishment of automotive research and manufacturing projects can be a combination of equity and debt. Governments ensure that projects are financed through the right channels. For an organization, the availability of liability protections may go a long way in promoting the smoothness of operations. Access rights are achieved through various legal processes that involve governmental agencies. Additionally, solar car producers must be located in suitable zones that consider the aspect of environmental compliance.
The future
Concerning the automotive industry, the future is bright. First world governments have invested in the creation of energy technologies that pose great commercial potential. Car manufacturers are taking this opportunity to develop energy-efficient products. Companies such as Heliatek are projecting the wide acceptance of solar cars in future (Lütkenhorst, 2014). The organization has made developments through the creation of organic solar cells. This innovation promises great leaps of production sustainability in trade and industry. If this trend progresses into the next two decades, solar powered cars will be a definite savior for our planetary resources.
Conclusion
The merits of solar technologies have penetrated into many industries. This has paved the way for the emergence of innovations that promote operational efficiency. Currently, solar vehicles are produced for demonstration purposes only. In the future, solar power systems will prove to be a practical solution for the world’s energy problems. The solar energy industry has been consistent over the years. This concerns aspects of innovations that modify the various methods used in electricity production.
References
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