Asher Herman | November 8th, 2024
As technological advancements and societal developments move beyond what can be supported by Earth’s natural resources, harnessing solar energy is no longer a dream of the distant future — it is a necessity. Many companies and institutions, including Vanderbilt, have begun plans to upgrade from fossil fuel energy sources to renewable sources.
What is solar energy, and how does it work?
As fossil fuel reserves deplete, the need for alternative energy sources increases. The sun, a fiery ball of nuclear fusion, is a source that will continue to provide energy for at least the next five billion years. Solar energy is the most abundant source of energy, emitting 1.8×1014 kW towards Earth alone. While much of this energy scatters within the atmosphere and is deflected back into space, the solar energy that reaches the surface can still sufficiently support Earth’s energy demands.
Solar energy is based on photovoltaic technology, which utilizes chemical properties of semiconductors, like silicon, to convert solar energy into electrical energy. Sunlight excites electrons to a higher energy state, creating free electrons that can be captured for electricity use and effectively turning sunlight into electricity.
What are the pros and cons of solar energy?
Renewable energy is a controversial topic. Some argue its efficiency, reliability, and affordability while others criticize the trade-offs of investing in and developing this alternative energy reserve.
The advantages to renewable energy, specifically solar, are profound. Beginning with the environmental impacts, oil mining and transportation would no longer be necessary. Oil mining releases innumerable amounts of toxic greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, and oil spills kill countless marine organisms.
Sourcing solar energy would cost less and exhibit less volatile behaviors than crude oil. Due to geopolitical conflicts, oil prices are subject to rapid and drastic change. For example, due to the Russian-Ukrainian war and Russia being one of the world’s largest crude oil suppliers, prices in America increased up to 56.33% throughout that time period. Such influences would not impact solar energy because, unlike with oil, almost every country would have the capacity to capture their own energy. As a result, there would be more competition as technologies across the world develop, motivating further innovation and lower prices.
However, solar energy can be deemed unreliable due to the sun’s daily, yearly, and geographic fluctuations in emitted energy. Furthermore, the energy conversion between solar radiation and electrical energy is somewhat inefficient, as the technology is relatively new. It is also difficult to store excess energy for delayed use, while oil, in comparison, can be easily stored in stable environments and at high quantities.
How can this affect Vanderbilt?
In 2000, the Vanderbilt Environmental Advocacy Committee was formed with the intention of making this campus more sustainable. Included in this initiative is the goal of having green infrastructure and renewable energy. Vanderbilt University has devised a plan named BlueSky Energy Vision, which states that the institution will reduce emissions by 100% by 2050. This comprehensive plan is fundamentally reliant on solar energy, and it outlines how and when each step of progress will be completed.
To run through the logistics, the first 86 on-site solar facilities — which are expected to be completed by 2025 — would reduce emissions by 9.4%. As discussed at a five-person panel at The Wond’ry on Oct. 18, Vanderbilt is already utilizing solar energy and has launched a partnership with Clearloop, a solar energy company based in Nashville, that promotes the use of energy produced at a solar farm in Panola County, Mississippi. The next 100 facilities — which should be completed by 2035 — will further reduce emissions by 6.9%. On-site solar technology improvements would decrease emissions by another 5.9%. While continuous improvements are among the most expensive investments (initially evaluated at $37 million), they will substantially reduce Vanderbilt’s emissions.
Solar energy is central to reducing carbon emissions. Vanderbilt is on track to implement such technologies and, within the next three decades, hopes to run fully on solar energy.
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