Global Warming Is Making Solar Energy Generation More Difficult, As Unbelievable As It Sounds
MIT study reveals greatest weakness to solar energy generation -- global warming itself. An increase in global warming will reduce output of solar power across the globe by 2100. As temperatures raise nearly everywhere on the land mass of our planet energy output is reduced.
In our battle against fossil fuels, solar energy has been our planet's strongest hope.
However, a recent study reveals the greatest weakness to solar energy generation -- global warming itself! Who would've thought, right?
Reuters
As per an MIT study an increase in global warming will reduce output of solar power across the globe by 2100, since the photo voltaic cells are severely sensitive to temperature, and rising temperature of the globe will severely impact the output of solar energy.
To the uninitiated, photovoltaic cells produce current when sunlight transfers its energy to electrons in the material. This process then creates positively charged "holes" in the structure that channel in the opposite direction to electrons.
Moreover, the rate at which electrons recombine with these holes considerably impacts the productivity. And temperature is one fo the key factors impacting the recombination process- the hotter the surrounding temperature, the higher the rate of recombination and vice versa.
As the planet gets warmer the productivity/output of the cells will diminish. As per researchers Ian Peters and Tonio Buonassisi, on average, photovoltaic power output reduces by 0.45% for each degree (kelvin) increase in temperature.
The researchers then studied the outcome of this change as per the temperature change predicted by International Panel on Climate Change, based on different estimates of future greenhouse-gas emissions.
MIT Review
Peters and Buonassisi said in a statement, "As temperatures raise nearly everywhere on the land mass of our planet, energy output is reduced everywhere," they say. But some areas will be worse off than others. "Areas that are especially affected include the Southern United States, Southern Africa and Central Asia."
However, this is not definite as there are various factors that could influence the overall output including the the amount of incident sunlight which will depend on cloud cover and humidity in the region.
Moreover, the scientists also state that the drop in efficiency of 0.45% isn't definite and could be less, considering the advancement in technology and materials used in the coming future.
Yet it is important to note that global warming and rising temperatures of Earth could cost us our good shot and generating clean energy and emission of green house gases must be curtailed till researchers don't get better methods to boost or rather minimise efficiency drop.
