ENVS 148: Solar Revolution  

ENVS 148: Solar Revolution

"What would it take to employ solar energy to greatly decrease our reliability on fossil fuels? Solar energy is more than just photovoltaic (PV) arrays on a rooftop. The Sun provides the Earth with 7000 times more energy than humans use each year.

"We will compare and contrast different ways to harness the sun's regulating temperatures in buildings, heating water, drying crops, and creating electricity during daylight hours (conventional grid-tied PV) as well as creating electricity 24/7 at large scale (using concentrated solar thermal power).

"We will also evaluate technical, environmental, and economic challenges and compare the use of solar power between different nations.

"We will use the Western U.S. as a case study of what might be achievable in our region."

Photo: Indiana Office of Energy Development