The Rising Sun: How Solar Energy is Powering the Future

Years ago, many of us never envisioned a future where homes and businesses would run on solar energy. Yet here we are. We have achieved a reality where solar has broken down barriers to charge electric vehicles, campsites, emergency shelters, and so much more.

The progress is impressive. Now we wonder where solar will take us in the future. What advancements will make the world an even greener place to live in?

Advances in Electric Vehicles

 Electric vehicles are a major clean energy component but are not fully reliant on solar energy. Many households still use traditional energy for charging which taxes the grid and leads to fossil fuel production. The technology is responsible for increased pollution in some areas.

Scientists hope to make future electric vehicles more reliant on solar energy. Solar panels will be installed at charging stations to activate chargers. They will sit atop parking structures to power vehicles that are not in use. Backup batteries will be stored inside vehicles to access more power as needed.

Many of these theories have been outlined in the document Maximizing Solar and Transportation Synergies.  It also explores the possibility of using solar-powered electrolyzers to power hydrogen vehicles and using timed charging schemes (which allow you to schedule EV charging) for fleet vehicles.

Solar Fuels

Solar fuel is another technology that will assist with clean vehicle adoption. It uses common substances like water and carbon dioxide generated by sunlight.

Sunlight strikes the earth and disperses across its surface making it hard to collect. Solar panels harness the energy, but it is more challenging to collect for fuel creation. Scientists are trying an approach called “artificial photosynthesis” that would work similarly to photosynthesis in plants, but it uses water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight to generate fuels.

The process would utilize solar energy to split water to produce ethanol, methanol, and other alcohols to create less conventional fuels. If successful, it would increase fuel supply diversity and be useful for various applications. The fuel could also be stored over long periods and transported anywhere for optimal reliability.

Cars with Solar Panels

Solar fuels and solar charging installations increase solar adaption in the vehicle space, but cars with solar panels may be a more logical solution. The sun would fuel the vehicle directly and cut out the middleman.

Scientists have experimented with this technology, and there are several solar panel cars on the market. However, their capacities are limited.

According to Energy Sage, you would need seven to 12 solar panels measuring 5 by 3 feet to charge a vehicle. Cars don’t have the real estate capacity. Vehicles that feature this technology can run only a few miles on solar power. Others more closely resemble golf carts than vehicles fit for the road.

The technology is limiting, but who knows what the future may hold? Small solar panels may be produced with optimal efficiency to keep cars running. Several car brands are testing the technology, and new developments may arise.

Demand Side Opportunities Through Solar

The electrical grid is taxed more than ever. The increasing use of electronic devices, electric vehicles, and data centers is feeding demand. It leads to more blackouts, more pollution, and the use of polluting resources.

The energy industry proposes a demand-side management solution. It involves homes and businesses reducing or shifting their energy usage to decrease demand. It will help reduce the cost of decarbonizing the grid and lead to a more sustainable future.

The simplest example of DSM is flexible demand. It involves energy consumers adjusting their thermostats at night or before leaving the home. Various technologies, including smart thermostats and appliances, solar panels, and backup generators also aid with flexible demand.

DSM has been extensively outlined in the NREL’s solar building analysis, The Demand-Side Opportunity: The Roles of Distributed Solar and Energy Systems in a Decarbonized Grid. It proposes coordinating electric vehicle charging, heating, air conditioning, energy storage, and rooftop solar to find an optimal mix of renewables for each building.  These techniques and tools will help protect the electric grid and reduce outages.

Making Solar More Affordable

Despite wide-ranged solar adaption efforts, many households cannot make the switch due to monetary limitations. Even considering the many incentives available, up-front costs are prohibitive. However, several initiatives have been launched to make solar more affordable, and this trend is predicted to continue.

Falling Price of Solar Installations

The price of solar has been decreasing over the years and is expected to continue declining. The main factors behind price drops include advanced technology, better production, and increased competition. More efficient solar cells and new materials have allowed us to do more with less.

Solar costs have fallen dramatically throughout the years. In 2002, the price of solar was around $12.2 per watt. In 2022, the price dropped to $3.82 per watt. There is no saying how much prices will continue to decline, but we can expect to see a downward trajectory.

Solar adaptation is also becoming more affordable due to the increasing incentives offered on a local and federal level.

Increased Incentives in Low-income Neighborhoods

Solar adaption has been especially challenging in low-income areas. These communities struggle to afford the up-front costs of solar. They also tend to be the neighborhoods that experience the highest pollution levels and lack medical access to treat pollution-related illnesses.

Local and federal governments have done their part to increase adaption in low-income neighborhoods. For example, the Solar for All component of the Inflation Reduction Act set aside $7 billion to pay for 60 solar energy projects in disadvantaged communities throughout the country. Beyond helping the environment, solar systems allow families to budget less money towards energy bills so they can put food on the table.

The Inflation Act went into effect in 2022, but its impact has been gaining momentum. Several states are seeking grants to serve solar to disadvantaged residents. We should see more solar infrastructures erected in low-income neighborhoods over the coming years.

It is unclear whether more solar initiatives will be launched to increase growth in low-income areas, but the activity thus far should result in cleaner air and a reduced financial burden for affected communities.

Addressing the Split Incentive Issue

Split incentives have been a major obstacle in solar adoption. It occurs when a property owner leases a building to a tenant who pays their energy bills. The owner does not see the benefit of investing in solar because they don’t occupy the building. The tenant doesn’t benefit because it is not their building, so why invest?

Roof rent may be the solution. It allows the building owner to generate revenue by sharing savings from the solar array. The owner can earn income through PPAs, direct ownership, and other solar financing models, while the tenant saves money on their energy bills.

The system has been more widely adopted throughout the years and may increase future fuel solar adaption.

Growth in Solar Power

Long-term growth is difficult to predict, but experts foresee unprecedented increases in solar power utilization over the next two years. A U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) report predicts that new solar projects will lead to a 75% increase in solar power generation. It will climb from 163 billion kWh in 2023 to 286 billion kWh in 2025.

Wind power generation will also increase from 430 billion kWh in 2023 to 476 billion in 2025, boasting an 11% growth rate.

The projected increases are the product of ongoing. Renewable power generation surpassed nuclear power generation for the first time in 2021. It surpassed coal generation for the first time in 2022.

In 2023, renewable sources accounted for 22% of the total generated 4017 billion kWh of electric power in the United States.

Solar power generation is up, and coal power generation is down. It is expected to decline from 665 billion kWh in 2023 to 548 billion kWh in 2025, yielding an 18% reduction.

Natural gas will be the largest source of electricity generation in the U.S. at about 1700 billion kWh. That number should remain steady from 2023 to 2025. Nuclear power will also remain relatively stable rising from 776 billion kWh in 2023 to 797 billion kWh in 2025.

Planned solar projects are largely responsible for industry growth. Experts predict these products will increase solar energy generation from 95GW at the end of 2023 to 131 GW at the end of 2024.

More Efficient Panels

Solar panel efficiency is a key contender in solar industry growth. Efficient panels lower the cost of solar and make it more accessible, boosting adoption rates.

Currently, the most efficient panels offer 22% efficiency. Scientists aim to boost efficiency levels to 45% thanks to breakthroughs in solar technology. The goal will largely be made possible through multi-junction cells.

Most panels feature single-junction cells made with a single layer of semiconductor material. Multi-junction cells are made with multiple layers of semiconductor material allowing them to use a broader spectrum of solar electricity.

The layers of multi-junction cells include tandem cells. They are made with perovskite solar cells which have exceptional light-absorbing properties. The cells are integrated into silicon to provide optimal stability.

The increased efficiency will have profound effects on market growth. It will reduce the cost of solar installation making it more competitive with fossil fuel prices. It also means fewer solar panels are needed to generate the same amount of power reducing the space required to install installations on solar farms.

It also reduces the carbon footprint required to design panels.

Challenges must be addressed before more efficient panels can be brought to market. Designers are currently working on the stability and durability of perovskite materials hoping they will match the longevity of traditional panels.

The scalability of production is also a concern. Scientists realize cost-effective production is necessary for widespread adoption. However, the industry is optimistic that these challenges will be overcome, and the new panels will hit the solar market in 2025.  

More Solar Storage Solutions

Solar storage plays a huge role in moving the industry forward. It increases solar efficiency allowing consumers to harness the solar power when it’s unavailable.

Batteries are commonly integrated into household solar systems to provide access at night, on cloudy days, and during emergencies. In the future, we can expect to see even more solar storage options.

For example, we can choose from flow batteries, which are ideal for large storage solutions, and lithium-ion batteries, which are more suited to households. Gravitational energy storage stores solar energy with the force of gravity and is often used on solar farms.

In addition to more options, we can also expect to see larger storage capabilities that ensure a long-lasting energy supply.

Solar America is the Future of Solar

Solar adoption is increasing, but households and businesses may struggle to find a provider that meets their needs. Solar America provides the technology to connect you with a contractor suited to your installation requirements.

Our system is simple. Enter your information into our database. It will return several qualified installers in your area so you can choose the one you prefer. Our competitive system ensures the lowest prices.

The age of solar adoption is here. Solar America is at the helm helping you connect with providers that make the country a cleaner place to live. Contact us to start your solar future today.