UAE | General
Exploring ways to effectively tap the sun
Will solar energy be the ultimate answer to world’s ever growing demand for energy? Do we yet have the best technologies to translate solar energy efficiently into electricity and would our methods be cost effective for large scale implementation?
- By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 13:07 January 17, 2008
Abu Dhabi: Will solar energy be the ultimate answer to world's ever growing demand for energy? Do we yet have the best technologies to translate solar energy efficiently into electricity and would our methods be cost effective for large scale implementation?
All these issues would take centre stage during the upcoming World Future Energy Summit (WFES). The three-day long summit would focus on the use of solar energy technology to meet energy demands and also discuss its economic viability.
“One per cent of the surface of the Sahara desert is enough to meet the world's entire electricity demand using Concentrated Solar Power technologies, and now it's time to start harvesting,'' said Professor Dr Robert Pitz-Paal, the head of the Solar Research Unit at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Professor for Solar Technology at the Technical University in Aachen, who will be chairing a discussion at the WFES on January 22.
Not all agree though. Gennaro De Michele, the Executive Vice-President at ENEL Research, who will participate in the same session, believes that major obstacles such as long-life storage and long distance transportation remain to be overcome before solar power becomes a major contributor to the world energy grid.
“Massive use of solar power will require adaptation of the world's energy system to the new technologies (especially in energy storage and transportation) and new strategies. This implies great opportunities - and, clearly, some risks - for existing companies and operators,'' he said.
Another participant at the summit, Jeremy Leggett, the chief executive of UK based Solar Century, a solar solutions company, said: “The opportunity now is for solar power to take enormous bites out of traditional markets, much bigger and quicker bites than most people believe possible.''
A great benefit of solar power is its positive impact on climate change, noted Sven Teske of the environmental group Greenpeace's Climate and Energy Unit. Agreeing that the upfront investment costs are relatively high, he said once we reach the economies of scale, solar will be a competitive or even cheaper energy source than many fossil fuels.
Abu Dhabi's main player in the field of developing future energy solution, Masdar, is investing in large scale projects currently, said Ziad Tassebehji, the Director of Masdar's Innovation and Investment Unit.
“We are also committed to leading the way in developing and investing in a broad range of innovative solar power solutions that have enormous potential for this region and the world,'' he said.
“From concentrated solar power to thin-film photovoltaics, Masdar is advancing a portfolio of solar options - developing new technologies, reinventing proven ones to take them to the next level and committing to bring them to an economy of scale.''
The WFES would begin on January 21 and conclude on 23 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
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