Power of the Sun
December 16, 2008
I have been working in the field of renewable energy for many years now and I am more than happy that the environment is getting more and more publicity all the time. But sometimes I do think that the commentators and broadcasters miss the point. Wind power, biofuels, and photovoltaic energy get lots of column inches while there are other solutions much more deserving of the limelight.
I recently wrote an article for Renewable Energy World, and the point I made then is still valid. Why do we hear so little about solar thermal technology? Yes, photovoltaic energy is all very well, but solar thermal is the one that is more likely to save the planet for us!
I have a vision of a world where it would be as unthinkable to design a building that couldn’t harvest solar energy as it would be to design it without windows or doors. Roughly half of the power we consume is used for heating and cooling - mainly of buildings. Much of this power could be provided by solar-thermal energy. After all, the power of the sun is beating down on our houses day after day (well, maybe not every day in Finland – but enough!) and we have the ability to harness that power for our energy needs. I would love to see architects and builders select solar-thermal collectors in the same way as they do every other core component of the build – it really could be that simple.
I can see future generations looking back on the early part of the 21st century and scratching their heads, wondering why it took us so long to break away from our dependence on fossil fuels and really start exploiting the natural resources that fall on the earth every day. And I for one don’t want to be seen as one of the generation who failed to act to secure the future.
Solar thermal systems are efficient, they can be almost invisible – they are such a common sense solution! Let’s start talking more about this highly viable form of renewable energy. Let’s get solar thermal the publicity it deserves!
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