Solar energy water desalination in the United States and Saudi Arabia

Five solar energy water desalination systems were designed to deliver 6000 cubic m/day of desalted water from either seawater or brackish water. Two systems will be selected for pilot plant construction. The pilot plants will have capacities in the range of 100 to 400 m/day. Goals of the Project Agreement for Cooperation in the Field of Solar Energy, under the auspices of the United States-Saudi Arabian Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation, are to: (1) cooperate in the field of solar energy technology for the mutual benefit of the two countries, including the development and stimulation of solar industries within the two countries; (2) advance the development of solar energy technology in the two countries; and (3) facilitate the transfer between the two countries of technology developed under this agreement

GaAs workshop report

The advantages of GaAs over silicon are discussed. The substrate problem in solar cell fabrication was reviewed. Future trends in solar energy technology were predicted with special emphasis on cost of production

Factors influencing Solar Energy Technology adoption by Households in Western Province Sri Lanka

The acceptance and slow growth of solar energy is a major barrier for the Sri Lanka’s expansion of Solar. The aim of this study is to identify the factors that important when adopting to solar energy technology. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Diffusion of Innovation (DOI), Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Transaction Cost Economics theory (TCE) are the theories that used to develop the research foundation. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 384 household respondents. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesis. The result of the study indicates that perceived ease of use has the most significant impact on adopting to solar energy technology. Awareness of the technology and relative advantage become second and third influential factors of adoption. Perceived behavioral control also has a positive impact on adoption to solar energy technology while cost shows a negative impact. From a managerial viewpoint these findings can be used for implementing the solar energy technology as a household renewable energy source for upcoming future energy crisis. Though geographical unfairness act as the main limitation, since the high density of population, income level and urbanization of observed area, the result can be generalized to the urbanized households.KeywordsAdoption; Relative advantage; Perceived behavioral control; Perceived ease of use, Awareness; Cost; Solar energ

Factors influencing Social Acceptance of Residential Solar Energy Technology

The world is facing many environmental problems such as global warming due to high demand of energy use, especially our dependency on fossil fuels. The Malaysian government has introduced various policies and programs to promote alternative green energy solutions such as solar energy to address this issue. However, social acceptance of solar energy could influence the feasibility of the energy as an alternative to satisfy the rising demand. Drawing from research survey and the academic literature, this paper explores the factors that could influence social acceptance of residential solar energy project in Malaysia. Data for this study were collected through a survey in Taiping, Perak; a city recognized as the top three most sustainable in the world by the International Tourismus-Börse in 2019. A total of 240 questionnaires were collected from the respondents in Taiping and the data were analysed using descriptive and correlation analysis. This study reveals that knowledge is able to determine society’s perception and change their opposition towards solar energy. In addition, high cost could hinder society’s acceptance of solar energy, thus their willingness to switch to the energy.

Solar energy technology and its roles in sustainable development.

Solar energy is environmentally friendly technology, a great energy supply and one of the most significant renewable and green energy sources. It plays a substantial role in achieving sustainable development energy solutions. Therefore, the massive amount of solar energy attainable daily makes it a very attractive resource for generating electricity. Both technologies, applications of concentrated solar power or solar photovoltaics, are always under continuous development to fulfil our energy needs. Hence, a large installed capacity of solar energy applications worldwide, in the same context, supports the energy sector and meets the employment market to gain sufficient development. This paper highlights solar energy applications and their role in sustainable development and considers renewable energy's overall employment potential. Thus, it provides insights and analysis on solar energy sustainability, including environmental and economic development. Furthermore, it has identified the contributions of solar energy applications in sustainable development by providing energy needs, creating jobs opportunities and enhancing environmental protection. Finally, the perspective of solar energy technology is drawn up in the application of the energy sector and affords a vision of future development in this domain

Frameworks for understanding and promoting solar energy technology development

In this paper, the contrasting theories of metabolic rift and ecological modernization theory (EMT) are applied to the same empirical phenomenon. Metabolic rift argues that the natural metabolic relationship between humans and nature has been fractured through modernization, industrialization and urbanization. EMT, in contrast, argues that societies in an advanced state of industrialization adopt ecologically benign production technologies and political policies, suggesting that modern societies could be on course to alleviate the ecological damage caused by capitalism. These two theories are fundamentally different in their assumptions about modern economies and technologies, yet both can be used as a theoretical lens to examine the phenomenon of solar energy technology adoption. Furthermore, both theories shed light on the increasing adoption of solar energy technologies in both “developing” and “developed” regions and the potential social conditions for promoting renewable energy technology adoption

UTILIZATION OF SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY TO MEET WATER LOGISTIC SUPPORT IN THE MARITIME BORDER: STUDY AT NAVY POST, LABUAN BAJO, EAST NUSA TENGGARA

The availability of clean water is a large part of the main problem in the area of West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Eventhough there is correlation between factors of adequate water, health and economic development. One area that represents this condition is in the village of Labuan Bajo. The enchantment of the tourist island of Flores found in West Manggarai Regency, where Labuan Bajo is the gateway to entering the tourist charm is a place that tourists really want to visit. As a government effort to tighten border supervision and safeguards the Labuan Bajo maritime, the government formed the Indonesian Navy post. Therefore, the availability of clean water is needed in the area, besides to meet the needs of the Labuan Bajo community, improve facilities and infrastructure to bring in many tourists, also for fulfilling the logistical support of the Navy's headquarters. To meet water needs, there are 2 options that are expected to solve the problem, namely (1) mapping of underground water in the village of Labuan Bajo and pumping it using electric power from the voltaic photo results, and (2) when there is no item (1) then pumping water from the reservoir is available at a distance about 3 km from the village of Labuan Bajo. Considering the contour of the area, the needed to make new reservoirs and water pumping systems from the reservoir available, so that an adequate level of water is obtained for drain water to the village. Mapping of underground water is carried out with using the geoelectric method. If option 1 is successful, then the system that is built can be used as a model of pumping underground water, mainly in the area of West Manggarai Regency that needed it. Then the water obtained will be processed through the Reverse Osmosis process to produce ready to drink water.Keywords: clean water supply, photovoltaic, renewable energy, rural area, water pum

A qualitative study on solar energy use in South Africa

Abstract: Many South African citizens and residents are dependent on Eskom for electricity distribution. Its’ limited energy distribution and its’ ever increasing cost has taken its toll on the consumers. The citizens might be motivated to adopt solar energy technology to circumvent this problem. It is therefore imperative to establish, additional information that warrants investment in solar energy technology. Furthermore, it is imperative that consumers are presented with a database of information to the efficiency of solar power in households who have already implemented solar energy technology. It can therefore be suggested that there is paucity of research in South Africa in relation to challenges and benefits of using solar energy. In this regard a study was conducted in Gauteng province, in the city of Johannesburg, in South Africa to fill this gaps. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews. The target population for the current study were the suburban households which had solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar water heaters (SWHs) installation. A total number of 15 respondents were interviewed. The data was analysed using Tesch’s open coding approach. The findings suggest that these Johannesburg suburban households shared similar positive experiences and negative experiences from the use of solar energy systems. The findings suggest that the use of solar energy saved on electricity. However they experienced water leakage from their geysers. The findings from this qualitative research is of particular importance to the South African households who are considering an alternative solar energy supply

Determinants of Trade with Solar Energy Technology Components: Evidence on the Porter Hypothesis?

Studies analyzing renewable energy market development usually investigate additional capacity or investment. Characteristics, roles and determinants of cross border trade with renewable energy system components remain blurred. Environmental regulation and renewable energy policies are important in promoting renewable energy use. Yet, the effect of respective policies on determining exports remains ambiguous. The Porter hypothesis and the lead market literature argue that environmental regulation leads to a comparative export advantage. Empirical studies testing both hypotheses reach diverging conclusions and rarely focus on the renewable energy sector. Using solar energy technology components, this study adds to the literature by explaining exports of environmental technologies. The analysis uses a gravity trade model and a unique panel dataset to test the role of renewable energy policies on environmental technology exports from OECD countries and to describe structure and development of international solar energy technology component trade. The results find a rapidly growing market with trade dominated by European countries. The study supports the Porter and the lead market hypotheses as early adopters of strong renewable energy policies have gained a comparative advantage. Analyzing the importer side, the study suggests that regulatory policies and import tariffs determine export flows of solar energy technology components.Solar Energy Technologies, Energy Policy, Environmental Regulation and Trade, Trade Barriers

Unifying Sustainbility And Affordability Through Planning And Policy: Solar Energy Systems As An Element Of Green Affordable Housing In Ontario

The purpose of this major research paper is to examine how existing policies and programs in socio-political contexts comparable to Ontario's make the inclusion of solar energy technology with affordable housing possible. The paper begins with the investigation of Ontario's housing and energy systems. Following this assessment is the analysis of existing policy and programs in the United Kingdom and California that facilitate the integration of solar energy technology with affordable housing. The programs discussed in these regions are compared to past, present and future energy efficiency initiatives in Ontario in order to identify which aspects of them can be adopted to facilitate the creation of solar-equipped green affordable housing in the province. The concluding chapter discusses recommended planning and policy actions to be taken at the municipal and provincial level that will incite the creation of solar-equipped green affordable housing in Ontario. The paper highlights the environmental, social and economic benefits of developing domestic solar energy systems as a decarbonization strategy. Together, these benefits act as an endorsement of a potential reality in Ontario in which affordable housing and sustainable housing become synonymous concepts in the age of climate change mitigation