Solar energy: where are the opportunities

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Aware; (United States)

OSTI ID:7227074

Glaser, P E

Solar energy, while it is clean and abundant, presents policy and technological challenges to make it an efficient and economic alternative energy source offering U.S. energy self-sufficiency. Public interest in solar climate control will increase as equipment enters the marketplace and is accepted. Solar water heaters, space heaters, and air conditioners are in use in a number of countries in private installations and public demonstration projects. The six-component systems include solar collectors, a medium for thermal storage, a conventional energy source interface, a heat-actuated air conditioner, a heat pump, and auxiliary equipment. Large capital investment is expected to decrease and be offset by pay-back periods of 5 to 10 years for users. An organization of 100 companies is defining a technology base, market potential, and a data base. Government policies to provide economic incentives will encourage solar investment and help make it competitive. The Solar Energy Industries Association and the International Solar Energy Society are actively working to raise public awareness and provide information. Business opportunities should develop for manufacture, distribution, and merchandizing of components. In the long term, small-scale applications are forecast for wind energy as costs for wind generators are reduced, ocean thermal gradients as materials research continues and effective heat exchangers and turbines are designed, solar cells for isolated areas and satellite power plants, and eventually solar thermal power plants on a large scale. (DCK)

• Research Organization: Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, MA
• OSTI ID: 7227074
• Journal Information: Aware; (United States), Journal Name: Aware; (United States) Vol. 77; ISSN AWAEB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140000 -- Solar Energy
140900 -- Solar Thermal Utilization
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299001* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
AIR CONDITIONING
APPLIANCES
COMPETITION
DEMONSTRATION PLANTS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC APPLIANCES
ENERGY
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EQUIPMENT
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
GAS APPLIANCES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HEATERS
HEATING
INDUSTRY
INVESTMENT
MARKET
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
REVIEWS
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
SPACE HEATING
USES
WATER HEATERS