Is solar energy a viable solution to reducing oil dependence?

Yes

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by Peejaydee

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Clearly solar energy is a viable option in helping to reduce everyone's dependency on fossil fuels. The use of fossil fuels is unsustainable in the long term and we must learn to efficiently harness the energy of the sun. Let's not kid ourselves though. It will never fully replace fossil fuels. This will only be achieved through a combination of renewable energy sources and technologies such as solar power, wind energy, wave energy and some biofuels.

Solar energy should be encouraged more. What are our collective governments doing about encouraging the use of solar energy? Not enough I would argue. We are reaching a tipping point in our reliance on fossil fuels, one where mandatory legislation can help for a change. Just look at the Middle East and try and argue that the current political situation isn't a result of the rest of the world's reliance on its oil reserves. Alternatively, look at the price of crude oil now in 2008, with petrol and diesel prices being at their highest ever.

What about new housing? How many new residential developments do you see with communal renewable energy supplies, such as solar powered water and central heating systems? The answer is, not many. The time may have come for some sort of government legislation on the use of solar energy. The cost of the equipment is collapsing and systems are now well within the grasp of new house builders, yet they are still not being installed. The myth that solar power is effective only in sunny countries is just that; a myth. As long as we have daylight, we can generate power albeit at varying levels of efficiency.

As long as the consumer is not creating a pull on the construction industry for these things, they will not happen. Solar energy could significantly reduce our use of both oil and gas, but legislation will be needed to kick start a market for it. Somewhere, western government backing will be required. The forward-looking government in Scotland has put up the Saltire Prize for wave energy exploitation. Anyone who can demonstrate a large-scale viable wave-power generation system, based in Scotland could land the 10M (GBP!) prize fund. The world needs more forward-thinking governments like this, covering all aspects of renewable energy, including solar power.

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