The purpose of this memo is to define sustainability in relation to solar energy. We will do this by informing you of our definition of sustainability, followed by providing you with the economical efficiency, environmental impacts, and sociological perception. Team Definition of Sustainability Economical Cost Effective Reasonable alternative for non sustainable energy. Does it save money in the long run? Will the improvement of technology outdate current implementation? Environmental Manufacture (green practices) Recycle End of Life Remanufacture? Low Waste Easy to Obtain Materials Recyclable/ Biodegradable Materials? Social Population Bias Government Push Availability (Between Different Countries) Risk-Benefit Analysis Those that are manufacturing …show more content…
This has put a lot of pressure on solar panel developers to create cheaper, more efficient solar panels. This has led to the development of solar panels which are much more cost effective. Since 1980, the installation cost for photovoltaic systems has decreased from 22 $/Wp to less than 5 $/Wp[7]. As development continues and as the use of fossil fuels becomes more and more expensive, solar panels will become a good alternative to other energy sources. Even with the decreasing cost of solar energy, other alternatives are still cheaper in many areas. To aid in the initial cost of solar farm installation, it may help for the solar market to be subsidized. This would cost more money right now, but if solar farms were built in the right places, world energy needs could be completely met[7]. While the benefits of solar energy outweigh the costs on a larger scale, solar energy is more expensive in some areas than others. A recent study shows that the cost of solar energy is not consistent. The cost is much lower for some and much higher for others than the average[8]. This variability in the solar energy market causes solar energy to perform worse than the ideal. This is part of why other alternative energy sources are outperforming …show more content…
In the U.S. there are tax incentives in place to help promote the residential use of solar panels. This incentive provides the buyers of residential solar products to deduct 30 percent of the panels’ cost from their tax bills [2]. Other state governments may also offer incentives for installation of solar panels. These incentives help offset the negative view that solar panels are often too expensive to purchase residentially. These incentives do make panels more affordable for the average homeowner, therefore helping increase