thesis statement in solar energy

Guide: Writing a Research Paper on Solar Energy

We bet, you already know how to deal with the research paper in general. Let us pay 2-minute attention to the basics just to freshen up your memory and then we will talk about the specific rules and ideas for writing on solar energy. You research paper should include:

• Abstract. Short summary of your work, like the annotation in a book.
• Introduction. Clear and precise thesis statement is a must.
• Annotated bibliography/Materials. Sources of information you used to complete the research paper.
• Methods/Methodology. Scientific methods you used to conduct a research and evaluate the results.
• Results. What you have understood as a result of the research.
• Discussion. The interpretation of your recent findings.
• Summary/Conclusions. Summarize your findings and draw a conclusion. If the dilemma wasn’t solved, state what you think is needed to solve it.

You have this list in your course book, definitely, but most probably the description of each part is rather vague which might be rather confusing.

How to Write a Stellar Research Paper on Solar Energy

Idea #1. State the topicality

You should show that your research covers actual issues, relevant to the moment. Example. Solar energy was the fastest growing source of global energy in 2016, showing dynamics better than other types of energy production. Such data is contained in a recent report of the International Energy Agency, which is one of the most credible organization for quoting in your solar energy research paper.

Idea #2. Show the understanding of trends

Don’t just state something, explain it and show international correlations.

Example. The result is largely due to lower prices and a change in government policy that facilitates a departure from traditional energy sources such as coal. For example, China plays an important role in expanding the use of renewable energy sources. This country accounts for almost half of all new solar panels installed around the world.

Idea #3. Pay attention to negative sides and assumptions

Don’t make your paper too shallow — elaborate on side effects.

Example . Today, harmful substances are used, for the manufacture of solar cells, which in one way or another can harm nature. Already ready photocells contain poisonous elements, such as lead, cadmium, gallium, arsenide. The service life of solar batteries is 30 – 50 years, so the problem f the subsequent processing of modules arises, and the solution of the issue of their utilization has not been found so far. A significant drawback of the process of obtaining solar energy is the so-called impermanence. Solar systems are not able to work at night, and in the evening the efficiency of stations significantly decreases. Just as the absence of sunlight and its excessive radiation reduces the efficiency of the system as a whole, it is necessary to provide for the cooling of the modules additionally.

Idea #4. Give illustrative real-life examples

Solar power may have been on the verge of breaking in the MENA region, but it appears back on track.

To make the results of your research more descriptive, use engaging examples.

Example. In 2016 Tesla, Inc. joined by the company SolarCity, which creates solutions for the transition of homes to solar energy. One of their first joint projects was the almost 100 percent conversion of the Pacific island of Tau to “green” energy. The new “goal” of Tesla was the island of Kauai, which is part of the Hawaiian archipelago. Enjoying a year-round abundance of sunshine, this US state practiced “green” energy before the arrival of Tesla. Nevertheless, the solutions on the island could not solve the problem of electricity consumption at night, since solar panels generating energy without saving it. The new system installed by the company is equipped with 52 MWh Powerpack 2 accumulators assembled at the Tesla factory in the United States, and the power of the solar farm itself is 13 MW.  Now the Hawaiian Islands have the opportunity to increase the share of solar energy consumption up to 100, what they intend to achieve by 2045.

Idea #5. Show the ability of big-picture thinking

Show that you understand the market’s perspectives.

Example. Many experts note that the “new era” of solar electricity has come, expecting that the growth of solar electric power will be higher than any other types of renewable energy sources up to 2022. In fact, the agency’s experts admitted that they underestimated how fast green energy is growing, noting that many countries will be in the center of the solar boom in the coming years. For instance, it is expected that the renewable energy potential in India will double by 2022, outstripping the EU. However, representatives of the International Energy Agency said that, despite these encouraging figures, there is still uncertainty ahead. This is due to Donald Trump’s plans to revive the coal industry.

Writing on solar energy don’t forget that it is a speedy growing field and you should use only the most recent case study and reports. Otherwise you can hire professional research paper writers online who provide academic writing services for students. Good luck!

Author: Bhok Thompson

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Solar Research: MSc theses

Ecosystem services and solar landscapes.

'Designing a multifunctional solar landscape near the Millingerwaard by deploying ecosystem services', Tine Lambert, 2022

The urgency of energy transition often leads to solutions that do not relate to the existing landscape, putting ecosystems under pressure. The challenge is to ensure that the implementation of renewable energy does not adversely affect ecosystem services, but instead improves them. This master’s thesis investigated how a multifunctional solar landscape near the Millingerwaard in the municipality of Berg and Dal (NL) can improve spatial quality through the deployment of the concept of ecosystem services. First, 16 spatial guidelines were obtained from the literature. Current ecosystem services in the area were analyzed, resulting in a map that shows the trade-offs, synergies and hotspots between ecosystem services and energy generation. Next, expert surveys were used to assess and value the spatial quality of various function combinations with PV. All findings were incorporated into a design which shows that a multifunctional solar landscape can bring about positive changes for spatial quality. The use of the different methods stimulates designing sustainable projects that connect people, energy and biodiversity, based on the synergy of different ecosystem services.

Energy on the Edge

'Building smart strategies for the uncertainties of energy and housing development on the edge of Nijmegen', Tim Kisner, 2022

Integration of energy transition with other societal goals is slowly becoming a more widespread approach. In recent years, combinations of energy with agriculture, nature and infrastructure have been proposed regularly. The combination of energy and these functions often implies a focus on the open landscape: outside the city, far from where the energy is consumed. This regularly leads to opposition. To spare these landscapes, opponents often suggest to ‘use every roof’ for solar energy generation. Although it is arguable whether this will satisfy the energy demand of the entire nation, locating energy generation near the user seems tangible and fair. To investigate the opportunities of bringing production and consumption together, this master thesis investigated the true integration of energy and housing development. An ‘Energy on the Edge’ approach is developed, reaching for integration beyond mere utilizing of roof space. The approach is employed to study synergies between energy and housing development at the western city edge of Nijmegen. Here, electricity production is used to stimulate housing development while coping with future uncertainties regarding both functions. Instead of ‘outsourcing’ energy development to the countryside, it is brought into the city. This master thesis establishes a new concept for living with renewable energy: Living in the Power Plant. The concept utilizes energy to improve urban landscape quality - a promising approach to address opposition to conventional, often monofunctional interventions for energy transition in our rural landscapes.

Forestvoltaics

'Photo Forestry - Exploring design principles for multifunctional carbon mitigation landscape development', Sam van den Oetelaar, 2022

Afforestation is becoming politically popular to boost biological carbon sequestration to reduce climate change effects. Similarly, the use of solar panels is also getting popular. In densely built and planned countries, multifunctionality of the landscape is a significant factor for the spatial quality of the landscape. Therefore, with an afforestation challenge that has large spatial implications, there is a need for proper forest design for climate, nature and human activities. This master examines the potential synergies between silviculture and renewable energy production. The research consists of two parts: [1] research for design (RFD) and [2] research through designing (RTD). RFD yielded 11 design considerations covering carbon sequestration, forest health, recreation and Forestvoltaics (FV) - a promising function combination between photovoltaic energy production and forest development. RTD yielded a landscape design in which an FV system is integrated in a multifunctional carbon mitigation landscape. Four general design principles are defined; they expand the knowledge base on designing multifunctional carbon mitigation landscapes. It is concluded that the FV system is suitable for creating synergies. However, the proposed concept is novel and conceptual, and additional studies are required to examine its full potential.

Empowering energy estates

'empowering energy estates: a new estate as a means for sustainable energy in wijhe, overijssel' joost andréa, 2021.

In order to realign and better embed renewable energy technologies in the landscape, inspiration is found with the estate (landgoed), as it is an integrative production landscape that unifies agricultural, cultural-historical, recreational, and ecological values. In the last decade several (suggestive) designs were made for ‘energy estates’ (energielandgoederen) in the Dutch landscape. Although a promising concept, the elaboration into design guidelines for specific landscape types is still lacking. This thesis has the objective to develop design guidelines for a sustainable energy estate in the landscape context of West Overijssel. It builds upon the existing knowledge of sustainable energy landscape design as well as the activation of the design knowledge embedded in the historical estate type that is found in the region. By a comparative case study, thirteen essential spatial characteristics of the this estate type were identified. The final design illustrates that it is indeed possible to employ the estate as a means for designing sustainable energy landscapes and that the estate type characteristics possess enough flexibility to adjust them to the contemporary program. 

Solarchipelago

'solarchipelago: designing energy transition in the ijmeer along ecosystem change' david de boer, 2020 climate change mitigation calls for a transition towards more sustainable energy sources. however, allocating the space for renewable energy technologies like pv systems in complex and dense metropolitan regions is no easy task. this is the case for the ijmeer between amsterdam and almere as well. the ijmeer is also an ecosystem under pressure. the objective of this research is to design an energy transition in the ijmeer that aligns with the way that ecosystems change, such as through the process of succession. a method of research through designing is used to come to useful design principles and guidelines. a design for the ijmeer was created using a modular approach. two modules are presented that combine both renewable energy generation as well providing an infrastructure for succession to occur. multiple stages of succession simultaneously present in these modules allow for more habitat diversity for flora and fauna. the modules performance is based on constant working principles but include variables as well to provide different system responses. the modules variables and composition can adapt to the characteristics of multiple areas of the ijmeer, while also supporting other metropolitan functions like infrastructure and urban expansion while providing renewable energy. the resulting design guidelines were evaluated together with the principles in the conclusion., not just another solar field, 'not just another solar field: a multifunctional energygarden for mastwijk, the netherlands' florian becker, 2020 by 2030, the regional energy strategy (res) u16 regio around utrecht demands to provide 3.6twh of renewable electricity. in more concrete terms, this means a surface of 3,600 hectares of solar fields that are arising in the landscape within the next nine years. though this goal might not be realistic, even the appearing of a single hectare of solar field in the landscape should not go without careful planning anymore. plenty of research has demonstrated that solar fields can host many additional functions without decreasing their productivity. especially in densely populated regions like the res u16, scarce surfaces should not simply be allocated to single function land uses. this master thesis builds upon existing knowledge on multifunctional solar fields to identify a set of design guidelines. these are combined with guidelines of garden design to inform the recent concept of energygardens. after forming a set of design guidelines, a fraction of them is tested in a design for an energygarden of mastwijk in the province of utrecht. the energygarden mastwijk is a real project, which is currently developed and planned to be implemented in 2022., the bright side of solar energy.

'The bright side of solar energy: How solar energy can be used as a tool to improve landscapes,' Coos van Ginkel, december 2019 It is estimated that roughly 30,000 hectares of solar fields will be required on land in the Netherlands by 2050. Landscape experts urge that this energy transition should not harm the existing landscape but rather be used to improve spatial quality. The objective of this project was to explore how an integral design for a 1,500ha multifunctional solar landscape in the Northwest Haarlemmermeer can improve the spatial quality of the region.

Eco solar corridor

'Eco solar corridor: Discovering the symbiotic strength of utility-scale solar energy systems and ecological networks in Brummen, the Netherlands,' Dominik Kriska, december 2019

While the need for utility-scale solar energy systems in landscapes is rising to reach the national climate goals, the rivalry with agriculture and the development of nature is increasing too. The combination of solar panels and agriculture was already tested in several projects, however the possible combination of solar energy with ecological networks has not been researched in depth yet. The objective of this research was to explore potential synergies arising from the implementation of solar fields in a gap of an ecological networks at Brummen, the Netherlands.

Circular urban energy park

'Circular urban energy park: Transformation of the Hemwegcentrale,' Yingzi Wang, augustus 2019

According to the recommendations by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Netherlands need to achieve an 95% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2040 compared to 1990. One of the measures that are taken is the closure of powerplants running on fossil fuels, like the Hemwegcentrale in the harbour of Amsterdam. This project explored the potentials of the Hemwegcentrale area as a sustainable urban energy landscape, in the complex context of a dynamic urban development in the next two decades.

Perceiving without grieving

'Perceiving without grieving: shaping solar energy for an energy neutral Zeeburgereiland (Amsterdam),' Tom van Heeswijk, March 2016

Amsterdam decided that all new construction projects, from 2015 on, must be energy neutral by avoiding fossil fuels in building-related energy consumption, while increasing the energy efficiency. The neighbourhood Zeeburgereiland in Amsterdam is planned as a dynamic and attractive island for dwelling and recreation, which aims to be energy-neutral by promoting renewable energies. This thesis investigated which physical and psychological attributes influence people’s liking and disliking of renewable energy, consequently formulating implications for design that could account for public preference.

Thermal Management Implications Of Utility Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems

The need for reducing reliance on fossil fuels to meet ever-increasing energy demands and minimizing global climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions has led to an increase in investments in Variable Energy Resources (VREs), such as wind and solar. But due to the unreliable nature of VREs, an energy storage system must be coupled with it which drives up the investment cost.

Lithium-ion batteries are compact, modular, and have high cyclic efficiency, making them an ideal choice for energy storage systems. However, they are susceptible to capacity loss over the years, limiting the total life of the batteries to 15-18 years only, after which they must be safely discarded or recycled. Hence, designing a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) should consider all aspects, such as battery life, investment cost, energy efficiency, etc.

Most of the available studies on cost and lifetime of BESS either consider a steady degradation rate over years, or do not account for it at all, they take constant charge/discharge cycles, and sometimes do not consider ambient temperature too. This may result in an error in estimation of the cost of energy storage. The location where the BESS is supposed to be installed can also impact its life, given that each location has its own power consumption trend and temperature profile. In this work, we attempt to simulate a BESS by considering the ambient temperature, degradation rate and energy usage. This will help in getting an insight of a more realistic estimate of levelized cost of storage and for estimating the thermal energy needed to keep them within a certain temperature range, so that they can last longer.

Degree Type

• Master of Science
• Mechanical Engineering

Campus location

• West Lafayette

Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair

Additional committee member 2, additional committee member 3, usage metrics.

• Energy generation, conversion and storage (excl. chemical and electrical)
• Numerical modelling and mechanical characterisation

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Investigating Energy for Porosity Control in Regolith Sintering

• Description

Psulkowski, Anthony Walker (author)

text bachelor thesis

This research focuses on advancing lunar habitation through the optimization of laser processing for regolith sintering to facilitate autonomous off-world construction. Acknowledging the impracticality of relying solely on prefabricated structures transported via traditional methods, the study highlights additive manufacturing (AM) as a promising approach for off-world habitat fabrication. To address the challenges associated with material transportation costs to space, the concept of In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) is emphasized, showcasing its potential for utilizing resources readily available in extraterrestrial environments. The study investigates the pivotal role of lunar regolith, likened to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), in off-world construction, contrasting Cement Contour Crafting (CCC) with laser processing methodologies. Laser processing emerges as a standout technology for fortifying structures by enhancing mechanical properties significantly. Moreover, solar energy utilization through Selective Solar Light Sintering (SSLS) offers a sustainable solution, eliminating reliance on external power sources and aligning with the autonomy imperative for off-world habitat fabrication. The research objectives center on quantifying the influence of laser processing parameters, particularly energy density, on lunar regolith properties, specifically porosity. Detailed analysis of variations in beam intensity, power, and scan speed aims to understand the relationship between processing parameters and porosity formation. Furthermore, a comparison between laser-processed samples and oven-sintered samples is conducted to evaluate the efficiency of laser processing in achieving optimal porosity levels for off-world structures. To where the optimal laser specifications were found with corresponding porosity.

Lunar habitation, Laser processing, Regolith sintering, Autonomous construction, Additive manufacturing, In-Situ Resource Utilization, Extraterrestrial environments, Lunar regolith

https://doi.org/10.33009/FSU_31a87919-7739-4b99-a9ec-ae10a5af5e60

honors_thesis_submission-31a87919-7739-4b99-a9ec-ae10a5af5e60 10.33009/FSU_31a87919-7739-4b99-a9ec-ae10a5af5e60

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

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Solar and Storage Industry Statement on New Fixed Charges on California Electric Bills

Thursday, May 09 2024

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) finalized rules requiring California residents to pay new monthly fixed charges on their electricity bills. Households that qualify for the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) programs will see $6 and $12 monthly charges, respectively, while all other customers will pay $24.15 monthly.

Following is a statement from Stephanie Doyle, California state affairs director for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA):

“While the final charges are lower than what investor-owned utilities wanted, these are still new costs coming out of the pockets of California families that are already struggling with the high cost of living in the state. Any future changes to the fixed charges must thoroughly consider the impact to rooftop solar and storage adoption and electrification measures that are critical to meeting the state’s climate goals. It’s clear that there are better ways to reduce California’s extremely high utility rates and encourage electrification, and SEIA will continue to push for those policies going forward.”

About SEIA®: 

The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy, creating the framework for solar to achieve 30% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power. Founded in 1974, SEIA is the national trade association for the solar and solar + storage industries, building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at  www.seia.org  and follow @SEIA on Twitter , LinkedIn and Instagram . 

Media Contact: 

Morgan Lyons, SEIA's Director of Communications,  [email protected]  (202) 556-2872

• Calfornia Public Utilities Commission

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Leading the charge: the top 5 solar states of 2023.

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Solar Industry Statement on CPUC Community Solar Decision

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — This week the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a proposed decision that rejects a plan to bolster the state’s community solar market and instead approves a utility-backed alternative. Following is a statement from Stephanie Doyle, California State Affairs Director for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA):