Proposal for the Effect of Iron Solar Panels in Urban Areas
Group 1
Starlight Inc Project.
by
Kamal, Diana, Alex, Akifah, Rudmila Table of Contents
Abstract………………………………………………………………………….…………… 2
Literature Review …………………………………………………………………………..…3
Methods section…………………………………………………………………………..……8
Anticipated Results ……………………………………………………………………………9
Broader Impacts ………………………………………………………………………….……9
References ………………………………………………………………………………..……10
Abstract
Keywords: Renewable energy; carbon emissions; iron; metal; solar panels; energy conversion rates; ECM
The need for renewable energy in 2024 has become dire. With carbon emissions on the rise, scientists are struggling to find ways to integrate the use of renewable energy technology in the everyday lives of the general public. Solar panels are known to be great alternatives for renewable energy that lower carbon emissions. However, solar panels are known to be made with heavy metals such as silver, zinc, steel, and copper; which prevent many from using them. In this experiment, we will be testing the use of iron, a lighter metal, in application for replacing all the metals in modern day solar panels to see if they’re just as effective. Iron is known to be efficient when converting heat energy, which leads to the belief that an iron solar panel is the next step for the evolution in solar panels. By analyzing the amount of energy levels absorbed by metal solar panels with the use of an ECM (energy conservation measure), while also observing the integrity of the solar panels by using them for 5 years, we will be able to test for a great energy alternative.
The hypothesis suggests that iron solar panels will be more effective than regular solar panels to power an entire city. If proven in support of the hypothesis, iron solar panels can be mass produced and capitalized for the use of the general public. Which can increase the rate of renewable energy dispersed among the general public, ultimately causing a reduction in the rate of carbon emissions globally.
Literature Review
Exploring the topic of “The Evolution of Renewable Energy Technologies” through the lenses of the articles by Vermeylen, and by Jacobsson and Bergek could provide a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted growth of renewable energy technologies. Vermeylen’s discussion on resource rights emphasizes the socio-political dimensions accompanying the technological advancements in renewable energies, such as wind and solar power. It highlights potential conflicts and challenges that arise with rapid development, including aesthetic impacts and access rights, which are crucial for understanding how renewable technologies can be integrated into sustainable and equitable communities. On the other hand, the work by Jacobsson and Bergek offers a deep dive into the technological systems behind renewable energy technologies, focusing on the diffusion of these technologies within specific European contexts. By analyzing the development patterns in countries like Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands, this article can shed light on the mechanisms that have successfully fostered the adoption of renewable energy technologies and the systemic transformations required to support this shift. Together, these articles provide a rich foundation for discussions on both the technological evolution of renewable energy and the complex socio-political landscape that shapes its adoption, offering valuable insights for anyone looking to explore the future directions of renewable energy technologies.The article outlines the diverse aspects of renewable energy technology’s evolution through the perspectives of Vermeylen, Jacobsson, and Bergek. Vermeylen focuses on the socio-political challenges and conflicts, like aesthetic impacts and access rights, accompanying the technological growth of renewables like wind and solar power. This angle emphasizes the need for integrating renewable technologies into communities sustainably and equitably. Conversely, Jacobsson and Bergek delve into the technological frameworks and diffusion of renewable technologies within Europe, particularly in Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Their analysis highlights the successful strategies and systemic changes necessary for adopting renewable energy. By combining these discussions, the paragraph suggests a holistic view of renewable energy’s technological progress and the socio-political context that influences its widespread adoption, offering insights for future exploration in the field.
Both sources provide a unique yet similar outlook on how sustainability and solar energy technologies have a great potential to lower carbon footprint. The first source discusses how sustainability has become a critical perspective in managing firms with a holistic approach by considering the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of firms. The second source extends to different types of renewable energy sources and how rapid advances in technology have been growing interest in coupling solar energy with desalination with an overall goal of improving energy efficiency. The second source challenges the other by providing other factors that contribute to the success of sustainability and efficient energy technology use like theories. The theories of marketing research examine the impacts of sustainability strategies on customers and buying decisions. Creating ideal technologies is ideal but it needs to appeal to consumers for efficiency. The research paper, “Solar powered desalination – Technology, energy and future outlook” by Farah Ejaz Ahmed and their colleagues discusses the integration of solar panels and how it contributes to the field of the evolution of renewable technology and contributes to future development potentials. The source “Evolving theories of sustainability and firms: History, future directions and implications for renewable energy research” by Rui-Dong Chang heavily relies on the theories of sustainability in firms with the rise of renewable technologies. This article goes into depth about different theories like corporate social responsibility, stakeholder theory, and more.
Brainstorming renewable energy technologies can help our group topic because renewable energy can be anything throughout the world from solar panels, and wind turbines, to electrical antennae and anything that stores the energy and produces it back. This article, talks about how the framework for renewable energy technologies wants to be implemented around the year 2050., solar panels are used for storing energy and producing electricity around the house hence why you might see more solar panels than antennas and power lines. The next source deals with climate change removing waste and turning it into a renewable energy source. They want to essentially upgrade all the technologies that they have and transform their waste energy into a renewable source for them to use. Adding on to that they want to also change their energy technology to fix climate change as a whole with new and improved renewable energy.
Advancing renewable energy technologies can help the world distribute energy through solar panels, wind turbines, and electrical antennae because we can further expand the limits of the odd technologies and see what we can do to expand. Researching these advancements is going to take a long time because due to the fact how we have to consistently make sure that the change we are about to make is going to be the right one that allows renewable energy to be the most effective. Advancing technology to even expand on waste and debris and transform that form of energy to renewable energy has to go through trial and tribulation to essentially be allowed to work, including the works with climate change as well as improving the technology completely to ensure that it is compatible with all the sources.
The necessity to change for the future is a must. These sources discuss the topic of renewable energy and some of the implications they may have. The first source discusses experiments done to determine the storage efficiency of renewable energy and how effective it is. The second source discusses British Columbia, a district in Canada’s commitment to low carbon output. These sources will help the group explore the topic of renewable energy as it will give us broader knowledge and insight into the future plans for renewable energy and the current limitations held by them to see just how realistic these dreams are.
Climate change is a big issue for many countries and groups. The struggle to combat climate change is a hard one, but it the already taking pivotal turns in the war. The District of Columbia in Canada is aware of this and has pledged to have a zero carbon emissions rate by the year 2050. The paper discusses this ambitious goal and discusses the reality of it. The paper brings up points of the difficulty with this and how it will take significant government oversight to pursue this and the use of renewable technologies. The paper also heavily discusses the use of large amounts of land to be used for renewable energy sources such as solar panels, and windmills. As well it will also mention the extreme upgrades required to the electrical system for this to become a reality. The author conducted various studies and used several sources to determine the land and electrical output needed and required. While combating climate change is a dream within our grasp the reality of the situation needs to be evaluated and a reasonable approach needs to be taken.
The source “Thermo-Ecological Cost (TEC) –comparison of energy-ecological efficiency of renewable and non-renewable energy technologies” by Wojciech Stanek is an analysis of the economic effects of renewable technology versus non-renewable technologies. It goes into a deep statistical dive into how renewable technology compares to the economics of electricity production, power generation, and more. In the long run, it is shown that renewable energy generally outperforms non-renewable energy, respectively. Furthermore, it shows that renewable technology is more economical and leads to lower carbon emission rates.
The paper, “Evolving theories of sustainability and firms: History, future directions and implications for renewable energy research” by Rui-Dong Chang and his colleagues challenges and supports Saskia Vermelyn’s “Resource rights and the evolution of renewable energy technologies”. The two sources discuss similar challenges in expanding the world of renewable energy through climate change. Both sources support each other through the acknowledgment and readiness to address the problem at hand by discussing the benefits and historical significance of renewable energy and how it will affect the upcoming research and the significance of climate change. In summary, these articles suggest information on renewable energy illuminating a dynamic field of study where the theories of sustainability in firms have evolved from narrow, isolated concepts to comprehensive, systemic approaches. This evolution reflects a deepening understanding of sustainability as an integral part of business strategy and operations, with significant implications for the transition to renewable energy resources and the pursuit of a sustainable future.
The article “Long-Term Forecasting Framework for Renewable Energy Technologies’ Installed Capacity and Costs for 2050,” alongside related research and studies, presents a nuanced picture of the renewable energy sector’s future. The forecasting framework supports the notion of a rapidly advancing renewable energy landscape, particularly emphasizing the underappreciated potential for cost reductions in solar PV and wind energy, as similarly extended by findings in the “International Renewable Energy Agency Renewable Energy Statistics 2021.” However, it also complicates the dialogue by underscoring the significant discrepancies between existing forecasts and the accelerated pace of technological adoption and cost efficiency, challenging the conservative projections made by entities like the IEA and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. This comprehensive analysis, through its data-driven approach, not only supports the optimism around renewable energy’s viability but also challenges the sector to reconsider the infrastructure and policy frameworks necessary to meet ambitious climate goals, thus extending the conversation towards a more aggressive yet realistic renewable energy uptake and highlighting the critical gaps in current forecasting methodologies and their implications for policy and investment.
The study on the impact of renewable energy technologies on land use in British Columbia, Canada, intricately supports the growing consensus on the significant environmental benefits of transitioning to renewable energy sources. However, it extends the conversation by delving into the nuanced trade-offs associated with land use, complicating the narrative around renewable energy’s environmental footprint. By examining the land sensitivity to various electrification rates and the feasibility of 100% renewable systems, the study challenges prevailing assumptions about the seamless integration of technologies like wind and solar without considerable land-use implications. Furthermore, the research introduces a critical examination of the social and political acceptability of nuclear technology as a complement to renewables, challenging the renewable energy discourse to incorporate broader considerations of technology mix and societal impact. This nuanced approach not only supports the imperative for a transition towards renewable energy but also extends the dialogue to include the complexities of land use, thereby challenging stakeholders to consider a more holistic approach to energy planning and policy-making.
The research paper, “Solar powered desalination – Technology, energy and future outlook” by Farah Ejaz Ahmed and their colleagues discusses the integration of solar panels and how it contributes to the field of the evolution of renewable technology also supports and extends the paper, “Power Electronics: The Enabling Technology for Renewable Energy Integration” (Tang, et. al). Ahmed’s paper extends Tang’s idea by adding examples of how renewable energy can affect society. “Power Electronics: The Enabling Technology for Renewable Energy Integration,” touches upon the theory that renewable energy is needed to improve carbon efficiency. Ahmed’s paper supports this idea by adding forms of technology such as solar panels, windmills, and software on how such ideas can be applied.
Methods
Question & Hypothesis
How will iron solar panels work compared to regular solar panels?
We hypothesize that iron solar panels will effectively conserve energy at higher rates compared to regular solar panels.
Materials
1- Iron Solar Panels
2- Regular Solar Panels
3- A small urban population, like New Mexico City
Test- The future of renewable energy sources
New Mexico City is known for its carbon emissions and lack of renewable energy. With the heavy use of mining materials and electricity, the need for solar panels will be efficient in decreasing the rate of carbon emissions. However, due to the use of heavy metals in solar panels, residents prefer not to use them. With the integration of iron solar panels, it may make the citizens of New Mexico City more prone to the use of solar panels and renewable energy sources. Furthermore, iron solar panels are economically friendlier and take less work to install, and iron is known to be an efficient energy conserver. With these variables in mind, New Mexico City can become a harbor for ecological efficiency and grow its economy. Furthermore, carbon emissions may be reduced in the city as a whole.
First, we will require a survey of the New Mexico City population on who has solar panels installed already while recruiting volunteers to participate in the experiment. The renewable energy research allows us to find long-term energy sources that will better advance the use of solar panels. In our proposal, we require the expertise of construction companies to install solar panel systems and to maintain and upkeep of the electrical grid. Thus the solar panels will require professional help to be installed on homes and buildings. Once the solar panels (both iron and regular) have been installed into 85% of homes listed in our volunteers list, we need to test the conservation rates of each solar panel using an ECM (energy conservation measure). Additionally, the electrical grid will require around-the-clock maintenance and upgrades to ensure the best results possible and make sure that every result that comes back is good so the necessary changes can be accurately made to the grid. The final stage required is to calculate the averages of the regular solar panels and the iron solar panels and compare which one is more effective in energy conservation.
10,000 participants who wish to volunteer and make a better and brighter future for all. We expect to exceed the number of applicants and are proposing to introduce a lottery to participate in the renewable energy project. Each participant for the duration of the research project will not have to pay for the electricity being used as a form of payment and a better way to allocate resources to more important tasks such as construction. The company NextEra Energy INC (Which is at the forefront of manufacturing) will be responsible for making said renewable energy sources and also for the future changes and advances for the renewable energy sources to come in the future
Scientific method of the observation research hypothesis experiment data and conclusion
Step -1 Perform a survey of the people in New Mexico City on how many people have already integrated solar panels in their homes.
Step -2 Have at least 85% of New Mexico City residents have solar panels (42.5% Iron, 42.5% regular) with the use of a random selection of volunteers
Step -3 Hire construction companies to install renewable energy sources such as solar panels windmills etc, and upgrade the electrical grid system
Step -4 Analyze the conservation rates of each solar panel using an ECM (Energy Conservation Measure).
Step -5 After 5 years of conducting the experiment, calculate the averages of the iron solar panel and the regular solar panels. Then compare.
Anticipated Results
The researchers anticipate that the results will support our hypothesis that iron solar panels will have higher conservation rates of energy than regular solar panels. Proving that iron solar panels are more effective and efficient in economy and ecology. Furthermore, if results prove to support our hypothesis, we can mass-produce iron solar panels to sell to the general public. Ultimately resulting in easier access to solar panels and renewable energy technology. This will lead to the general public using solar panels and lead to more renewable energy technology awareness of the issue of carbon emissions. This experiment could potentially cause a significant reduction in carbon emissions globally and have a greater effect on society and its ecosystem. Having this change benefits us greatly and benefits the world with less emissions and more of the electrical aspect of things.
Broader Impacts
The impact the researchers hope to have involves helping the world’s climate by having a city fully powered strictly by renewable energy sources. With the rising demand for renewable energy sources, there would be more job opportunities such as entrepreneurs, solar panel installers, and researchers. The ultimate goal is to replace the use of non-renewable energy resources like coal and fossil fuels with renewable energy like solar panels to lower emissions for the climate crisis; while also implementing more iron solar panels within houses and buildings. Therefore we can see if iron solar panels have a greater efficiency than the original solar panels. While also examining the use of storing energy and distributing it to the residents inside. By making solar panels easily accessible to the general public, the convenience of renewable energy can cause a reduction in carbon emissions, and set a precedent for future experiments pertaining to renewable energy technology.
References
Arianpoo, N. Islam, M.E. Wright, A.S. Niet, T. (2023) Electrification policy impacts on land system in British Columbia, Canada. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667095X24000047
Chang, R. Gan, X. Soebarto, V. Zhao, Z. Zillante, G. and Zuo, J. (May 2017). Evolving theories of sustainability and firms: History, future directions and implications for renewable energy research. Science Direct. https://www-sciencedirect-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/science/article/pii/S1364032117300333?via%3Dihub
McGregor C. Owen M. and Rozon F. (September 2023) Long-term forecasting framework for renewable energy technologies’ installed capacity and costs for 2050. Novel NY. https://go-gale-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T002&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&retrievalId=d88571bc-64aa-44ba-9af6-e4c9aa2eabc2&hitCount=10385&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=4&docId=GALE%7CA771805040&docType=Article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZONE-MOD1&prodId=AONE&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA771805040&searchId=R1&userGroupName=cuny_ccny&inPS=true&aty=ip
Tang, Z. Yang, Y. and Blaabjerg, F. (2022). Power electronics-the enabling technology for renewable energy integration. CSEE Journal of Power and Energy Systems, 8(1), 39–52. https://doi.org/10.17775/CSEEJPES.2021.02850
Vermeylen S. (November 2010). Resource rights and the evolution of renewable energy technologies. Science Direct. https://www-sciencedirect-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/science/article/pii/S0960148110001345?via%3Dihub
