Why solar energy is not widely used as alternative fuel to stop global warming?

Question

Why solar energy is not widely used as alternative fuel to stop global warming?

Answer 1

buearucratic greed.

why disrupt a nations infrastructure and energy grid with biologically sound and safe energy sources that will last longer than our nation when you can make a million bucks a day selling imported oil to consumers that are already trained to commute to work far from home? why should a politician or city planner work toward a new energy system that will likely not be in place in his lifetime, if there is an oil lobby waiting in the wings to give him enough money to live comfortably for the rest of his life if he stops going forward with plans that wouldn't include thier product?

the amount of money needed to convert our nation to passive energy sources is beyond comprehension. its almost as if our entire energy grid would have to be ripped out and redone, can you imagine the uproar that comsumers would make during the power losses that redoing the grid would make? even if they wanted the change they would protest the process. no one wants to live on a potholed street, but bitterly complain about the traffic jams and mess and expense that repairing the street takes while it happens, even though they are happy when its done. we want the results, not the inconviences that happen while getting them. we want to stop dependaency on foriegn oil and harmful energy practices now, but don't want to go through the effort of getting that result. as a people we are spoiled and lazy. we want instant gratification, not huge tax increases, work, and hassle to get it.

did you know that there is technology available right now that can put super solar collectors in the desert (nevada i think) that can use solar power (a potentially neverending supply, at least until the sun blows up, but we as a race will likely never see that happening) to power our entire NATIONs needs for its forseeable future? yes, all 48 intercontinental states, for ALL our current and forseeable energy needs (at least in our homes and businesses anyway) powered by the sun. they would have to cover 1/3 of the desert, but it can be done. right now. whats stopping it is money. a phenominal mountain of money.

when you are faced with the changes that would best be made for the nation, but the changes are so vast and encompassing, where do you start? i think that small towns would be best, to begin building an infratructure to allow passive energy delivery, perhaps while they fix those broken streets. maybe even bury those hideous telephone and electric lines too, in a clean well lit (solar fiber optics!) tunnel system similar to a sewer system where all pipes and energy lines can be accessed underground, under the streets where the weather cannot damage them nor prevent work.

i think its the small towns that will have to take up the torch to turn our nation green. the small towns don't have as much to fight against (fat cat mayors, money hungry politicians, a bloated government fed on bribes and oil kickbacks). if they can provide a good example of how beneficial green energy can be, and if the next generation of politicians are raised in these towns, perhaps our backward nation can finally begin to move forward to showing the world that we don't have to be the leading oil users, but the leading green producers instead.

the current generation is growing up more aware of the environment and are trying to take action. lets hope they aren't as swayed by the mighty dollar as our forebears have been. it must start somewhere, a trip of a thousand miles starts with one small step. changing the nations infrastructure can start with one small town.

Answer 2

Please stop this global warming nonsense! The Earth naturally gets warmer and colder. It's what the Earth does.

Answer 3

Because the Government wont allow renewable energy to be cheap. Otherwise they wouldn't make enough money charging people with 4x4s £1000 a year in car tax. Greedy B*******.

Answer 4

Beacuse of  financial benefits for big markets in use of fuel energy and lots of cost for produsing and useing solar energy

Answer 5

Solar Energy is not used widely as alternative bcoz it is very cstly and can be afforded by very less people or even companies. scientists r still searchingfor chepaer source of solar energy.

Answer 6

it is because solar panels can't supply too much energy. right now, cars and other devices are needed to be powered by more efficient energy sources. solar panels are not quite efficient when huge energies are needed. so far, solar panels are used in devices that only requires small energy. besides, solar panels are expensive so it is not yet considered as the best alternative

Answer 7

1) Cost

2) Sometimes its cloudy

3) Night

Answer 8

Cost:

Go calculate how much it would cost to purchase enough solar cells and batteries to provide all of the power you consume each  day.

I pay less than $1000 each year for my electricity from the standard electrical grid.

I would cost me over $30000 to purchase enough solar equipment to meet my home's needs and that would not power my air conditioning system.

For those who say its the government's or big business's fault that we don't all have solar power they should go purchase their own solar system. Solar cell companies will gladly produce all of the cells they can sell on the market and attempt to make the most money they can, the government doesn't care, they love the sales tax.

The bottom line is that it is expensive to produce the cells and therefore expensive to purchase them.

Answer 9

That's what I want to know! I know that I'd have panels on my roof if I could afford them AND afford the rate increase on my house insurance for having solar panels... go figure... :( .

Answer 10

Three basic reasons:

- Very high initial cost of investment.

- Not enough resources, companies and products who know to tap the energy

- It is not actually implementable across the entire world. For example: it makes sense to have solar panels in Kenya but not in Greenland.

Answer 11

The relevant technology hasn't been developed to the level that we can have low cost-high efficient solar energy.  Solar energy now is actually more expensive than oil.