Solar luncheon was informative

Kevin Green, Greensburg Daily News, Ind.
Updated ·2 min read

Nov. 13—GREENSBURG Cobia Solar recently hosted a Solar 101 Lunch and Learn event. The forum did not discuss specific projects as it was designed to be a broad overview of what solar is and is not. Randy Ellingson, PhD, Professor of Physics, The University of Toledo, gave a presentation.

"Solar energy is the most important energy technology now. It's not the biggest, but it's growing the fastest and its capacity to grow is much more significant than even wind energy," Ellingson said at the start of his presentation.

In an email following the event, Ellingson broke down the most important items to understand about solar power:

—"Solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays provide electricity that reduces our need to burn fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, and therefore this technology is important in combating climate change and reducing air and water pollution."

—"PV arrays built today are designed to last for about 30 years, and although the output does gradually reduce over the years, they are expected to produce 80% or more of the original annual output energy at the end of their lifetimes."

—"The cost of utility scale solar PV arrays has dropped by 90% over the past 11 years, and solar became the least expensive electricity generating method in most locations around the world."

—"Although solar PV arrays only produce power when illuminated, they do operate relatively effectively even on cloudy days."

—"The amount of energy required to make a solar module, accounting for all energy from the mining of raw materials through to their completed production, is recovered within 6 to 12 months depending on the type of solar module. This length of time is called the Energy Payback Time."

—"The largest US-owned manufacturer of solar modules is First Solar, which has manufacturing plants located in Perrysburg, Ohio, near Toledo. During 2022, First Solar modules accounted for approximately 35% of all panels installed in the USA."

—"Although the majority of solar modules for US projects have been made overseas, the Inflation Reduction Act provides incentives for domestic manufacturing of solar modules and other solar PV components here in the US. Based on these subsidies, US-manufactured domestic content is expected to increase in the near future."

—"The costs for solar electricity are very heavily weighted at the beginning of the project. Once built, maintenance costs are low, the fuel (sunlight) is free, and the sale of generated electrical energy goes to paying back the up-front costs, and ultimately to profit and revenues often shared with the host community."

Contact Noelle Maxwell at news@greensburgdailynews.com.