US energy giant First Solar won a deal to build the world’s largest solar power (two-gigawatt) plant in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, China, aimed at helping mitigate climate change concerns. The solar facility is to be built in four phases over a decade and supply power to three million Chinese homes. However, the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. China is keen to expand capabilities to produce affordable solar electricity as part of a goal to provide 10 percent of its energy from renewable resources by 2010 and 15 percent by 2020, including from wind, hydro, biomass and solar. [1]
First Solar has broken down the barriers to producing high performance thin film solar modules in volume, making solar electricity an affordable alternative to fossil fuel-generated electricity. According to First Solar’s website, this success is, to a significant extent, attributable to the unique physical properties of the semiconductor material (CdTe; Cadmium Telluride) which make it ideal for converting solar energy into useful electricity. CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) is a direct bandgap semiconductor, which enables it to convert solar energy into electricity more efficiently than the indirect bandgap semiconductor materials used historically. CdTe also permits simple device structures and manufacturing processes, leading to low cost production. [2]
However, the Arctic climate has been warmer over the past decade than during any 10-year period in 2,000 years, according to a study by an international research team. The study provides a clear example of how increased greenhouse gases are now changing our climate. Researchers found, at about 1850, the beginning of the Industrial Age, the planet’s climate began overcoming the cooling trend, and the Arctic climate has warmed decade by decade ever since as greenhouse gas emissions have increased. [3]
One way for us to combat with global warming is to eat green!!!
Reference:
[1] US firm wins huge solar power project in China AFP Tue Sep 8, 1:59 pm ET
[2] www.firstsolar.com Sep 8, 2009
[3] David Perlman Abrupt reversal detected in Arctic cooling trend , San Francisco Chronicle Friday, September 4, 2009
Comments (1)
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