The podcast explores alternative ways to obtain solar energy, such as using solar panels as building materials and placing them on car park canopies. It also discusses the concept of floating solar panels in Norway and the potential of combining solar panels with fields of crops. Additionally, the hosts reflect on Memory Well, a company that creates patient biographies.
Alternative solar solutions include photovoltaic glass that serves as windows, car park solar canopies, and floatable solar panels on lakes and seas, aiming to address limited space, aesthetics, and environmental concerns.
Incorporating solar panels into farmland provides shade for crops, increases agricultural yield, protects crops from extreme heat, and offers farmers an additional income stream, achieving a win-win solution for energy production and food cultivation.
Deep dives
Alternative Solar Panel Solutions
Solar power has seen significant success in recent years, with solar panels generating almost 10 times more electricity than a decade ago. However, the issue of limited space for solar farms and the negative perception of their appearance and environmental impact have led to the exploration of alternative solar panel solutions. One such solution is the use of photovoltaic glass, which serves as both a window and a solar panel. Another innovative approach is the implementation of car park solar canopies, providing shade for cars while generating solar energy. Additionally, the concept of floatable solar panels on lakes and seas is gaining attention, offering an expanded area for power generation. These surprising solar power solutions aim to address the challenges of limited space, aesthetics, and environmental concerns.
Combining Solar Panels with Agriculture
In an effort to optimize land use and tackle climate change, farmers are experimenting with incorporating solar panels into their farmland. By mounting solar panels on tall structures above crops, farmers can provide alternating phases of direct sunshine and shade. Contrary to expectations, this combination benefits crop growth, as additional shade in hot and dry areas can increase agricultural yield. This solution not only generates green electricity but also helps protect crops from extreme heat and provides farmers with an additional income stream. By combining solar panels and agriculture, the aim is to achieve a win-win solution for both energy production and food cultivation.
Solar Power Farms in Space
Harnessing solar power in space is a bold yet promising idea gaining traction in recent years. Solar power stations in orbit above Earth could generate substantially more energy than terrestrial solar panels due to the absence of night, atmosphere, and seasons. The collected energy would be beamed down to receiving stations on land using microwaves. Several designs for space solar power stations have been proposed, presenting opportunities for green energy generation on a large scale. Space solar technology is already being tested, and with the right efforts and investment, gigawatt-scale solar power stations in space could become a reality by 2035, revolutionizing energy production on Earth.
The fast growth of solar power is a success story in the fight against climate change. However, in some countries progress is being stymied by opposition to large solar farms in the countryside.
But enterprising people are trying to keep the solar momentum going, by finding less obvious places where we can harness energy from the sun - like lakes, farms, car parks, office windows and even outer space.
Presenter: Myra Anubi
Reporter: William Kremer
Series Producer: Tom Colls
Sound mix: Hal Haines
Editor: Penny Murphy
email: peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk
Image: Floating solar (Credit: Ocean Sun)
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode