PV Solar Power = Job Creation

A recent report by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association outlines by vertical, the number of jobs that can be created by the advancement of the photovoltaic industry.  Moreover, the largest segment of job creation will come from the installation process.  What is significant about that is that those jobs cannot be exported.  “Last mile” labor will be regional, within countries.  Development of solar energy solutions has potential to create a great number of American jobs.

PV offers important social benefits in terms of job creation. Significantly, much of the employment creation is at the point of installation (installers, retailers and service engineers), giving a boost to local economies. Based on information provided by the industry, it has been assumed that 10 jobs are created per MW during production and about 33 jobs per MW during the process of installation. Wholesaling of the systems and indirect supply (for example in the production process) each create 3-4 jobs per MW. Research adds another 1-2 jobs per MW. Over the coming decades, it can be assumed that these numbers will decrease as the use of automated machines will increase. This will be especially the case for jobs involved in the production process. 

Table 5.1: Worldwide employment in PV-related jobs under Solar Generation Scenarios

Source:
Solar Benefits
Solar Generation V – 2008, pp. 51-52, EPIA

Click to access EPIA_SG_V_ENGLISH_FULL_Sept2008.pdf

Accidents are the Mother of Invention

While this technology is a world away from being commercialized, it’s nice to know that folks are still tinkering.  I’m lost on the technology but excited by the prospect.  For a copy of the full presentation, click-here.

 Columbus (OH) – Researchers at Ohio State University have accidentally discovered a new solar cell material capable of absorbing all of the sun’s visible light energy. The material is comprised of a hybrid of plastics, molybdenum and titanium. The team discovered it not only fluoresces (as most solar cells do), but also phosphoresces. Electrons in a phosphorescent state remain at a place where they can be “siphoned off” as electricity over 7 million times longer than those generated in a fluorescent state. This combination of materials also utilizes the entire visible spectrum of light energy, translating into a theoretical potential of almost 100% efficiency. Commercial products are still years away, but this foundational work may well pave the way for a truly renewable form of clean, global energy.

Source:
New solar cell material achieves almost 100% efficiency, could solve world-wide energy problems
Rick C. Hodgin, TG Daily, October 20, 2008
http://www.tgdaily.com/html_tmp/content-view-39807-113.html