How Solar Energy Could Change the World

General Manager Mick McDaniel and Asher Freije

Did you know that the amount of sunlight that hits the Earth in one hour could provide enough power for our entire population for a year? Today, scientists and engineers are working to harness that endless supply of energy by working on solar panels.

A solar panel is a piece of technology that can convert sunlight into energy using solar cells, also called photovoltaic cells. There are many possibilities for how it can be used. Some ways include powering cars and homes, heating and cooling, and even water filtration.

According to the International Energy Agency, about 10% of our population lives without electricity. As renewable energy technologies improve, there are companies such as Bila Solar in Indiana that aim to fill this gap. Bila Solar is working to make their panels more affordable and drastically lighter. With less weight and thickness to a solar panel, Mick McDaniel, the General Manager of Bila Solar, shared that makes it much easier to set up.

Kenneth Stead shares about the process of the solar panel manufacturing

Non-renewable energy is energy that comes from a source that cannot be replenished, such as fossil fuels, nuclear energy, and coal. Engineers, architects, scientists, and other jobs are working on ways to replace depletable sources with renewable energy like solar power. According to National Geographic, non-renewable energy is also a big pollution factor. When fossil fuels like coal are burned, it releases small, harmful particles into the air that can harm the environment. “We want to bring and produce energy in this world, but without starting another problem.” says McDaniel. Solar power doesn’t emit greenhouse gases or air pollution. That makes it a much better substitute to unsustainable sources, according to McDaniel.

Inventions, like the solar panel, are the result of hard work and experience. It takes failures, learning, and curiosity. “I think curiosity is one of the most important things that we have.” says Jeni Hackett, a Scholastic Magazines+ editor and writer.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) is a combination of all of those and more. STEM education teaches the next generation to innovate and find solutions. In the case of solar energy, it is not only helping some of the world’s climate and energy problems, but it is also providing huge growth in a variety of STEM-related jobs. For example, a single solar project might involve electrical engineers, mechanical and structural engineers, 3D designers, automation technicians, and much more. Jeni Hackett said, “STEM Education is a great springboard to jobs. It teaches you to think critically, find answers, and problem solve.”