Why Solar is Right for America? | Octavi Semonin | TEDxMillsapsCollege

in the early 1950s a physicist named

in the early 1950s a physicist named Gerald Pearson took a piece of silicon

Gerald Pearson took a piece of silicon

Gerald Pearson took a piece of silicon and he dipped it into a molten hot bath

and he dipped it into a molten hot bath

and he dipped it into a molten hot bath containing lithium this is a bold move

containing lithium this is a bold move

containing lithium this is a bold move at the time but in doing so he created

at the time but in doing so he created

at the time but in doing so he created the the world’s first silicon PN

the the world’s first silicon PN

the the world’s first silicon PN Junction which has now become a

Junction which has now become a

Junction which has now become a fundamental part of microchips cell

fundamental part of microchips cell

fundamental part of microchips cell phones computers displays but the

phones computers displays but the

phones computers displays but the silicon PN Junction is also at the core

silicon PN Junction is also at the core

silicon PN Junction is also at the core of the solar cell the silicon solar cell

of the solar cell the silicon solar cell

of the solar cell the silicon solar cell it’s really hard to understate sorry to

it’s really hard to understate sorry to

it’s really hard to understate sorry to overstate the importance of this moment

overstate the importance of this moment

overstate the importance of this moment both as a physical chemistry experiment

both as a physical chemistry experiment

both as a physical chemistry experiment but also the development that it kicked

but also the development that it kicked

but also the development that it kicked off you know this moment kick-started a

off you know this moment kick-started a

off you know this moment kick-started a research project between Pearson and

research project between Pearson and

research project between Pearson and another chemist and an engineer all

another chemist and an engineer all

another chemist and an engineer all working at Bell Laboratories the I

working at Bell Laboratories the I

working at Bell Laboratories the I wanted to say their names Gerald Pearson

wanted to say their names Gerald Pearson

wanted to say their names Gerald Pearson Darrel Shaban and Calvin fuller so these

Darrel Shaban and Calvin fuller so these

Darrel Shaban and Calvin fuller so these scientists were all working at Bell

scientists were all working at Bell

scientists were all working at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey and a few

Laboratories in New Jersey and a few

Laboratories in New Jersey and a few years later in 1954 Bell Laboratories

years later in 1954 Bell Laboratories

years later in 1954 Bell Laboratories announced their invention now this is an

announced their invention now this is an

announced their invention now this is an image used from the press release you

image used from the press release you

image used from the press release you can see clearly a scientist holding one

can see clearly a scientist holding one

can see clearly a scientist holding one of their test strips of silicon this is

of their test strips of silicon this is

of their test strips of silicon this is sort of a momentous occasion right this

sort of a momentous occasion right this

sort of a momentous occasion right this was greeted with great excitement I

was greeted with great excitement I

was greeted with great excitement I wanted to read a quote here written by

wanted to read a quote here written by

wanted to read a quote here written by the US News and World Report titled fuel

the US News and World Report titled fuel

the US News and World Report titled fuel unlimited they wrote that the strips may

unlimited they wrote that the strips may

unlimited they wrote that the strips may provide more power than all the world’s

provide more power than all the world’s

provide more power than all the world’s coal oil and uranium engineers are

coal oil and uranium engineers are

coal oil and uranium engineers are dreaming of silicon strip powerhouses

dreaming of silicon strip powerhouses

dreaming of silicon strip powerhouses the New York Times Science magazine

the New York Times Science magazine

the New York Times Science magazine everyone greeted this announcement with

everyone greeted this announcement with

everyone greeted this announcement with tremendous excitement and at the time

tremendous excitement and at the time

tremendous excitement and at the time you know it felt like this was the

you know it felt like this was the

you know it felt like this was the beginning of a movement 1955 Bell

beginning of a movement 1955 Bell

beginning of a movement 1955 Bell Laboratories started implementing these

Laboratories started implementing these

Laboratories started implementing these solar cells as a way to extend

solar cells as a way to extend

solar cells as a way to extend transmission line distances and as I

transmission line distances and as I

transmission line distances and as I said there’s the beginning of a movement

said there’s the beginning of a movement

said there’s the beginning of a movement but it was a movement they would take

but it was a movement they would take

but it was a movement they would take over 50 years to develop

over 50 years to develop

over 50 years to develop in the 1970s we experienced the oil

in the 1970s we experienced the oil

in the 1970s we experienced the oil crisis the price of gasoline strike the

crisis the price of gasoline strike the

crisis the price of gasoline strike the mat spiked dramatically and researchers

mat spiked dramatically and researchers

mat spiked dramatically and researchers began developing improved modules with

began developing improved modules with

began developing improved modules with the goal of you know freeing ourselves

the goal of you know freeing ourselves

the goal of you know freeing ourselves from this this constraint of having to

from this this constraint of having to

from this this constraint of having to consume other people’s gasoline

consume other people’s gasoline

consume other people’s gasoline President Jimmy Carter put solar cells

President Jimmy Carter put solar cells

President Jimmy Carter put solar cells on the roof of the White House you can

on the roof of the White House you can

on the roof of the White House you can now buy pocket calculators with solar

now buy pocket calculators with solar

now buy pocket calculators with solar cells and my dad put a solar-powered

cells and my dad put a solar-powered

cells and my dad put a solar-powered water heater on the roof of his home he

water heater on the roof of his home he

water heater on the roof of his home he was not a chemist a physicist or an

was not a chemist a physicist or an

was not a chemist a physicist or an engineer more recently we’ve been

engineer more recently we’ve been

engineer more recently we’ve been experiencing the early effects of what

experiencing the early effects of what

experiencing the early effects of what is becoming a global climate change

is becoming a global climate change

is becoming a global climate change crisis the hurricanes and floods and

crisis the hurricanes and floods and

crisis the hurricanes and floods and droughts of increasing severity have

droughts of increasing severity have

droughts of increasing severity have forced us to question just how exactly

forced us to question just how exactly

forced us to question just how exactly we want to power our lives and our

we want to power our lives and our

we want to power our lives and our economy now somewhere between now which

economy now somewhere between now which

economy now somewhere between now which is a time when it feels like we’re

is a time when it feels like we’re

is a time when it feels like we’re beginning to embrace this need for

beginning to embrace this need for

beginning to embrace this need for renewable energies in 1954 we lost that

renewable energies in 1954 we lost that

renewable energies in 1954 we lost that sense of awe and excitement that we once

sense of awe and excitement that we once

sense of awe and excitement that we once held instead it’s been replaced by sense

held instead it’s been replaced by sense

held instead it’s been replaced by sense of fear of you know how we could screw

of fear of you know how we could screw

of fear of you know how we could screw this up and so today I’d like to provide

this up and so today I’d like to provide

this up and so today I’d like to provide you guys with a little bit of a reason

you guys with a little bit of a reason

you guys with a little bit of a reason to think positively about solar so why I

to think positively about solar so why I

to think positively about solar so why I think it’s awesome

think it’s awesome

think it’s awesome now I began my time I’m not I’m a little

now I began my time I’m not I’m a little

now I began my time I’m not I’m a little bit new to the field compared to my dad

bit new to the field compared to my dad

bit new to the field compared to my dad but I’ve been spending the past 10 years

but I’ve been spending the past 10 years

but I’ve been spending the past 10 years working in the field of photovoltaics I

working in the field of photovoltaics I

working in the field of photovoltaics I earned my PhD at the National Renewable

earned my PhD at the National Renewable

earned my PhD at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden Colorado I

Energy Laboratory in Golden Colorado I

Energy Laboratory in Golden Colorado I spent four years at Columbia University

spent four years at Columbia University

spent four years at Columbia University understanding the fundamental chemistry

understanding the fundamental chemistry

understanding the fundamental chemistry and physics of solar cells and now today

and physics of solar cells and now today

and physics of solar cells and now today I work in Silicon Valley making what I

I work in Silicon Valley making what I

I work in Silicon Valley making what I think are some of the best solar cells

think are some of the best solar cells

think are some of the best solar cells in the world clearly I’m an advocate and

in the world clearly I’m an advocate and

in the world clearly I’m an advocate and a believer in solar energy now I don’t

a believer in solar energy now I don’t

a believer in solar energy now I don’t want to treat this as a criticism of the

want to treat this as a criticism of the

want to treat this as a criticism of the other forms of renewable energy or non

other forms of renewable energy or non

other forms of renewable energy or non renewable energies

renewable energies

renewable energies in fact I believe that much like a

in fact I believe that much like a

in fact I believe that much like a retirement account a diverse energy

retirement account a diverse energy

retirement account a diverse energy resource portfolio is both reliable and

resource portfolio is both reliable and

resource portfolio is both reliable and profitable and so I’d like to make the

profitable and so I’d like to make the

profitable and so I’d like to make the argument today that you know there are

argument today that you know there are

argument today that you know there are many associated benefits to solar energy

many associated benefits to solar energy

many associated benefits to solar energy and to other energies for example a list

and to other energies for example a list

and to other energies for example a list a couple two non solar energies for

a couple two non solar energies for

a couple two non solar energies for example offshore windfarms can provide

example offshore windfarms can provide

example offshore windfarms can provide growth beds for marine ecosystems

growth beds for marine ecosystems

growth beds for marine ecosystems hydroelectric dams have long been used

hydroelectric dams have long been used

hydroelectric dams have long been used to manage irrigation and flood control

to manage irrigation and flood control

to manage irrigation and flood control hot springs for example this hot spring

hot springs for example this hot spring

hot springs for example this hot spring and Iceland can actually provide a place

and Iceland can actually provide a place

and Iceland can actually provide a place for people to hang out and bathe

for people to hang out and bathe

for people to hang out and bathe themselves you can see if you look

themselves you can see if you look

themselves you can see if you look carefully in the background this picture

carefully in the background this picture

carefully in the background this picture is a this is actually a geothermal power

is a this is actually a geothermal power

is a this is actually a geothermal power plant I’m also not blind to the

plant I’m also not blind to the

plant I’m also not blind to the challenges confronting solar cell

challenges confronting solar cell

challenges confronting solar cell I think storage remains an open

I think storage remains an open

I think storage remains an open challenge and regardless I’d like to

challenge and regardless I’d like to

challenge and regardless I’d like to tell you about a few things that I that

tell you about a few things that I that

tell you about a few things that I that I think are particularly special

I think are particularly special

I think are particularly special so first solar cells are literally as

so first solar cells are literally as

so first solar cells are literally as tough as the nails used to fix them to

tough as the nails used to fix them to

tough as the nails used to fix them to the roof solar modules are built to

the roof solar modules are built to

the roof solar modules are built to withstand wind rain snow Sun even hail

withstand wind rain snow Sun even hail

withstand wind rain snow Sun even hail storms the fact that they have no moving

storms the fact that they have no moving

storms the fact that they have no moving parts means that the life time is

parts means that the life time is

parts means that the life time is measured in decades and the maintenance

measured in decades and the maintenance

measured in decades and the maintenance requires a ladder and a garden hose a

requires a ladder and a garden hose a

requires a ladder and a garden hose a typical solar cell degrades by about

typical solar cell degrades by about

typical solar cell degrades by about less than half a percent per year and

less than half a percent per year and

less than half a percent per year and many companies today you can buy modules

many companies today you can buy modules

many companies today you can buy modules for with 25 or 30 year warranties I’d

for with 25 or 30 year warranties I’d

for with 25 or 30 year warranties I’d like to take a moment for all of you to

like to take a moment for all of you to

like to take a moment for all of you to think about is there any consumer

think about is there any consumer

think about is there any consumer product you can think of with that comes

product you can think of with that comes

product you can think of with that comes with a 25-year warranty if anyone has an

with a 25-year warranty if anyone has an

with a 25-year warranty if anyone has an idea

idea

idea I still haven’t thought of one but think

I still haven’t thought of one but think

I still haven’t thought of one but think of the things that you thought of right

of the things that you thought of right

of the things that you thought of right I think Solar belongs in that cat

I think Solar belongs in that cat

I think Solar belongs in that cat so I think a good word to describe this

so I think a good word to describe this

so I think a good word to describe this characteristic is resilience and this is

characteristic is resilience and this is

characteristic is resilience and this is not the first time we’ve talked about

not the first time we’ve talked about

not the first time we’ve talked about resilience I think it was it was really

resilience I think it was it was really

resilience I think it was it was really eloquently described earlier today and I

eloquently described earlier today and I

eloquently described earlier today and I think in a world where floods and

think in a world where floods and

think in a world where floods and hurricanes are challenging our

hurricanes are challenging our

hurricanes are challenging our environment resilience to the

environment resilience to the

environment resilience to the environment is is really paramount

environment is is really paramount

environment is is really paramount second sunlight is everywhere

second sunlight is everywhere

second sunlight is everywhere this may seem kind of obvious at first

this may seem kind of obvious at first

this may seem kind of obvious at first but often when I say this people say

but often when I say this people say

but often when I say this people say well that’s easy for you to say you live

well that’s easy for you to say you live

well that’s easy for you to say you live in California you know you have all the

in California you know you have all the

in California you know you have all the Sun and you know I think I think well

Sun and you know I think I think well

Sun and you know I think I think well that’s that’s true there’s a lot of

that’s that’s true there’s a lot of

that’s that’s true there’s a lot of sunlight in California it’s not it’s not

sunlight in California it’s not it’s not

sunlight in California it’s not it’s not as dis uniform as you might think so

as dis uniform as you might think so

as dis uniform as you might think so this is I’m a scientist I love data this

this is I’m a scientist I love data this

this is I’m a scientist I love data this is a map of the solar resource across

is a map of the solar resource across

is a map of the solar resource across the United States you can see you know

the United States you can see you know

the United States you can see you know Arizona California New Mexico certainly

Arizona California New Mexico certainly

Arizona California New Mexico certainly have an impressive energy resource but

have an impressive energy resource but

have an impressive energy resource but if you compare the numbers California to

if you compare the numbers California to

if you compare the numbers California to here in Jackson Mississippi it’s really

here in Jackson Mississippi it’s really

here in Jackson Mississippi it’s really only about 20% less sunlight that we get

only about 20% less sunlight that we get

only about 20% less sunlight that we get here than then in in California and if

here than then in in California and if

here than then in in California and if you compare that to say Maine or

you compare that to say Maine or

you compare that to say Maine or Michigan which are some of the weakest

Michigan which are some of the weakest

Michigan which are some of the weakest solar resource parts of the United

solar resource parts of the United

solar resource parts of the United States it’s just another 20% the

States it’s just another 20% the

States it’s just another 20% the comparison between Alaska and Arizona is

comparison between Alaska and Arizona is

comparison between Alaska and Arizona is only about a factor of two so really is

only about a factor of two so really is

only about a factor of two so really is everywhere but I think that this graph

everywhere but I think that this graph

everywhere but I think that this graph is this plot is sort of hard to

is this plot is sort of hard to

is this plot is sort of hard to understand at least for me because I

understand at least for me because I

understand at least for me because I don’t really know what a kilowatt hours

don’t really know what a kilowatt hours

don’t really know what a kilowatt hours I work in photovoltaics and I don’t

I work in photovoltaics and I don’t

I work in photovoltaics and I don’t really have a visceral understanding for

really have a visceral understanding for

really have a visceral understanding for what a kilowatt hour means so what often

what a kilowatt hour means so what often

what a kilowatt hour means so what often is done at the stage is we draw a white

is done at the stage is we draw a white

is done at the stage is we draw a white box and we say look if you fill this

box and we say look if you fill this

box and we say look if you fill this white box with solar panels we could

white box with solar panels we could

white box with solar panels we could power the entire United States

power the entire United States

power the entire United States everything we need in terms of power and

everything we need in terms of power and

everything we need in terms of power and energy could come from that white box

energy could come from that white box

energy could come from that white box and then you hope that nobody lives

and then you hope that nobody lives

and then you hope that nobody lives inside that box but other than paper you

inside that box but other than paper you

inside that box but other than paper you know covering over somebody’s home with

know covering over somebody’s home with

know covering over somebody’s home with with solar modules I I think that this

with solar modules I I think that this

with solar modules I I think that this is also difficult because this is an

is also difficult because this is an

is also difficult because this is an incomprehensible large amount of area

incomprehensible large amount of area

incomprehensible large amount of area I don’t think I’ve ever looked at that

I don’t think I’ve ever looked at that

I don’t think I’ve ever looked at that box maybe from an airplane but even then

box maybe from an airplane but even then

box maybe from an airplane but even then it’s like you know so I’d like to

it’s like you know so I’d like to

it’s like you know so I’d like to simplify it maybe reduce it to my own

simplify it maybe reduce it to my own

simplify it maybe reduce it to my own solar footprint or your own solar

solar footprint or your own solar

solar footprint or your own solar footprint and think about in terms of

footprint and think about in terms of

footprint and think about in terms of area you need to power a single-family

area you need to power a single-family

area you need to power a single-family home so for example if we take Phoenix

home so for example if we take Phoenix

home so for example if we take Phoenix Arizona this is about how much area so I

Arizona this is about how much area so I

Arizona this is about how much area so I should I should caution this graph the

should I should caution this graph the

should I should caution this graph the display here is about half the size of

display here is about half the size of

display here is about half the size of real life so if you take this and you

real life so if you take this and you

real life so if you take this and you double it this is about how much area of

double it this is about how much area of

double it this is about how much area of solar modules you would need to power

solar modules you would need to power

solar modules you would need to power single-family home in Arizona here in

single-family home in Arizona here in

single-family home in Arizona here in Jackson Mississippi and in Portland

Jackson Mississippi and in Portland

Jackson Mississippi and in Portland Maine so these are these are large

Maine so these are these are large

Maine so these are these are large amounts of area but at the same time you

amounts of area but at the same time you

amounts of area but at the same time you know these are accessible amounts of

know these are accessible amounts of

know these are accessible amounts of area right many of these roof systems

area right many of these roof systems

area right many of these roof systems would fit on us on the roof of a

would fit on us on the roof of a

would fit on us on the roof of a single-family home for those of you who

single-family home for those of you who

single-family home for those of you who live in an apartment like I do you can

live in an apartment like I do you can

live in an apartment like I do you can imagine finding a tract of land out in

imagine finding a tract of land out in

imagine finding a tract of land out in the country where you could install this

the country where you could install this

the country where you could install this much solar modules so it really makes it

much solar modules so it really makes it

much solar modules so it really makes it an accessible you know dimension so I

an accessible you know dimension so I

an accessible you know dimension so I like to think of this sort of in a

like to think of this sort of in a

like to think of this sort of in a slightly different way another way to

slightly different way another way to

slightly different way another way to consider this ideas you and I we can

consider this ideas you and I we can

consider this ideas you and I we can both own a solar rooftop like that one

both own a solar rooftop like that one

both own a solar rooftop like that one or we can own a solar farm out in the

or we can own a solar farm out in the

or we can own a solar farm out in the country but none of us will ever own a

country but none of us will ever own a

country but none of us will ever own a nuclear reactor I don’t think any of us

nuclear reactor I don’t think any of us

nuclear reactor I don’t think any of us would ever own an oil rig or a windmill

would ever own an oil rig or a windmill

would ever own an oil rig or a windmill or hydroelectric dam for that matter

or hydroelectric dam for that matter

or hydroelectric dam for that matter right and I think in that way Solar is

right and I think in that way Solar is

right and I think in that way Solar is incredibly democratizing because we all

incredibly democratizing because we all

incredibly democratizing because we all have access to sunlight

have access to sunlight

have access to sunlight most importantly many parts of the world

most importantly many parts of the world

most importantly many parts of the world most in need of democracy are the parts

most in need of democracy are the parts

most in need of democracy are the parts of the world to have the most access to

of the world to have the most access to

of the world to have the most access to sunlight

finally Solar has for a long time been

finally Solar has for a long time been liberating devices and people from the

liberating devices and people from the

liberating devices and people from the power outlet so solar was first

power outlet so solar was first

power outlet so solar was first implemented in satellites

implemented in satellites

implemented in satellites which power our communications and our

which power our communications and our

which power our communications and our GPS which give us freedom to travel

GPS which give us freedom to travel

GPS which give us freedom to travel solar powers the International Space

solar powers the International Space

solar powers the International Space Station all these things in outer space

Station all these things in outer space

Station all these things in outer space could not exist without solar cells and

could not exist without solar cells and

could not exist without solar cells and our transport and our communications

our transport and our communications

our transport and our communications could not exist without solar cells I

work for a company that we help to put

work for a company that we help to put cells on solar airplanes so that they

cells on solar airplanes so that they

cells on solar airplanes so that they can fly for up to three months at a time

can fly for up to three months at a time

can fly for up to three months at a time back down here on earth solar modules

back down here on earth solar modules

back down here on earth solar modules give us the option to live on or off the

give us the option to live on or off the

give us the option to live on or off the grid they give us the ability to

grid they give us the ability to

grid they give us the ability to contribute to the energy needs of our

contribute to the energy needs of our

contribute to the energy needs of our community if you drive an electric car

community if you drive an electric car

community if you drive an electric car they give you the choice to skip out on

they give you the choice to skip out on

they give you the choice to skip out on the gasoline line they give you the

the gasoline line they give you the

the gasoline line they give you the option the freedom from changes in the

option the freedom from changes in the

option the freedom from changes in the price of gasoline so my three

price of gasoline so my three

price of gasoline so my three characteristics I’ll summarize as

characteristics I’ll summarize as

characteristics I’ll summarize as resilience democracy and freedom now

resilience democracy and freedom now

resilience democracy and freedom now there’s a reason I started with a

there’s a reason I started with a

there’s a reason I started with a picture from Americus Georgia I think

picture from Americus Georgia I think

picture from Americus Georgia I think that these three characteristics are

that these three characteristics are

that these three characteristics are also three founding principles of the

also three founding principles of the

also three founding principles of the United States and I think it’s really

United States and I think it’s really

United States and I think it’s really fitting that this technology was

fitting that this technology was

fitting that this technology was invented and developed in the United

invented and developed in the United

invented and developed in the United States of America I think it really

States of America I think it really

States of America I think it really means a lot from a fundamental

means a lot from a fundamental

means a lot from a fundamental perspective and in a time when I think

perspective and in a time when I think

perspective and in a time when I think many of us are questioning what it means

many of us are questioning what it means

many of us are questioning what it means to be American and what it is that makes

to be American and what it is that makes

to be American and what it is that makes America great I’d like to make the

America great I’d like to make the

America great I’d like to make the argument that Solar is American and that

argument that Solar is American and that

argument that Solar is American and that Solar is American as apple pie so for

Solar is American as apple pie so for

Solar is American as apple pie so for those of you considering what to do with

those of you considering what to do with

those of you considering what to do with your careers you know come join us where

your careers you know come join us where

your careers you know come join us where our work has just begun we’re still

our work has just begun we’re still

our work has just begun we’re still looking for people to help us develop

looking for people to help us develop

looking for people to help us develop the technology the policy the social

the technology the policy the social

the technology the policy the social movement necessary to create a

movement necessary to create a

movement necessary to create a distributed renewable energy movement

distributed renewable energy movement

distributed renewable energy movement and for those of you considering what to

and for those of you considering what to

and for those of you considering what to do with your roof put solar cells on

do with your roof put solar cells on

do with your roof put solar cells on them it’s the patriotic thing to do

them it’s the patriotic thing to do

them it’s the patriotic thing to do thank you

thank you

thank you you