There is a lot of misunderstanding concerning the issue of solar energy as an alternative to oil. A major reason for this confusion can be traced to the fact that many people have the mistaken belief that oil is used solely for fuel in internal combustion engines. Because of this, some individuals dismiss the idea that solar energy could actually be used as a replacement for oil. The image that pops into their minds is of some odd looking and impractical solar panel covered car that never makes it beyond the prototype stage.
Of course oil has many uses besides just being used as a fuel. Oil and coal are also our principal sources for creating electricity. Solar energy though allows for much greater flexibility in terms of its applications as an alternate energy source than most people comprehend.
The Disadvantages of Oil
One of the hot political debates today is the need to achieve freedom from our dependence on foreign oil. It is such a contentious issue that it crosses party lines and combines domestic policy with world wide geopolitical discussions. It is fairly obvious why this is: for decades there have been considerable tensions between the nations that produce the most oil and the countries that import and consume the most oil. There are also serious issues that come into play when trying to expand domestic oil production in those countries that are currently minor producers.
Drilling for oil is a highly speculative endeavor that requires huge amounts of capital to carry out. Offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico requires designing and building a drill that can bore seven miles beneath the ocean floor to reach the top of the oil reserves. In other words, the first seven miles of drilling are a just in the hope that oil will eventually be struck. Obviously, most investors would prefer to avoid this much speculation in their search for oil. A viable alternative to this speculation is to invest in the expanding solar energy as a clean and economical alternative to the use of oil.
Solar Energy as a Replacement for Oil
Utilizing solar energy as a replacement for oil is not a pipe dream, but it is also something that can't be achieved overnight. In reality, it could require several decades, and even that would call for the solar power industry to invest a lot of time and money into convincing the public of the benefits of solar energy. We can only hope that this is something the industry will enthusiastically pursue.
