Reader Response

According to Kok in the article ”Go-Ahead Singapore rolls out 6-month trial of public buses with solar panels” (2021), Go-ahead Singapore will be running ultra-thin solar panels on buses in a six-month trial. The 1.6mm-thick, flexible and shatterproof panels are placed on the roof of two Man A22 euro 6 diesel-powered buses. The use of panels is expected to save 1400 litres of fuel. This is equivalent to 3-4% of fuel, which translates to 3.7 tonnes of reduction in carbon emissions. These figures are based on data collected from a trial in Southampton. The trial will also assess the effectiveness of the panels. Kok mentions that due to Singapore’s tropical climate, the panels are expected to produce exceptional results. This will result in a greener and more efficient bus. Two buses have been qualified thus far and can be used on public road trials. The panels are also three times thinner than regular ones, making them ultra-lightweight. Kok concludes that Go-Ahead reckons to recover the cost in four years from the reduction in fuel consumption.

In Singapore today, the high usage of diesel and other fuels in vehicles has caused high levels of air pollution. The installation of solar panels on buses would make a beneficial impact on air quality by reducing society’s reliance on fossil fuels and providing renewable energy. This would reduce fuel consumption, enhancing the environment.

An important aspect of solar panels is fuel savings. FlixBus has also installed solar panels on their buses with similar capabilities. Sustainable Bus (2020) has stated that the use of solar panels has cut fuel consumption by 7 per cent. It also helps to keep the battery charged, minimising the need for the alternator to charge it using fuel, thus saving about 10 liters per day.

Another important aspect is renewable energy. As the name implies, renewable energy is derived from sources that are constantly replenished and does not emit greenhouse gases when generating energy, making them the cleanest, most viable option in preventing environmental degradation (Nunez, 2019). Solar energy in the U.S. accounted for over 2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2008 and rose to a whopping 93 billion kilowatt-hours a decade later (Desilver, 2020). Therefore, renewable energy has become a great alternative for fossil fuels.

Furthermore, the adoption of solar energy can reduce society’s reliance on fossil fuels. During the Industrial Revolution, the earth’s temperature skyrocketed at an alarming rate due to the burning of coal, resulting in air pollution (Kiger, 2021). As such, fossil fuels are recognized as being harmful to the environment. There is also a limit on the availability of fossil fuels. In a blogpost by Howarth, 2019, it is estimated that the current fuel reserves will be diminished by 2060. By contrast, solar energy is free and readily abundant due to the presence of sunlight (Perez, 2013). This means there will be a guaranteed supply of energy in the long run. Therefore, by investing in solar energy, the reliance on fossil fuels will be significantly reduced, enhancing the environment.

However, there are limitations on the use of solar energy. The effectiveness of solar panels will ultimately degrade over time. Cooper, 2020 has pointed out that they will lose anywhere from 0.5 to 0.8 percent of their capacity yearly. On top of that, temperature can also adversely affect the efficiency of solar panels. For instance, the extreme heat in Singapore can damage solar cells along with other module materials, reducing its operational lifespan (Howell, 2021). This shows that solar panels might not be sustainable when used for an extended period of time.

In conclusion, the main reason why solar panels would be practical for most buses is because of its benefits to the environment. Mankind is negatively impacting the Earth due to human activity. Therefore, everyone needs to play their part in saving the environment. Up till date, solar energy is that it is still considered as a starting point for the community and the way we harness that energy has certain drawbacks. Hence, solar energy would not be the most optimal solution as there are other suitable methods available.

References

Cooper, A. (2020). Do Solar Panels Lose Efficiency Over Time? Bell Solar and Electrical Systems.

https://bellelectricalsystems.com/do-solar-panels-lose-efficiency-over-time/#:~:text=The%20pace%20at%20which%20solar,their%20production%20capacity%20each%20year.

Desilver, D. (2020, January 15). Renewable Energy Is Growing Fast in the U.S., but Fossils Fuels Still Dominate. Pew Research Center.

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/01/15/renewable-energy-is-growing-fast-in-the-u-s-but-fossil-fuels-still-dominate/

Howarth, J (2019). When will fossil fuels run out? Octopus Energy.

https://octopus.energy/blog/when-will-fossil-fuels-run-out/

Howell, N. (2021). What Factors Determine Solar Panel Efficiency? Earth & Human.

https://earthandhuman.org/what-factors-determine-solar-panel-efficiency/

Kiger, P (2021). 7 Negative Effects of the Industrial Revolution. HISTORY.

https://www.history.com/news/industrial-revolution-negative-effects

Kok, Y (2021). Go-Ahead Singapore rolls out 6-month trial of public buses with solar panels. THE STRAITS TIMES.