Environmental Issues

Africa has been struggling to develop itself. Part of the development is the supply for consistent energy source that should power homes and business establishments and render useful some of the machines and other equipment that Africa can use to improve its own state of living. Africa has an electric system. Unfortunately, not everyone gets to enjoy it. Because of that, African and non African groups and organizations pushed for the use of solar energy. This was warmly accepted and is now a dominant characteristic in Africa when it comes to alternative energy that is cheap but clean, not to mention sustainable since it is dependent from the power emitted by the sun. Solar energy has been an important source of energy in many parts of the world. As it made its landfall in Africa, communities and individuals immediately felt the positive impact of such technology put into practical use. The focus of the discussion on this paper is the important science and technology background, detail and characteristics of the solar energy in Africa and how this particular development in science and technology applied in Africa is affecting Africa, its people, its communities and its institutions. It will also discuss an overview and some key points regarding the landscape of solar energy dependent communities in Africa and how this scientific endeavor has been helping answer problems that science and technology also identified, in particular global warming and climate change.

II. Discussion
Understanding the science and technology aspect of the solar energy use in Africa requires the discussion of many different important aspects and concepts which helps explain solar energy. The characteristics of Africa makes it scientifically and technologically ideal for solar energy and the real condition of solar energy use in Africa and its current applications inside the continent and in many different countries inside it.

A. Solar energy and Africa
The move towards the use of solar energy is hinged on the results of many scientific studies that reflect many environmental problems. One of which is global warming and climate change as it was addressed by the African leaders recently, the related use of fossil fuels and electricity and the need for alternative and sustainable energy programs, like the reliance to solar power.

More than that, it is also a response geared at addressing the problem of electricity and energy in Africa. It proves how it is low-maintenance, cheaper and can be easily created compared to other energy sources. In analysis, Africa is not actually lacking in energy sources. Officials have constantly pointed out that it has hydro power sources. It also has reserves for gas as well as oil and coal, but there is a more important reason and that is environmental consideration. If there is a better option, it is worth pursuing, especially if it is renewable and clean - and that is solar power.

How solar energy availability in Africa is believed to be the answer to many of the problems in Africa simply illustrates the central and significant role of energy. Using solar energy in Africa will reduce most of the problems the continent is facing today. Solar energy is an approach towards alternative energy sources which is considered stand alone or an energy option with a stand alone source. The sun is the main source to which the energy and technology depends solely, similar to the position of wind energy and hydro energy, inside a continent wherein the houses and homes are not very easily connected to the national power grid. The houses are separated from one another at considerable distance that makes the installation of support structure costly and impractical at the moment.

i. Solar energy overview of how it works - As the name suggests, solar energy works in a simple process that involves (1) the creation and building of the infrastructure supporting solar energy, (2) the absorption or harvesting of the solar energy through the sun light, (3) the conversion of this to usable energy, and (4) the actual use of the energy in equipment and gadget which is purely electrical in the past but is now also capable of taking power from solar energy sources and reservoir. Solar energy is an old alternative energy means and has been used by many countries for years now. In a country where sunlight is abundant, it is just logical that solar energy is being explored, implemented and even developed.

With the advent of solar energy in Africa, leaders who are concerned with the impact to the environment of other forms of energy sources are realizing that it is now important to propagate and distribute the capacity for solar power and solar energy dependence to minimize the dominant practice on energy source reliance to wood burning as well as biomass (crop waste). It negatively impacts the environment in many ways which include pollution, contribution to climate change, and the cutting of trees (Madamombe, 2006).

ii. Solar energy requirements - Scientifically, the main requirements for solar energy is (1) the presence and accessibility to sunlight, and (2) the technological support for this particular endeavor. This pertains to the gadgets and equipment that should be available for solar energy to be harvested and utilized. In the past years, solar energy has been strongly explored by scientists. This level of dedicated work allowed professionals to harness and develop not just solar energy but also the technology behind it. Because it is already prevalent in the west, solar technology and the technology for this particular energy source is something that countries like US and European countries are not keeping from Africa since it is not top secret anymore.

Assistance programs have featured specialists bringing to Africa the know-how and even the equipment and gadget to be used for solar energy. With the sun constantly shining over Africa and the machines and equipment and gadget already in place to harvest, transform and use solar energy, the last important requirement was for Africans to have citizens who are educated to this technology. They can manage on their own even without the assistance of the west. Photovoltaics, or simply known by the initials PV is a common type used to collect solar energy. However, that is not the only means. There is also the concentrating solar power or otherwise known as CSP, although CSP is not as popular and as widespread in Africa compared to PVs.

iii. Africas potential and capability to sustain solar energy - If there is anything that Africa can consider as a blessing, its the year round presence of sunlight in the continent. This is something that not every other country is fortunate to have, which is key to acquisition of an energy that is not only safe but is also free and clean. Studies of scientists and specialists in this field have revealed that Africa can make use of solar energy because of its natural characteristics, particularly its climate. South Africa is climatically well suited to the utilization of solar energy.

The spread of the solar energy and use of solar power in Africa and in countries like Zimbabwe Zambia and Botswana, as well as Swaziland and Namibia is an undertaking supported by government, non government and international organizations that sponsor, fund and support the spread of solar energy in the continent. This includes groups such as UNDP, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the NESCO, to name a few.

B. Installations

i. What solar energy installations are found in Africa - There are many ways on how to harvest energy from the sun. Finding the suitable one among the many different technological approaches are all dependent on the characteristics (i.e. geographical, etc) of the place that is considering solar energy. For Africa, leaders have already acknowledged that Africa can benefit strongly from the use of an off-grid solar option. Off grid solar designs has not only been found in Africa but is also reaping positive set of feedback. Homes considered as off-grid is often powered by what is called a photovoltaic array.

For example, the one installed in a place in Ethiopia named Remu, which was created in cooperation with the Solar Energy Foundation of Sweden is believed to have been capable of supplying energy to a community numbering to about 10,000 individuals. This means that the cost of electricity for them is pegged at about two dollars per individual. The installation of solar energy equipment is not cheap at all. Many households are trying and are successful in finding a way to finance and pay for the dependence on solar energy, considering how the impact of the presence of such energy can bring about creature comforts. There is a unit called a home system that allows a house to be capable of harvesting solar energy and in turn use this energy for the needed power for lighting as well as for simple home appliances like the television.

ii. Solar panels and the African landscape - In the past, the idea of Africa is about a dry country in urban areas and dense forests in its rural areas. Today, the once-all natural detail of the African landscape is altered by the presence of solar energy. Today, houses and establishments are equipped with a new gadget, seemingly out of place since it represents technology in a place that hardly has experienced such phenomenon for long stretches of years. Solar power and solar technology is commonly detected through the presence of photovoltaic panels, large square or rectangular shaped receptors that absorb solar energy, atop roofs of houses or found laid out in an empty, open space, usually near the house so that the transfer of energy is faster and more accessible.

These PVs vary in size. This depends on the expected output or depending from the manufacturer or source that installed the PVs in the location. Unlike in more financially stable countries like Germany and Spain where there are aesthetically designed solar panels integrated in the roofing design so that it does not stand out, Africas solar energy dependence is still characterized by PVs that are easily detectable by the unaided eye. This is because of the (1) inferior housing design of the houses in the Africa due to financial restrictions, and (2) because of the design and characteristics of the PVs itself.

The aesthetics is hardly a cause of concern for many Africans who are now enjoying power and energy in homes and clinics. For them, they are simply thankful that something like this has come along and changed their way of life for the better.

C. Applications of solar energy
Solar power has made a foothold in Africa during the last decade of the twentieth century. During the 1990s, Africa started the slow but sure steps towards having as many households benefit from what solar energy can give these people.  Those who havent been to Africa and are wondering about how the people in Africa are making the most of the solar energy available to them would be surprised at the things that are now being used. This is because of the availability of energy via solar energy absorption and harvesting which is in practice in Africa for several years now.

How is solar energy being used in Africa In general, the energy provided by the solar power is used to power the most basic equipment found inside African homes - stoves for cooking food, pumps used for water, fluorescent or incandescent bulbs to light the houses and other establishments. Most importantly, solar needed is used for the much needed electricity so that families can finally enjoy a simple black and white television set.  Indeed, there are many ways. Below are some of the ways solar energy is being utilized and being integrated with mechanicalelectric equipment.

i. Powering devices for heating water - The application of the solar energy and the use of solar energy in Africa resulted to the many different applications of this particular power to create new gadget and equipment geared at making life in Africa better. It impacts not just the socio-cultural aspect and development but also the economic aspect of the society. Many companies resort to the commercialization of the different gadget and equipment that are fully operational via its reliance from the very prevalent and popular solar energy in use in Africa. One of the examples of the equipment is the solar water heater.

As the name suggests, this is a type of water heater. Unlike the water heaters in other countries that are either powered with electricity or coal or burning wood, this heater heats the water through the energy from the sun. Companies like the Solar Power Africa have featured this product in the website to market and advertise such product to Africans who are willing to buy such equipment. This particular product features a triple coated glass vacuum tube, an apparatus used for collecting the energy coming from the sun and which is believed to be more efficient compared to other collecting tubes which is only single coated. From that glass vacuum, the energy proceeds to another tube-like part of the equipment known as the copper heat pipe.

This is the initial process of the solar energy-dependent water heating ability of the apparatus. It also contains a collector manifold inside which the copper heat pipe is found and placed. The manifold is where the water is found, while it is the responsibility of the copper heat pipe to make the water inside the manifold turn hot. During the heating process, the water will eventually reach a particular temperature which triggers the transfer of the water reaching the temperature limit to another part of the apparatus - the geyser. This particular process repeats in a cyclical motion. The process is repeated multiple times to allow the storage of a particular amount of heated water.

The design of the apparatus is quite simple. The two main parts and the two biggest components are the water tank wherein the hot water heated by solar energy will be placed, and the mechanism that collects solar energy. Tubes connect one with the other. A pump brings the cold water entering via the inlet towards the mechanism where the manifold and the copper heat pipe is found for the heating process, a tube acting as inlet allowing the water to return to the water tank.


ii. Good for business and society - Besides households and homes, another important aspect of the society that has been benefited by the entry of solar power in the area is business. Madamombe (2006) explained that one of the African people who are involved in the business of grinding maize or corn attests to the fact that because of solar energy, the business has been more productive and efficient. They are able to work longer hours and into the night and is now unencumbered by the limitations set by the energy-less past.

Solar energy and the dependence of Africa to solar power is a case of science and technology helping one another and making horizontal and lateral developments. Proof of this is the fact that the improvement of the state of energy capabilities of Africa results to improvement in health and social condition. It has allowed health clinics to be open and operate and help people in need. It has stabilized the community and gave people a new reason to think twice about migrating to another place, thus, increasing the productivity of the people and the society.

III. Conclusion
Africa is enjoying the benefits of solar energy. Much to thank for that is the development of such kind of energy source by the west, including Europe and the United States. More importantly, it is the initiative and willingness as well as cooperation of these countries to share this technology to a place that can really use what solar energy can give. Science and technology did not only develop solar energy. It has the extent of benefits that it is currently providing African homes. It also made the dependence on solar energy easier and cheaper that a poor country in Africa can still manage the financial implications of the use and maintenance of the equipment and gadget for this particular type of energy source.