Arizona's Solar Energy Research Commission

Solar Energy Research Institute

In 1973 it became painfully obvious that our nation was in an energy crisis. This possibility had been forecast by farsighted experts for a long time, and some efforts had been made to offset its effects. But with alarming suddenness we joined long lines of vehicles waiting for gasoline that too often was gone almost immediately. Many people had to bundle up against the cold as heating oil, natural gas, and other fuels were also severely curtailed. With the crisis in transportation, heating and power production, came shortages of plastic products, fertilizers, and other necessary items of our modern society. Fortunately we have been given a breather since those trying times, but the harsh truth is that our country and the world has seen the last of the era of cheap fuels when natural gas, oil and coal were abundant and economical. We currently are spending over $60 million a day for imported petroleum, and the world supply is definitely a limited resource destined to become more precious. Congress was at last convinced that it was imperative to develop other methods of meeting our ever-growing energy needs. The trend I helped establish with the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 was followed with other geothermal, solar, and non-nuclear energy legislation in 1974. A key piece of legislation for solar is the Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act. It was notable not only for a bold approach to the energy problem but also for the overwhelmingly favorable reception it received on the floors of both houses. It passed with scarcely a dissenting vote and was quickly signed into law by President Ford. Here is the intent of that legislation: (1) To pursue a vigorous and viable program of research and resource assessment of solar energy as a major source for our national needs; and (2) to provide for the development and demonstration of practicable means to employ solar energy on a commercial basis.

All of our fossil fuels were formed ages ago by the sun. Coal, oil, and natural gas were slowly created from plant and animal life which had stored up energy during their lifetimes. We can't wait more millions of years for this provident cycle to repeat itself. Happily, the sun showers us with the equivalent of all our fossil fuels in just three days. Reaping this bounty and providing our society with solar energy will not be easy. But neither has it been easy to develop nuclear energy, or even our conventional fossil-fueled powerplants.

The Solar Energy Act was drafted to meet a vital national need. It can be compared to earlier programs that came into being to meet other national problems: the Manhattan Project development of nuclear energy, for example, and also the challenging Apollo Project that put Americans on the moon in less than ten years. Both projects succeeded, largely because it was recognized that they would require bold new approaches to be successful. The development of solar energy and its application to our many needs is also a crucially needed project. Harnessing the sun offers an alternative energy source that can provide significant amounts of energy for heating and cooling our homes, as well as energy for industrial processes. Someday the sun may provide appreciable amounts of electric power as well.

In another bold move toward making our nation energy self-sufficient, Congress passed legislation creating the Energy Research and Development Administration, an agency charged with managing all of our energy programs. One major move was the termination of the Atomic Energy Commission, transferring many of its functions to the Administrator of ERDA, as the new agency is commonly known. Dr. Robert Seamans, administrator of the agency, and his assistant administrators manage energy programs including nuclear projects, fossil fuels, energy conservation, and alternative energy sources including geothermal energy, wind power, water power, and solar energy.

We must continue to make use of oil and natural gas and greatly expand the utilization of coal. We must also continue to use nuclear power and to develop more and better such powerplants, always insisting on the ultimate in safety and reliability in plant operation and the handling of radioactive fuels necessary for the production of electric power. But we must supplement these conventional sources with alternative sources. Except for geothermal energy, which arises from the inner heat of the earth, this means solar energy, either in indirect forms, as in wind and water energy, or used directly. It is a tribute to the imagination and perseverance of pioneers in many countries that solar energy is ready to supplement our traditional energy sources.

Key to the National Solar Energy Program is the national Solar Energy Research Institute chartered in the Solar Energy Act: "Sec. 10. (a) There is established a Solar Energy Research Institute, which shall perform such research, development, and related functions as the [ERDA Administrator] may deem to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the Project's activities under this act or to be otherwise in furtherance of the purpose and objectives of this Act.

"(b) The Institute may be located (as designated by the [ERDA Administrator] at any new or existing laboratory (including a non-Federal laboratory performing functions under a contract entered into with the Project or with any of the agencies represented in the Project as well as a laboratory whose personnel are Federal employees)."

From the rather broad general guidelines given in the law, the Institute may take many forms. In fact, a National Academy of Sciences panel currently is studying concepts for the Institute. Based upon the national needs as I see them, it is interesting to speculate on the form the Institute might take.

The first task falling to the Institute will be the determination and assessment of all solar energy resources regionally and nationally. Included would be data on insolation, wind, sea thermal gradients, and photosynthetic conversion potentials.

Although a wealth of solar energy data is available, much more work must be done to develop better methods of measurement and prediction of its availability. To conventional methods of data-gathering must be added innovative and sophisticated techniques in meteorology, oceanography, high-altitude physics, remote sensing, and other areas.

It is logical that the Solar Energy Information Data Bank mandated by the Solar Energy Act to maintain and disseminate information on a national and global basis would be located at the Institute. A large computer facility tie-in is mandatory.

Also desirable would be supportive industrial facilities within reasonable distance for fabrication of necessary hardware. Since it is essential that industry participate in solar technology, there must be communication and coordination between the Institute and involved industries. Exchange of personnel would be desirable. The law also requires the support of educational programs to provide trained personnel to carry out the research, development, and demonstration responsibilities of the Act. Ties are thus needed between the Institute and educational institutions to coordinate such programs. Among the personnel at the Institute might be undergraduates completing their degrees working on actual projects with professionals. Furthering the exchange and interchange of ideas, Institute people could act as visiting professors both in the United States and abroad. There could be personnel from these institutions participating in the interchange. Institute personnel might also perform research analysis and technology assessment in the various areas of solar energy research and development.

The Institute should carry out research and development in these eight specific technologies listed by the Law:

The Institute, charged with research and development in all these areas, should also be involved in their demonstration. Institute personnel thus would work on projects from ideas to construction and testing of prototype, and perhaps production devices as well.

The Make-Up of the Institute

The Solar Energy Research Institute, then, could be a sizable assembly of professionals with appropriate supportive personnel. Some scientists should be involved in basic research into solar sources, chemistry, materials, and biology. Others should do systems studies and technology assessment. Some should be involved in developmental work including heating and cooling, process heat, thermal conversion, organic conversion, photovoltaics, and energy storage. Supporting both basic and applied research at the central Institute would be branch laboratories doing wind energy research and development, sea thermal gradient work and perhaps ocean bioconversion studies.

While solar research might conceivably be done in many places, it will be done better and faster in an area of high insolation and clear air. Geography is a consideration too, since development and demonstration projects may require sizable land areas. The ideal site will offer a broad spectrum of climatic conditions to facilitate testing. Freedom from strong winds, dust storms, hail, and seismic hazards are also desirable features of the Institute site.

There are other reasons for siting the Institute in an area of abundant sunshine than merely to hasten testing periods. People involved in solar science will do it better in an atmosphere of abundant sunshine it takes great faith to work on solar energy in an area of only intermittent sun. The psychological factor is also involved in the cultural surroundings of the Institute. Cultural amenities are potent factors in attracting and keeping professional and other people at a facility such as the Institute. Thus the location chosen should be one in proximity to a large population center, with good living conditions, transportation, schools, and cultural opportunities.

The Need for a New Facility

According to the Law, the Solar Energy Research Institute may be located at either a new or existing Federal laboratory. Since there are no existing Federal laboratories of such nature as to provide an ideal environment for carrying out the Institute charter, it is important that the Institute be sited in a new laboratory.

Given its responsibility for the advancement of solar energy, it seems proper that the Institute be designed and constructed from the ground up to make use of solar energy for hot water, heating, and cooling, as well as electricity produced by solar cells or other solar powerplants. While a "no new bricks and mortar" approach to the Solar Energy Research Institute might save some money in the short term, this would hardly be a wise approach to the task of carrying out a national solar energy program.

It is my firm belief that Arizona is uniquely qualified in all relevant areas to be the site for this perhaps most important in an impressive line of national laboratories.

As Arizona's farmers and ranchers and tourists from all over the world have known for decades, Arizona is blessed with more and brighter sunshine than any other state in our nation. Solar radiation is at its brightest in our state, and we have upwards of 4,000 hours of sunshine a year on a statistical average.

Ample land is available for siting the Institute, as well as demonstrations, pilot plants, and even huge "solar farms" that may one day provide electricity for the nation. Our land is relatively free of earthquake hazards, and not plagued with strong and potentially damaging winds that could play havoc with solar power installations.

Arizona scientists have been pioneers in solar energy research, and it is indicative of this capability that the Association for Applied Solar Energy was established in Arizona in 1955 by these scientists in company with industry and civic leaders. The Association has become the prestigious Inter national Solar Energy Society, whose World Congress this year will host members from around the world.

Our three universities are deeply involved in solar research and development, and engineers and scientists travel frequently to Arizona for seminars and other gatherings. Arizona industry too is tuned to solar energy and offers an excellent base for the development of solar heating and cooling hardware.

Coupled with all its capabilities and assets, Arizona has the further blessing of sizable population centers and excellent cultural amenities. Both are important in attracting solar scientists and technicians - and their families to the Solar Energy Research Institute. ☐ ☐ ☐