ADVANTAGE COUNTERPLANS Biofeuls Adv CP

Biofuel-Comparative Solvency---2NC

Solar is orders of magnitude more efficient than biofuels – solves energy and warming

Solar energy massively more efficient than biofuels – scientific conversion maximums

Tan 12 (Daniel, Senior Lecturer in Agriculture at University of Sydney, “For efficient energy, do you want solar panels or biofuels?”, The Conversation, 9/20/12, http://theconversation.com/for-efficient-energy-do-you-want-solar-panels-or-biofuels-9160)

About 80% of the world’s total energy consumption is derived from fossil fuels, with only 12.5% from renewable resources. Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources derived from sunlight - such as photovoltaic solar panels, wind or biomass - is very challenging because these energy sources have a lower energy density and are generally more expensive. So if you want to maximise the efficiency of converting solar energy to renewable energy, what should you choose: solar panels or biofuels? Energy conversion efficiency of solar panels The total power from sunlight reaching the earth’s surface is about 101,000 terawatts (~2,500,000 EJ). However, solar energy is geographically diffuse - some places are sunnier than others. This makes it important to efficiently convert sunlight, capturing its energy in useful forms. The maximum conversion efficiency theoretically possible for sunlight is 93% - of all the power generated by sunlight, only 93% can be turned into electricity. Photovoltaic cells in solar panels have efficiencies of around 15–20% for converting sunlight into electricity, but won’t ever reach that theoretical 93%. They are limited to a maximum conversion efficiency of ~30%, largely because we only have technology to convert some parts of the spectrum to electricity. This limit is described by the Shockley-Queisser limit. Recent discoveries may expand this limit somewhat. Energy conversion efficiency of photosynthesis Photosynthesis is the source of the world’s food, animal feed, fibre and timber. It is also the source of biomass-based biofuels that can be a source of renewable energy. Microalgae being converted to energy in a photobioreactor. Susan Pond Starch and sucrose are the main products of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis occurs in cyanobacteria, algae, phytoplankton and plants and is summarised by the equation: CO₂+ H₂O + light energy = [CH₂O] + O₂ The maximum efficiency of converting solar energy to biomass energy is estimated at about: 4.5% for algae 4.3% for C3 land plants (including woody, round-leafed plants; 95% of all plants) 6% for C4 land plants (such as sugarcane, switchgrass,Miscanthus and sweet sorghum). Minimum energy sources associated with biomass production. Zhu et al 2010This analysis indicates that a theoretical maximal photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency is 4.6% for C3 and 6% for C4 plants. Plants are limited by their dependence on photons that fall in the approximate waveband 400-700 nm, and by inherent inefficiencies of enzymes and biochemical processes and light saturation under bright conditions. Their respiration consumes 30-60% of the energy they make from photosynthesis, and of course they spend half of each day in the dark and need to use previous carbohydrate stores to keep them growing. Actual conversion efficiency is generally lower than the calculated potential efficiency. It’s around 3.2% for algae, and 2.4% and 3.7% for the most productive C3 and C4 crops across a full growing season. Efficiency reductions are due to insufficient capacity to use all the radiation that falls on a leaf. Plants' photoprotective mechanisms, evolved to stop leaves oxidising, also reduce efficiency. Of course, plants are self-regenerating whereas photovoltaic cells are not. Solar radiation may be the ultimate source of renewable energy, and biofuels will continue to be a major avenue for its use. Solar-energy conversion efficiency by even the most productive plant communities is less than 5%, while photovoltaic cells in solar panels may approach 20%. Photosynthesis is now used extensively in agriculture to produce food, feed, fibre, and biofuels. But the current biofuels (bioethanol and biodiesel), mainly produced from first generation feedstocks (such as sucrose from sugarcane, carbohydrates from maize seeds, and lipids from rapeseed seeds) constitute only a small fraction (1%) of present transportation energy.

Energy Dependence Solvency---2NC

Solves energy independence – investment is key

Woody 12 (Todd, “Solar: Life, Liberty And The Pursuit of Energy Independence”, Forbes, 7/4/12, http://www.forbes.com/sites/toddwoody/2012/07/04/solar-life-liberty-and-the-pursuit-of-energy-independence/)

No energy source is more American than solar. Technologies to convert sunshine to electricity were pioneered in the U.S. half a century ago at Bell Labs, and quickly became a source of inspiration and imagination. In the last several years, solar energy has awoken from yesterday’s dream to today’s reality. Last year, the U.S. solar energy market more than doubled in size, creating jobs in every state. You can harness solar energy in every city and county in the country, and even in every Congressional district – although you wouldn’t know that given the way candidates in this year’s elections have misconstrued and abused the facts about solar. Let’s set the record straight: solar isn’t an issue of the right or the left, conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat. In fact, solar isn’t an issue at all – it’s a set of smart technologies that today power hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across this nation. Solar is a domestic, reliable, renewable, abundant solution that helps ensure our nation’s energy independence and security. Solar is American. Politicians on both sides of the aisle should open their eyes to the fastest growing energy source in America, surging ahead against hard economic times. They should understand that solar affords Americans – at homes, workplaces and businesses – the ability to generate heat and power cleanly, safely and affordably. As they ready for debates and town hall meetings, they surely should know that solar now employs 100,000 Americans at more than 5,600 companies – the vast majority of them small businesses – across all 50 states. One of the largest users of solar in the world is our own military. Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy all rely on strong, reliable solar power. The industry is proud to provide the solar equipment our armed forces need to power bases, run overseas operations, and defend our nation. Meanwhile, solar companies are actively recruiting servicemen and servicewomen returning from overseas, while still other veterans establish and grow solar companies in their own hometowns. Yet, we are in danger of losing our lead in our own homegrown solar technologies. After being recognized for decades as the worldwide leader in solar, America has fallen behind Germany, Italy and China. While we dawdle in misinformed mudslinging as some politicians sow lies and mistrust over solar, other nations embrace the sun to power their economies. Global competition exists across all sectors of the economy and the solar industry is no different. Only the strongest companies will survive. We recently witnessed similar competition, including spectacular failures, as the mobile phone and Internet industries grew. As an industry matures, consolidation occurs. The solar industry is maturing – and there is no doubt that it will continue to thrive. The question is: Will the solar industry still boom in America, or will it move overseas? If our politicians have their way, kicking solar like a political football, we may not like the answer. As other nations profit from our innovation, we may look back and regret that we were so shortsighted. Elected officials need to stop viewing solar through a political prism and recognize solar’s strengths: an American-born engine of tremendous growth that’s creating jobs, empowering small businesses, and helping drive our economy. On this Independence Day, consider this: enough solar energy hits the U.S. each hour to power our nation for a year. It doesn’t have to be imported, or defended in faraway wars. You can use solar power if you’re a general at Fort Bliss, Texas or a small business in Billings, Mont. Solar is not the only energy resource America has been blessed with, nor the only one we should use. America is a land of plentiful opportunity whose economic growth will soon return, requiring all of our energy sources. To falsely disparage an industry merely for gain at the polls is un-American: it puts politics over people, and pushes our country backwards for political gain. Instead, recognizing solar energy for what it truly is – an energy source to power our lives – and putting it to good use across our nation is patriotic.

Solves oil dependence – investment key

E&T No Date (Engineer and Technician, “Ending Our Dependence On Foreign Oil With Solar Power”, http://www.engineer-and-technician.com/ending-our-dependence-on-foreign-oil-with-solar-power/)

It seems that high prices for gasoline and heating oil used in homes are here to stay. Sure, they go up and down, but overall they still remain pretty high and consume more of our pocketbooks than they ever have in the past. We are constantly struggling with the Middle East, at least in part to protect our interest in their oil. And as other nations, including China and India, increase their demand for fossil fuels, it seems that conflicts regarding energy are looming large on the horizon. In the meantime, power plants that burn fossil fuels, as well as all of our vehicles everywhere, continue to pour millions of tons of pollutants into the atmosphere annually, threatening our health and well-being. There are a number of well-meaning scientists, engineers and politicians who have presented various methods that could slightly reduce our use of fossil fuel. However, these steps are not enough. The US needs a plan to work itself away from our dependence on fossil fuels. It appears that only answer is a transition to solar power. The potential of solar energy is overwhelming. For example, the energy in the sunlight striking the earth for only 40 minutes is equivalent to our human global energy consumption for one year. The U.S. is lucky in the sense that we have at least 250,000 mi. of land in the Southwest alone that is suitable for building solar power plants. That land receives more than 4500 quadrillion British thermal units (BTUs) of solar radiation every year. If we were to convert only 2.5% of that radiation into electricity, we would match the nation’s total energy consumption of 2006. However, to convert this solar power, large tracts of land would have to be covered with photovoltaic cells and perhaps solar heating troughs. The good news is that the technology is nearly ready. Let’s look at photovoltaic farms. In the last few years, the cost to produce photovoltaic cells and modules have really dropped pretty radically, opening the way for large-scale implementation. A number of cell types exist, but the best modules today are made of very thin films of cadmium telluride. To work up the numbers, if we were to provide electricity at $.06 per kilowatt-hour by the year 2020, cadmium telluride modules must be able to convert electricity with at least 14% efficiency and complete systems would have to be installed at about a $1.20 per watt capacity. Current modules have only 10% efficiency and an installed system costs about $4 per watt. We are making progress, and the technology is advancing rapidly; commercial efficiencies have risen to upwards of 10% in the last year. As these commercial efficiencies rise, rooftop photovoltaic for the home will become even more cost competitive, further reducing daytime electricity demand on the utilities. In one scenario, by 2050, photovoltaic technology could provide almost 3000 GW, or billions of Watts, of power. 30,000 square miles of photovoltaic arrays would need to be constructed. This may seem like a huge number, but current installations already in place show that the land required for each gigawatt hour of solar energy produced in the Southwest is less than the actual amount needed for a power plant when the area used for coal mining is taken into consideration. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado shows that more than enough land in the Southwest is available without disturbing any environmentally sensitive areas, cities or towns. In Arizona, the Department of Water Conservation has stated that more than 80% of the state’s land is not privately owned and that Arizona is very interested in developing its solar potential. Because of the nature of photovoltaic plants, and the lack of water required to operate these plants, the environmental impact should be minimal.

Warming Solvency---2NC

Solar solves emissions cuts and warming – used for any energy source

ANL 07 (Argonne National Laboratory, “Solar Energy Conversion Offers A Solution To Help Mitigate Global Warming”, Science Daily, 3/12/07, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070307075611.htm)

Solar energy has the power to reduce greenhouse gases and provide increased energy efficiency, says a scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, in a report published in the March issue of Physics Today. Currently, between 80 percent and 85 percent of our energy comes from fossil fuels. However, fossil fuel resources are of finite extent and are distributed unevenly beneath Earth's surface. When fossil fuel is turned into useful energy through combustion, it often produces environmental pollutants that are harmful to human health and greenhouse gases that threaten the global climate. In contrast, solar resources are widely available and have a benign effect on the environment and climate, making it an appealing alternative energy source. “Sunlight is not only the most plentiful energy resource on earth, it is also one of the most versatile, converting readily to electricity, fuel and heat,” said Crabtree. “The challenge is to raise its conversion efficiency by factors of five or ten. That requires understanding the fundamental conversion phenomena at the nanoscale. We are just scratching the surface of this rich research field.” Argonne carries out forefront basic research on all three solar conversion routes. The laboratory is creating next-generation nanostructured solar cells using sophisticated atomic layer deposition techniques that replace expensive silicon with inexpensive titanium dioxide and chemical dyes. Its artificial photosynthesis program imitates nature using simple chemical components to convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide directly into fuels like hydrogen, methane and ethanol. Its program on thermoelectric materials takes heat from the sun and converts it directly to electricity. The Physics Today article is based on the conclusions contained in the report of the Basic Energy Sciences Workshop on Solar Energy Utilization sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Crabtree and Lewis served as co-chairs of the workshop and principal editors of the report. The key conclusions of the report identified opportunities for higher solar energy efficiencies in the areas of: Electricity – important research developments lie in the development of new, less expensive materials for solar cells, including organics, thin films, dyes and shuttle ions, and in understanding the dynamics of charge transfer across nanostructured interfaces. Fuel – solar photons can be converted into chemical fuel more resourcefully by breeding or genetically engineering designer plants, connecting natural photosynthetic pathways in novel configurations and using artificial bio-inspired nanoscale systems. Heat – controlling the size, density and distribution of nanodot inclusions during bulk synthesis could enhance thermoelectric performance and achieve more reliable and inexpensive electricity production from the sun's heat.

Viability---2NC

Solar is economically viable – can replace fossil fuels

Krugman 11 (Paul, “Here Comes the Sun”, New York Times, 11/6/11, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/opinion/krugman-here-comes-solar-energy.html)

Our mastery of the material world, on the other hand, has advanced much more slowly. The sources of energy, the way we move stuff around, are much the same as they were a generation ago. But that may be about to change. We are, or at least we should be, on the cusp of an energy transformation, driven by the rapidly falling cost of solar power. That's right, solar power. If that surprises you, if you still think of solar power as some kind of hippie fantasy, blame our fossilized political system, in which fossil-fuel producers have both powerful political allies and a powerful propaganda machine that denigrates alternatives. Speaking of propaganda: Before I get to solar, let's talk briefly about hydraulic fracturing, aka fracking. Fracking — injecting high-pressure fluid into rocks deep underground, inducing the release of fossil fuels — is an impressive technology. But it's also a technology that imposes large costs on the public. We know that it produces toxic (and radioactive) wastewater that contaminates drinking water; there is reason to suspect, despite industry denials, that it also contaminates groundwater; and the heavy trucking required for fracking inflicts major damage on roads. Economics 101 tells us that an industry imposing large costs on third parties should be required to "internalize" those costs — that is, to pay for the damage it inflicts, treating that damage as a cost of production. Fracking might still be worth doing given those costs. But no industry should be held harmless from its impacts on the environment and the nation's infrastructure. Yet what the industry and its defenders demand is, of course, precisely that it be let off the hook for the damage it causes. Why? Because we need that energy! For example, the industry-backed organizationenergyfromshale.org declares that "there are only two sides in the debate: those who want our oil and natural resources developed in a safe and responsible way; and those who don't want our oil and natural gas resources developed at all." So it's worth pointing out that special treatment for fracking makes a mockery of free-market principles. Pro-fracking politicians claim to be against subsidies, yet letting an industry impose costs without paying compensation is in effect a huge subsidy. They say they oppose having the government "pick winners," yet they demand special treatment for this industry precisely because they claim it will be a winner. And now for something completely different: The success story you haven't heard about. These days, mention solar power and you'll probably hear cries of "Solyndra!" Republicans have tried to make the failed solar-panel company both a symbol of government waste — although claims of a major scandal are nonsense — and a stick with which to beat renewable energy. But Solyndra's failure was actually caused by technological success: The price of solar panels is dropping fast, and Solyndra couldn't keep up with the competition. In fact, progress in solar panels has been so dramatic and sustained that, as a blog post at Scientific American put it, "there's now frequent talk of a 'Moore's law' in solar energy," with prices adjusted for inflation falling around 7 percent a year. This has already led to rapid growth in solar installations, but even more change may be just around the corner. If the downward trend continues — and if anything it seems to be accelerating — we're just a few years from the point at which electricity from solar panels becomes cheaper than electricity generated by burning coal. And if we priced coal-fired power right, taking into account the huge health and other costs it imposes, it's likely that we would already have passed that tipping point.

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