Essay reflection - Solar energy

My essay for the sustainable environment project is about using solar panels to provide energy. In my essay, I tried to justify why solar energy is sustainable:

1. It provides a constant source of energy for Pulau Ubin. Astrophysicists have calculated that the energy from Sun will not run out in billion years, therefore it is certainly a renewable source. Although the sun does not provide energy at night, modern technology enabled us to store energy such as thermal mass systems or phase change materials.

2. It does not harm the environment, unlike fossil fuels powered energy plants because of greenhouse gas emission.

3. Location and cost of maintenance are not problems for solar panels. An average solar panel usually occupies 3-meter square, and can last up to 25 years.

In my essay, I tried to make use the system approach to make various comparisons with other forms of energy and the impact on different spheres (atmosphere, biosphere) of the earth to justify why solar energy is eco friendly and sustainable. The input, output, flow and storage were also mentioned.

Generally, I think I did okay for the essay. It was clear and logical, however Miss Kavi commented that my essay lacked specific examples, which is quite true because I did not do much research on it. More research should have been done to provide real-life examples for the project.

In conclusion, I think it is important to follow the rubrics closely to score well for any essay. Also, you should provide specific examples to illustrate your points.

Nguyen Anh Tuong (21).