I recently discovered a post by Scott Walsh (a fellow blogger) that I found very interesting, but not very insightful in the fact that it doesn’t exactly point out the fatal flaw that resonates throughout the subject. In the post, Scott gave a summative review of a new solar tech that is emerging in the natural power industry. The organic photovoltaic arcs are a new alternative to the normal solar panel. They are thin, cloth-like, essentially malleable, and environmentally friendly new type of solar panel sounds like it can be a game changing new tech, but there are a few setbacks. The cost along with the production rate of the the panels are some of the big factors laying in the path of the new technology’s success in becoming a popular and widely used new alternative for alternative energy sourcing.
In theory, the idea could be great as an effort for combating different environmental disasters like climate change and chemical pollution of specific environments. However, with the way society and the capitalist societies the majority of the world has become subject to, it seems as though it will be nearly impossible to get this type of project off the ground.
Personally speaking, I love solutions that break the chain of cheap, easy, and harmful production. Using innovative clean solutions instead of just settling for some careless quick-made product that causes environmental damage can change the path that humans have created for ourselves over the years. If more companies and their associates were looking to take the route of preserving the Earth and minimizing their emissions where possible, this product might have a chance. Though that doesn’t seem to be the case in most situations which makes this idea more of a dream than a plausible reality.
The problem is not that the technology is flawed. The problem is definitely in the capitalist mindset of obtaining a higher yield of wealth in any way possible–even if it causes harm to others or the Earth in the process. This is unfortunately the limiting factor that stops large companies from using a code of ethics leaving them blind to the dark and grim possibilities that will come for the human race. If somehow this tendency could be broken, many projects of similar nature could easily help us humans as a collective have a better outlook for how long we are able to stick around this planet.
So yes, I agree that the OPV arcs are amazing and should be utilized a great amount more in the near future, but I don’t see it having a future unless there is a call to action strong enough to get lazy capitalists to make a change and begin helping in the efforts to aid in the fight against climate change and pollution. Without that push OPV arcs and other innovative, environmentally friendly technological advancements that are potentially a little more costly in the present (even when they have a better long term yield) will never be considered because of the capital greed that is embedded in the values of big tech companies worldwide.
William Martin. 