G E O P O L I T I C A L A N D S E C U R I T Y R I S K S O F TA P I P I P E L I N E

Geopolitical and
budget1͘&ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ƚŚĞdW/ƉŝƉĞůŝŶĞĐŽƵůĚĐŽǀĞƌĨ-­‐ &Žƌ /ŶĚŝĂ ĂŶĚ WĂŬŝƐƚĂŶ ŝŶ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌ͕ ƚŚĞ dW/ ƉŝƉĞůŝŶĞ
ŐŚĂŶŝƐƚĂŶ͛ƐŐĂƐŶĞĞĚƐƚŚĂƚĂƌĞǀŝƚĂůĨŽƌŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞĂŶĚ would  enhance  and  diversify  their  vital  energy  supply  
ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͛Ɛ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĨƌĂƐƚƌƵĐ-­‐ ůŝŶĞƐĂŶĚŽƉĞŶƵƉĐŽŵƉĞƟƟŽŶŝŶƚŚĞĞŶƚƌĂůƐŝĂŶŐĂƐ
ƚƵƌĞ͘dŚĞƉŝƉĞůŝŶĞǁŽƵůĚĂůƐŽƌĞĚƵĐĞƚŚĞŝƌĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶĐĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ďĞŶĞĮĐŝĂů ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŵŝŶŐ

Security Risks of
ŽŶ/ƌĂŶ͖ŝŶĞĐĞŵďĞƌϮϬϭϬ͕/ƌĂŶŝŵƉŽƐĞĚĂĨƵĞůďůŽĐŬĂĚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĞƐ͘ WĞƌŝŽĚŝĐ ŇĂƌĞͲƵƉƐ ŽĨ ůŽŶŐͲƚĞƌŵ ƚĞŶƐŝŽŶƐ
ŽŶĨŐŚĂŶŝƐƚĂŶĂƌŐƵŝŶŐƚŚĂƚƚŚĞĨƵĞůǁĂƐĚĞƐƟŶĞĚĨŽƌh^ between  them  however  threaten  to  compromise  coop-­‐
ĂŶĚEdKĨŽƌĐĞƐ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ƚŚĞůŝŬĞůLJƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚĐŽƐƚƐƚŽ ĞƌĂƟŽŶŝŶƚŚĞĨƵƚƵƌĞ͘/ŶƚŚĞĐĂƐĞŽĨŚŝŶĂ͕ǁŚŝĐŚĐŽŶ-­‐
Afghanistan  in  securing  the  pipeline  have  not  been  taken   siders  the  Central  Asian  gas  as  one  of  the  main  sources  

TAPI Pipeline
ŝŶƚŽĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂƟŽŶĂŶĚƌĞŵĂŝŶĂƉŽƚĞŶƟĂůŝŵƉĂƐƐĞ;ƐĞĞ to  meet  its  increasing  energy  demand,  the  emergence  
ďĞůŽǁͿ͘ of  a  new  player  in  the  Central  
Asian   region   may   provoke  
Akhmed  Tillayev,  University  Technology  Petronas,  Malaysia &ƌŽŵĂƉŽůŝƟĐĂůƉŽŝŶƚŽĨ dŚĞĨŐŚĂŶĂŶĚWĂŬŝƐƚĂŶŝƉŽƌƟŽŶ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƐŝŶĞŝũŝŶŐ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕
ǀŝĞǁ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ ŽĨƚŚĞƌŽƵƚĞŝƐƉŽůŝƟĐĂůůLJƵŶƐƚĂďůĞ China   is   currently   encourag-­‐
of  the  TAPI  pipeline  will   ing  development  of  the  west-­‐
In   December   2010   Ashgabat,   the   capital   of   Turk-­‐ dŚĞ ĞƐƟŵĂƚĞĚ ĐŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉŝƉĞůŝŶĞ ŝƐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ Ψϰ ďŝůůŝŽŶ ůŝŬĞůLJĂīĞĐƚƚŚĞĚĞůŝĐĂƚĞ ĂŶĚƉĂƌƟĂůůLJƵŶĚĞƌdĂůŝďĂŶĐŽŶƚƌŽů ern   parts   of   the   country   in   an  
menistan,   welcomed   a   quadrilateral   summit   which   ƚŚĂƚŝƐĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚƚŽďĞůĂƌŐĞůLJĮŶĂŶĐĞĚďLJƚŚĞh^ͲďĂĐŬĞĚ equilibrium   between   ĞīŽƌƚƚŽŵĂƚĐŚƚŚĞĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ
brought   together   the   President   of   Turkmenistan   ƐŝĂŶĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚĂŶŬ͘ ƚŚĞŐĞŽƉŽůŝƟĐĂůĂŶĚĞŶĞƌŐLJŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚƐŽĨďŝŐƉůĂLJĞƌƐŝŶƚŚĞ growth  of  Chinese  eastern  provinces  and  has  expressed  
Ener gy & Envir onment

Kurbanguli   Berdimuhamedov,   Pakistani   President   ƌĞŐŝŽŶƐƵĐŚĂƐZƵƐƐŝĂ͕/ŶĚŝĂ͕ŚŝŶĂĂŶĚƚŚĞh^͘ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŶŐ ŝŶ ƉŝƉĞůŝŶĞ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ
Zardari,  Afghan  President  Hamid  Karzai,  and  the  Min-­‐ ŶĞƌŐLJс/ŶŇƵĞŶĐĞ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ͘
ister   of   Oil   and   Natural   Gas   of   India,   Murli   Deora.   dŚĞdW/ƉŝƉĞůŝŶĞƉƌŽũĞĐƚǁŝůůŚĂǀĞĂƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚŐĞŽƉŽ-­‐ Russia   considers   the   project   to   be   threat   to   its   domi-­‐
The  intergovernmental  agreement  signed  during  this   ůŝƟĐĂůŝŵƉĂĐƚŽŶƚŚĞďƌŽĂĚĞƌƐŝĂŶĐŽŶƟŶĞŶƚĞdžƚĞŶĚŝŶŐ nance   in   the   Central   Asian   energy   market   and   fears   it   ZĞƐŝƐƟŶŐ/ƌĂŶŝĂŶĂŶĚZƵƐƐŝĂŶŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞŝŶƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶ͕ƚŚĞ
ƐƵŵŵŝƚ ůĂŝĚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ as  far  north  as  Russian,  east  to  China  and  south  to  India   ǁŝůů ĂīĞĐƚ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ŐĂƐ ŐŝĂŶƚ 'ĂnjƉƌŽŵ͛Ɛ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞƐ͘ &Ƶƌ-­‐ h^ĂŶĚhƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƚŚĞdW/ƉƌŽũĞĐƚĂƐĂĐŽƵŶƚĞƌƉƌŽƉŽƐ-­‐
the   TAPI   (Turkmenistan-­‐Afghanistan-­‐Pakistan-­‐India)   ĂŶĚWĂŬŝƐƚĂŶ͘ thermore,  for  Russia,  which  is  one  of  the  main  importers   ĂůƚŽĂŶĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞ/ƌĂŶŝĂŶͲWĂŬŝƐƚĂŶƉŝƉĞůŝŶĞ͘dW/ǁŽƵůĚ
pipeline. ŽĨdƵƌŬŵĞŶŐĂƐ͕ƚŚĞŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞdW/ƉŝƉĞůŝŶĞ bypass  Russia,  and  link  to  the  planned  Nabucco  pipeline  
Turkmenistan’s  dependence  on   Land-­‐locked   Turkmenistan   ĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶŶĞƚǁŽƌŬŝƐůŝŬĞůLJƚŽĚĞĐƌĞĂƐĞDŽƐĐŽǁ͛ƐƐƚĂ-­‐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚdƵƌŬĞLJƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐĂƐĞĐƵƌĞŐĂƐƐƵƉƉůLJĨŽƌƵƌŽ-­‐
The  proposed  TAPI   ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ĮǀĞ ĞŶƚƌĂů ƐŝĂŶ ƚƵƐĂŶĚŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞŝŶƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶ͘ ƉĞĂŶŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ͘
pipeline   project   Russian  imports,  however,  has  meant   states  that  became  independ-­‐
has   major   geopo-­‐ ƚŚĂƚDŽƐĐŽǁŝƐŝŶĂƵŶŝƋƵĞƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ent   in   1991   when   the   Soviet   WŽǁĞƌůŝŶĞƐŝŵƉŽƌƚĞůĞĐƚƌŝĐŝƚLJĨƌŽŵŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌŝŶŐĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐŝŶƚŽƚŚĞĐĂƉŝƚĂůĐŝƚLJŽĨĨŐŚĂŶŝƐƚĂŶ
ůŝƟĐĂů ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶĐĞ͘ hŶŝŽŶ ďƌŽŬĞ ƵƉ ĂŶĚ ƉŽƐƐĞƐƐ-­‐
Spanning   a   region  
to  dictate  the  price  of  Turkmen  gas   es  the  fourth  largest  reserves  
ǁƌĂĐŬĞĚ ďLJ ƉŽůŝƟ-­‐ ĂŶĚƉƌŽũĞĐƚŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞŝŶƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶ ŽĨŶĂƚƵƌĂůŐĂƐŝŶƚŚĞǁŽƌůĚ͘/ƚ
cal   and   economic   strongly   depends   on   sales   of  
tensions,   the   pipeline   represents   an   opportunity   to   piped  natural  gas  and  as  such  the  TAPI  pipeline  project  
ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŶŐ ƐƚĂƚĞƐ͘ &Ƶƌ-­‐ ŝƐŽĨŐƌĞĂƚŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞŝŶĚŝǀĞƌƐŝĮĐĂƟŽŶŽĨŝƚƐĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ
ƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ Ăůů ĨŽƵƌ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŶŐ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ǁŝůů ďĞŶĞĮƚ ůŝŵŝƚĞĚ ĞdžƉŽƌƚ ƌŽƵƚĞƐ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ ϵϬй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƚĞ͛Ɛ
ĨƌŽŵƚŚĞƉƌŽũĞĐƚ͘&Žƌ/ŶĚŝĂĂŶĚWĂŬŝƐƚĂŶŝŶƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌ͕ revenue  is  based  on  the  export  of  energy  resources,  pri-­‐
the   TAPI   pipeline   will   enhance   and   diversify   their   vital   ŵĂƌŝůLJƚŽZƵƐƐŝĂĚƵĞƚŽĂůĂĐŬŽĨĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞƐ͘dƵƌŬŵĞŶŝ-­‐
ĞŶĞƌŐLJƐƵƉƉůLJůŝŶĞƐĂŶĚŽƉĞŶƵƉĨƵƌƚŚĞƌĐŽŵƉĞƟƟŽŶ ƐƚĂŶ͛Ɛ ĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶĐĞ ŽŶ ZƵƐƐŝĂŶ ŝŵƉŽƌƚƐ͕ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŚĂƐ
ŝŶƚŚĞĞŶƚƌĂůƐŝĂŶŐĂƐŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚ ŵĞĂŶƚƚŚĂƚDŽƐĐŽǁŝƐŝŶĂƵŶŝƋƵĞƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƚŽĚŝĐƚĂƚĞƚŚĞ
concerns   remain   surrounding   the   long-­‐term   security   ƉƌŝĐĞŽĨdƵƌŬŵĞŶŐĂƐĂŶĚƉƌŽũĞĐƚŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞŝŶƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶ͘
of   the   pipeline   primarily   along   the   proposed   trans-­‐ An  opening  up  of  supply  routes,  with  a  parallel  expan-­‐
ĨŐŚĂŶŝƐƚĂŶƌŽƵƚĞ͘ ƐŝŽŶŽĨŝƚ͛ƐĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌďĂƐĞ͕ǁŽƵůĚĞŶĂďůĞƉƌŝĐĞƚŚĞƌŝƐĞŽĨ
dƵƌŬŵĞŶŐĂƐƚŽƌŝƐĞĂŶĚƚŚƵƐŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ͘
The   TAPI   Pipeline   is   a   natural   gas   pipeline   that   will  
transport  natural  gas  over  1700  km  from  Turkmenistan   Afghanistan   in   turn   expects   the   pipeline   to   generate  
ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚĨŐŚĂŶŝƐƚĂŶĂŶĚŝŶƚŽWĂŬŝƐƚĂŶĂŶĚ/ŶĚŝĂ͘/ŶƚŚŝƐ ůĂƌŐĞƚƌĂŶƐŝƚĨĞĞƐǁŝƚŚƉƌŽũĞĐƚĞĚƌĞǀĞŶƵĞƌĞĂĐŚŝŶŐΨϯϬϬ
way,  the  pipeline  will  provide  33  billion  cubic  meters  of   ŵŝůůŝŽŶƐ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƟŶŐ ŽŶĞ ƚŚŝƌĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƚĂů ĨŐŚĂŶ
dƵƌŬŵĞŶŐĂƐƚŽ^ŽƵƚŚƐŝĂŶŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ͘KĨƚŚŝƐ͕ϭϰďŝůůŝŽŶ
cubic  meters  will  be  delivered  to  Pakistan,  the  same  to   1 &ŽƐƚĞƌ:͘;ϮϬϭϬͿ͘ĨŐŚĂŶŝƐƚĂŶ͕ƚŚĞdW/WŝƉĞůŝŶĞ͕ĂŶĚŶĞƌŐLJ
/ŶĚŝĂ͕ĂŶĚƚŚĞƌĞƐƚǁŝůůĐŽǀĞƌƚŚĞŶĞĞĚƐŽĨĨŐŚĂŶŝƐƚĂŶ͘ 'ĞŽƉŽůŝƟĐƐ͘Journal  of  Energy  Security͘

46 A GLOBAL VILLAGE W W W . A G L O B A LV I L L A G E . O R G 47
G E O P O L I T I C A L A N D S E C U R I T Y R I S K S O F TA P I P I P E L I N E

Solar Power:
A  New  Silk  Road? the  TAPI  agreement,  which  was  adopted  in  Ashgabat  in  
dŚĞ ŬĞLJ ƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJ ƌŝƐŬ ŝŶ ƌĞĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dW/ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌϮϬϭϬ͕ĚŽĞƐŶŽƚƐƟƉƵůĂƚĞƚŚĞƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďŝůŝƟĞƐ
ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƉŝƉĞůŝŶĞ͛Ɛ ƉƌĞĐĂƌŝŽƵƐ ƌŽƵƚĞ͘ dŚĞ ĨŐŚĂŶ ĂŶĚ WĂ-­‐ ŽĨƚŚĞƉĂƌƟĞƐƚŽĞŶƐƵƌĞƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJŽĨƚŚĞŐĂƐƚƌĂŶƐƉŽƌƚĂ-­‐
ŬŝƐƚĂŶŝ ƉŽƌƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌŽƵƚĞ ŝƐ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂůůLJ ƵŶƐƚĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ƟŽŶ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ĨŐŚĂŶŝƐƚĂŶ ĂŶĚ WĂŬŝƐƚĂŶ͘ /Ŷ ĐŽŶĐůƵƐŝŽŶ͕

Lighting up the
ƉĂƌƟĂůůLJƵŶĚĞƌdĂůŝďĂŶĐŽŶƚƌŽůŽƌƉĂƐƐŝŶŐƚŚƌŽƵŐŚƚƌŝďĂů ǁŚŝůĞƚŚĞƌĞĂƌĞĐůĞĂƌďĞŶĞĮƚƐĨŽƌdƵƌŬŵĞŶŝƐƚĂŶĂŶĚƚŚĞ
areas  that  have  a  history  of  independence  from  central   ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ dW/ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ͕ ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ ƐƵƌ-­‐
ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ƉŽǁĞƌƐ͘ ^ĞĐƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉŝƉĞůŝŶĞ ǁŽƵůĚ ŶŽƚ rounding  security  cast  doubt  on  the  viability  of  this  pro-­‐
ŽŶůLJŶĞĞĚĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJĂŶĚŵŝůŝƚĂƌLJŵĞĂƐƵƌĞƐďƵƚ ũĞĐƚŝŶŝƚƐĐƵƌƌĞŶƚĨŽƌŵĂƚ͘

Future
ƚŚĞƌĞǁŽƵůĚĂůƐŽŶĞĞĚƚŽďĞĐŽŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶďĞƚǁĞĞŶƚŚĞƐĞ
ŐƌŽƵƉƐ͘ Ɛ ƚŚĞ ĞdžŝƐƟŶŐ /^& ĂŶĚ ĨŐŚĂŶ ĨŽƌĐĞƐ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ
ůŝŬĞůLJƚŽŵĞĞƚƚŚĞƐĞƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ͕EdKǁŽƵůĚůŝŬĞůLJ
ďĞĐĂůůĞĚƵƉŽŶƚŽƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĨŐŚĂŶŝƐƚĂŶŝŶƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŶŐƚŚĞ Alice  Rolandini  Jensen,  Imperial  College  London
ƉŝƉĞůŝŶĞ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ƐŝŶĐĞƚŚĞƉŝƉĞůŝŶĞƉƌŽũĞĐƚŝƐƐĞƚƚŽůĂƐƚ
at  least  50  years,  it  could  auger  a  very  long  commitment  
in  Afghanistan,  perhaps  too  severe  a  price  to  pay  for  the   Solar   energy   is   a   free,   clean   and   abundant   source   of   ĞŵƉůŽLJŝŶŐƉŚŽƚŽǀŽůƚĂŝĐĚĞǀŝĐĞƐ;WsͿ͘^ŽůĂƌWsƚĞĐŚŶŽů-­‐
ĨŐŚĂŶƐ͘ Akhmed   Tillayev ŐƌĂĚƵĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ŽĨ tŽƌůĚ renewable  energy.  However  there  are  a  number  of  is-­‐ ogy   has   the   advantage   that   it   can   be   installed   in   most  
ĐŽŶŽŵLJ ĂŶĚ ŝƉůŽŵĂĐLJ͕ ďĂĐŚĞůŽƌ ŽĨ ƌƚƐ͕ ŵĂũŽƌŝŶŐ ŝŶ sues  that   must   overcome  in   order  to   ensure  that   solar   environments   and   can   be  designed  to   blend   into   the  

Ener gy & Envir onment

ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĂŶĚ ŐĞŽƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂůZĞůĂƟŽŶƐ;dĂƐŚŬĞŶƚ͕hnjďĞŬŝƐƚĂŶͿ͘,ĞŝƐĐƵƌ-­‐ power  becomes  key  technology  driving  the  low-­‐carbon   ƐƵƌƌŽƵŶĚŝŶŐ ĂƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚƵƌĞ͘ WŚŽƚŽǀŽůƚĂŝĐƐ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ƵƐĞĚ
the   TAPI   pipeline   project,   major   security   concerns   re-­‐ rently   doing   his   second   bachelor   degree   in   petroleum   ƚƌĂŶƐŝƟŽŶ͘ŶĞƌŐLJŵĂƌŬĞƚƐŚĂǀĞůŽŶŐďĞĞŶĚŽŵŝŶĂƚĞĚ as   singular   modules   to   produce   small   amounts   of  
ŵĂŝŶ͘/ŶƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJŝŶĨŐŚĂŶŝƐƚĂŶƌĞŶĚĞƌƐƚŚĞĨŐŚĂŶƌŽƵƚĞ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ dĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJ WĞƚƌŽŶĂƐ ;ŝŶ by  fossil  fuels  but  today  solar  power  cannot  compete   ĞůĞĐƚƌŝĐŝƚLJ ƚŽ ƉŽǁĞƌ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐ ĚĞǀŝĐĞƐ Žƌ ďĞ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƚĞĚ
ƵŶĂƉƉĞĂůŝŶŐĂŶĚŽīͲƉƵƫŶŐĨŽƌŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ͘&ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ DĂůĂLJƐŝĂͿ͘ ŽŶĐŽƐƚ͘WƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶĐŽƐƚƐƌĞŵĂŝŶŚŝŐŚĂŶĚƚĞĐŚŶŝĐĂůĂĚ-­‐ ƚŽƚŚĞŶĂƟŽŶĂůŐƌŝĚ͘dŚĞLJĐĂŶĂůƐŽďĞƵƐĞĚŝŶƚŽĐƌĞ-­‐
vancements  must  be  made  in  order  to  drive  down  costs   ĂƚĞ ^ŽůĂƌ WŽǁĞƌ WůĂŶƚƐ͕ ĐŽŶƐŝƐƟŶŐ ŽĨ ůĂƌŐĞ ĂƌƌĂLJƐ ŽĨ
and  achieve  high  solar  energy  con-­‐ modules   producing  
ǀĞƌƐŝŽŶ ĞĸĐŝĞŶĐŝĞƐ ŝŶ ĚĞǀŝĐĞƐ͘ PV  devices  provide  a  free  source   electricity   to   power  
ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞůLJ ůŽǁ ŽǀĞƌĂůů ŚƵŶĚƌĞĚƐ ŽĨ ŚŽŵĞƐ͘
ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶŽĨƐŽůĂƌƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐŝĞƐ of  electricity  for  up  to  25  years   ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ŚŝŐŚ ŝŶŝƟĂů
to  the  energy  mix  today,  solar  en-­‐ ĂŶĚƌĞƋƵŝƌĞůŝƩůĞŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ setup   costs,   due   to  
ergy  capacity  has  grown  by  a  stag-­‐ expensive   materials  
gering  30%  per  annum  in  the  last  decade  as  a  result  of   ĂŶĚ ŵĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌŝŶŐ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐĞƐ ;ůĂŶĚ ĐŽƐƚƐ ĐĂŶ ĂůƐŽ ďĞ
government  policies  and  increased  investment  in  these   ĂŶŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚĨĂĐƚŽƌͿ͕WsĚĞǀŝĐĞƐƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĂĨƌĞĞƐŽƵƌĐĞ
technologies. ŽĨĞůĞĐƚƌŝĐŝƚLJĨŽƌƵƉƚŽϮϱLJĞĂƌƐĂŶĚƌĞƋƵŝƌĞůŝƩůĞŵĂŝŶ-­‐
ƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ͘ tŝŶĚ ƚƵƌďŝŶĞƐ ƐŚĂƌĞ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ĂĚǀĂŶƚĂŐĞƐ ďƵƚ
 ƐŝŶŐůĞ ƐƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚ ŵĂLJ ƐƵŵ ƵƉ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů ĨŽƌ ƐŽůĂƌ ĂƌĞŽŌĞŶůĂƌŐĞĂŶĚƵŶƐŝŐŚƚůLJ͕ǁŚĞƌĞĂƐƚŚĞĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ
energy:   more   solar   energy   reaches   the   surface   of   the   of  wave  power  and  hydroelectricity  has  the  disadvan-­‐
earth  in  one  hour,  than  that  which  is  anthropogenically   ƚĂŐĞŽĨďĞŝŶŐƐŝƚĞƐƉĞĐŝĮĐ͘
ĐŽŶƐƵŵĞĚŝŶŽŶĞLJĞĂƌ͘/ĨƚŚŝƐŝƐƚƌƵĞ͕ǁŚLJŝƐŝƚƚŚĂƚƚŚĞ
ƐŽůĂƌĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶƚŽƚŚĞƚŽƚĂůĞŶĞƌŐLJĐŽŶƐƵŵĞĚŐůŽďĂůůLJ dŚĞ ĞŶĞƌŐLJ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞĚ ŝŶ ƌĞŐŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ ŚŝŐŚ ŝŶƐŽůĂƟŽŶ͕ Ă
ŝƐĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJĂĨƌĂĐƟŽŶŽĨĂƉĞƌĐĞŶƚ1͍tŝƚŚƐƵĐŚĂŚƵŐĞ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞŽĨƐŽůĂƌƌĂĚŝĂƟŽŶĞŶĞƌŐLJ͕ŝŶŝƐŐƌĞĂƚĞƌLJĞƚWs
capacity,   why   does   solar   power   not   contribute   more   ĚĞǀŝĐĞƐĂƌĞĂůƐŽĞīĞĐƟǀĞŝŶĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐƚŚĂƚƌĞĐĞŝǀĞůĞƐƐ
ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚůLJƚŽŐůŽďĂůĞŶĞƌŐLJƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ͍tŚĂƚĂƌĞƚŚĞ ƐƵŶůŝŐŚƚ͘dŚŝƐŝƐŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚĞĚďLJƚŚĞĨĂĐƚƚŚĂƚĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ
barriers  to  solar  power  becoming  a  key  energy  source  of   'ĞƌŵĂŶLJŚĂƐƚŚĞůĂƌŐĞƐƚWsĐĂƉĂĐŝƚLJŝŶƚŚĞǁŽƌůĚ͘dŚĞ
the  future?   ŵĂŝŶĚŝƐĂĚǀĂŶƚĂŐĞŽĨƐŽůĂƌWsŝƐƚŚĂƚĞůĞĐƚƌŝĐŝƚLJŝƐŶŽƚ
produced   during   the   night   and   solar-­‐electrical   conver-­‐
dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞ ǁĂLJƐ ŽĨ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŶŐ ƐŝŽŶĞĸĐŝĞŶĐŝĞƐĂƌĞƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚůLJĚŝŵŝŶŝƐŚĞĚŝŶĐůŽƵĚLJ
energy  from  renewable  sources,  such  as  wind  and  wave   ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ͕ ƚŚƵƐ Ă ĐŽŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƌLJ ƉŽǁĞƌ ƐŽƵƌĐĞ ŝƐ
ƉŽǁĞƌ͕ŚLJĚƌŽĞůĞĐƚƌŝĐŝƚLJĂŶĚďŝŽŵĂƐƐ͘dŚĞĚŝƌĞĐƚĐŽŶǀĞƌ-­‐ ŐĞŶĞƌĂůůLJƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ͘
sion  of  solar  energy  to  electricity  is  normally  performed  
^ŽůĂƌͲĞůĞĐƚƌŝĐĂůĐŽŶǀĞƌƐŝŽŶĞĸĐŝĞŶĐLJŝƐĚĞĮŶĞĚĂƐƚŚĞ
1 ZĞŶĞǁĂďůĞ ĞŶĞƌŐLJ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ϮϭƐƚ ĐĞŶƚƵĂƌLJ͕ ƌĂƟŽ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞůĞĐƚƌŝĐ ƉŽǁĞƌ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞĚ ďLJ Ă ƉŚŽƚŽǀŽů-­‐
ZĞŶϮϭ;ϮϬϭϬͿ͘ZĞŶĞǁĂďůĞƐϮϬϭϬ͕'ůŽďĂů^ƚĂƚƵƐZĞƉŽƌƚ͘ taic   device   to   the   power   of   the   sunlight   incident   on  

48 A GLOBAL VILLAGE W W W . A G L O B A LV I L L A G E . O R G 49