The first: In which time frame does the technology produce its initial energy impact? The second: Does the energy output of the technology substitute directly for oil and gas supplies? Because this is our area of future major energy concern. The third: What is the stage of development of the technology in the spectrum from the laboratory to the market place? The fourth: How substantial an energy contribution would successful development of the technology make possible? Determination of priorities is also based upon such considerations as the energy benefit versus the cost of developing and installing an alternative energy source, preservation of material resources, the energy payback time—considering the energetics of producing the system, and its environmental impact, among other things. On such a basis, ERDA has already determined the need to investigate and further develop the most promising methods of utilizing solar energy. Since most SPS concepts are based upon solar power, it is appropriate to consider them in this context. The primary goal of the ERDA solar energy program is to develop and demonstrate as early as practical those terrestrial solar energy applications that are commercially attractive and environmentally acceptable. Four major program units have been established to meet this overall goal. These program units are: First: Direct thermal applications of solar energy, including heating and cooling of buildings and agricultural and industrial process heat applications. Second: Solar electric applications, including systems based upon solar thermal electric, photovoltaic, wind, and ocean energy conversion. Third: Fuels from biomass including utilization of land and ocean production of plant biomass as well as collection and utilization of organic components of agricultural and forestry wastes. And, fourth: Technology support, including solar resource assessment and information dissemination activities. The potential impact of solar energy technologies on the national use of energy has been estimated at about 1 percent in 1985, 8 percent in 2000, and 25 percent for the year 2020. Mr. Chairman, the President has just forwarded to the Congress his fiscal year 1977 budget recommendations. The President's fiscal year 1977 budget for ERDA-supported efforts in solar energy involves about $116 million in outlays as compared to about $86 million in fiscal year 1976, an increase of about 35 percent. A breakdown of the fiscal year 1977 budget priorities among the 4 program units shows about 32 percent for direct thermal applications, about 62 percent for solar electric applications, and 3 percent each for fuels from biomass and for technology support. Since the satellite power system is a concept for providing electrical power from solar energy, 1 would like to discuss the solar electric applications program in more detail. The President's budget recommendation for fiscal year 1977 involves about $73 million for this program category. The objective of the solar electric applications program is to develop and demonstrate technologies for the collection and conversion of solar energy to electrical energy to make possible
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU5NjU0Mg==