[Extra Credit - A] / Kim Seoyoung(김서영)

 1) What was surprising or interesting in the video?

I knew that it was difficult to always supply constant electricity due to the fluctuation of electricity production in ordinary solar power generation depending on the weather and sunlight. However, I didn't know how to solve this problem, but through this video, I learned anew that many solar power plants can store energy in huge batteries or convert electricity into clean gas that can be used later, and this part was very interesting. In the first place, I had no idea that electricity could be converted into gas, but I felt that there were various benefits through this method. First of all, compared to batteries, gas can store more energy per unit volume, so it can store energy efficiently. Second, the production of hydrogen or syngas using renewable energy can reduce dependence on energy imports and increase energy independence. Lastly, there are the most important environmental benefits. The use of other energy when producing hydrogen or syngas is likely to lead to global warming due to very severe carbon emissions, but the use of renewable energy can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by obtaining clean energy with little carbon emissions.

 2) What is the main topic of the video, and what do you think about it?

The main theme of the video is that large and small answers are needed to keep up with humanity's increasing energy use. The video says that humans get the energy they need by literally using the sun, which is a natural environment, rather than being obtained from capital or material such as desert. Due to this, they design solar panels and solar power plants through mirrors to get the energy needed for human life. However, the cooling systems of many facilities, such as solar panels, use huge amounts of energy-powered fans or running water to maintain the optimum temperature. In addition, solar power plants through mirrors are less likely to change the landscape, but they can cause dangerous temperature changes for local wildlife, causing ecosystem destruction. As such, for the benefit of the present, various solar power facilities that have come up as a way to keep up with human energy use may seem like innovative and renewable energy means at first glance, but I thought it was not a good idea considering their impact on future generations and ecosystems. It will appear that the problems we are currently experiencing will be solved if we continue to use the above measures, but the same problems will continue to occur when ecosystems and technologies change over time. Of course, that will not stop the current use of solar power plants and energy production, but it means that we need to find a way to overcome our current limitations through various technological advances and innovations. For example, it is necessary to carefully consider the impact on future generations and ecosystems, such as solar channels using new materials and eco-friendly cooling systems using new materials other than the materials currently used. 

3) How does the topic of this video tie to what we have been discussing in class?

I would like to examine the correlation between photovoltaic power plants and economics we learned in class due to the climate crisis. Solar power plants have high initial installation costs, but low operation and maintenance costs can reduce energy costs in the long run. In addition, energy independence can be increased by reducing energy importance through photovoltaic power generation, which can strengthen national energy security through a stable energy supply. Therefore, economic correlation is an essential factor to consider for the successful introduction and operation of photovoltaic power plants.