Learning English

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Learn more about the environment
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• The stories behind our names
• Heatwaves: Can we adapt?
• Are you unhappy at work?

Introduction

Solar power is key for meeting net-zero targets, but how can we find space to build more solar panels? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.

This week's question

Which ancient Greek philosopher was responsible for using reflected sunlight to burn Roman ships attacking the city of Syracuse?
Was it:
a)      Archimedes?
b)      Socrates?   or,
c)      Pythagoras?

Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

Vocabulary

canopy
a cover fixed over an object such as a bed or car to provide shelter or decoration

enticing
attractive because it offers advantages or pleasures

in the near future
very soon; at a time not very far away 

on and off
occasionally; from time to time

(prices have) tumbled
decreased quickly in a short time

economically feasible
describes a business or project where the economic advantages achieved are greater than the economic costs

TRANSCRIPT

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.

Neil
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.

Beth
And I’m Beth. As the world switches from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy, solar panels are appearing in more and more places… and with good reason.

Neil
Yes. Today, the world is generating 10 times more solar electricity than a decade ago, and what's more, solar is the only energy source on track to meet the UN’s 2050 net zero targets.

Beth
But there’s a problem: space. As the rooftops in our cities and towns get filled up with solar panels, finding space for them becomes difficult. In this programme we’ll be exploring two surprising solar projects to build PV panels in all kinds of weird and wonderful places. And, as usual, we'll be learning some useful new vocabulary too.

Neil
Great! But first I have a question for you, Beth.  Harnessing the power of the sun is not new, in fact solar power dates back over 2,700 years. In 213 BC, mirrors were used to reflect sunlight back onto Roman ships attacking the city of Syracuse, causing them to catch fire. But which ancient Greek philosopher was responsible for this solar heat ray? Was it:

a)    Archimedes?

b)    Socrates?   or,

c)    Pythagoras?

Beth
I think it was Pythagoras.

Neil
OK, Beth. I'll reveal the answer later in the programme. Our first surprising solar project takes place in one of the world’s biggest car parks, owned by US supermarket giant, Walmart. Joshua Pearce, a researcher at Western University in Ontario, Canada, wants Walmart to introduce solar canopies in all their car parks.

Beth
A canopy is a cover fixed over something to provide shelter or decoration. Joshua’s canopies protect customers’ cars from the sun and rain, while the solar panels fixed on top generate electricity. This electricity can be used by the supermarket, or given to customers to charge their electric car for free. Here’s Myra Anubi, presenter of BBC World Service programme, People Fixing The World, discussing Joshua’s idea:

Myra Anubi
Of course if Walmart or an equivalent retailer were to do this, they wouldn't just be paying off their investment in green electricity, they would be adding hundreds of thousands of electric charging points across the US which would make switching to electric vehicles more enticing for American drivers.

Joshua Pearce
So we're starting to see more and more of these occur. I think in the very near future we're going to see an enormous increase.

Neil
Solar canopies provide free charging points, making electric cars a cheaper, more enticing option for American drivers. If something is enticing, it’s attractive because it offers advantages or pleasures.

Beth
Joshua hopes we’ll see more solar canopies in the near future - at some time very soon.

Neil
Our second surprising solar project is, quite literally, out of this world! Martin Soltau is founder of Space Solar, a company planning to build solar panels 22 thousand miles away, in outer space. With no night or changing seasons, it’s believed that solar panels in space would generate 13 times as much electricity as on Earth.

Beth
Martin’s plans sound like science-fiction, and haven’t been tried out… yet. But the idea of solar power from space has existed since the 1960s, as Martin explained to BBC World Service programme, People Fixing The World:

Martin Soltau
And then in really the late 60s, the American scientist Peter Glazier designed first practical, technically practical, system and after that NASA studied it on and off right through the decades, and so it's really only the last six or seven years that it's actually now become economically feasible… so the whole cost of getting things into space has tumbled by over 90%.

Neil
NASA has studied the idea of putting solar panels in space on and off, meaning occasionally, or from time to time, since the 1960s.

Beth
Recently, the costs of travelling to space have tumbled – decreased quickly and in a short time, making Martin’s idea for space solar panels economically feasible. If a business plan is economically feasible, the economic advantages achieved are greater than the economic costs.

Neil
It seems that a good idea is a good idea, whether it’s thousands of years ago or in the near future. With that, it’s time to reveal the answer to my question.

Beth
Yes. You asked me which famous ancient Greek philosopher used the power of the sun to destroy enemy Roman ships in 213 BC. I said it was Pythagoras…

Neil
Which was… I'm afraid to say, the wrong answer Beth. It was actually Archimedes who used parabolic mirrors to burn the enemy’s wooden ships at Syracuse – a trick which schoolchildren still do today, using a magnifying glass and sun beams to make fire. Right, let's recap the vocabulary we've learned from this programme, starting with canopy - a cover that’s fixed over an object to shelter or decorate it.

Beth
The adjective enticing means attractive because of the advantages or benefits it offers.

Neil
In the near future means very soon.

Beth
The phrase on and off means occasionally, or from time to time.

Neil
If the cost or price of something has tumbled, it’s decreased quickly in a short time.

Beth
And finally, if a business plan is economically feasible, the economic advantages achieved will be greater than the economic costs. Once again, our six minutes are up. Goodbye for now!

Neil
Bye!