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Solar energy the fuel of the future
Solar energy advantages
Solar energy the fuel of the future
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A Photovoltaic cell also known as PV cell is a special kind semiconductor device that converts the solar energy into electrical energy. During the process, the photons from the sunlight are captured by the semi-conductor material. The captured electrons are then used to produce energy in the form of electricity. The first practical solar cell was created by Bell Laboratories in 1954, it only produced 1 watt of energy and the cost to produce 1 watt of energy was $250. The photovoltaic cell has enabled the use of the renewable energy source leaving no carbon footprint in the environment. The conventional energy is produced by various methods such as thermal power, hydroelectricity, nuclear power, geo thermal and hydrogen fuel cells. But they are costlier than PV energy and produce pollution. The Photovoltaic power generation in the solar panels uses a large number of solar cells. There are wide ranges of material available for the production to make the solar cell. The present available materials includes monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium gallium selenide/sulfide. Copper solar cables connect modules (module cable), arrays (array cable), and sub-fields. Because of the growing demand for renewable energy sources, the manufacturing of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays has advanced considerably in recent years. The first practical application of photovoltaic cell is to power orbiting satellites and other spacecraft. Another great example of the PV module is on the grids to connect with the power generation. In this case, an inverter is required to convert the Direct current to and alternate current. The cells that are mounted on a grid require protection from t... ... middle of paper ... ...r to the nation 2011 which is three times larger than Chinese Golmund Solar Park. The solar park is expected to save around 8 million tones carbon dioxide every year. Moreover, it will also save about 900,000 tones of the natural gas per year. The initial cost of power will be USD 0.29 per kWh for the first 12 years and after that it will lower to USD 0.10 per kWh. The electricity generated from the projects will be sold to the electric company and will be than distributed for household and commercial industries. In conclusion, the achievement is not merely a step in the direction of power conservation, but it also provides a vision to the world that how the power needs for the future generation can be solved in an environmental friendly way. The stand-alone solar project can benefit the environment and reduce the global warming. You can save green by going green!
Solar systems, also known as solar panels, are built to be very efficient and require very little maintenance. Technology has helped to improve the look and construction of the solar panels. The solar systems that are built and installed today have to meet very strict guidelines. “Stringent quality control in the Modern Solar supply chain ensures the quality of solar product installed on your roof is reliable, durable, and of the highest quality standards.” (“Solar Energy Benefits”). These panels are built using “monocrystalline cells that are held together with solder. They are surrounded by a hard, glass cover, polymer EVA sheet and a sp...
The Solyndra Company, founded in 2005 by Christian Gronet, designed, manufactured, and sold a unique type of solar panels. They were termed “solar photovoltaic (PV) systems” and were designed for large, flat to low sloped commercial building roofs. The panels were designed to have the best performance when mounted horizontally and to be installed very close together so that they covered a much higher percentage of the roof top thus producing more electricity than the typical flat panel solar panels by comparison. This was created through the production by absorbing light from all directions including indirect and reflected light as well as direct sunlight when combined with a white roof. This was due to the design of having rolled its copper indium gallium selenite or CIGS into a cylindrical shape. Each tube had 40 of them in each 1-meter-by-2-meter panel (Solyndra, 2008).
Saving energy is an extremely efficient way conserve resources. Whenever there is a room in the facility that is not in use, turn off the lights. There are many methodical ways to conserve energy, but installing solar panels is one of the most useful ways, especially for a big corporation. Solar panels convert the radiation of the sun's rays into usable energy and are 100% eco friendly. They help diminish pollution immensely and will help assure a better future for humans, animals, and nature.
The sun has been a major aspect of life since the beginning of time. People used many other forms of energy before electricity was discovered. There has been a debate over energy resources for years. Many people are worried about what current energy resources may be doing to the environment. Oil spills and nuclear power plant mishaps have only been a few accidents that have had a big impact on the environment and the people who inhabit it. There are plenty of energy sources that do not harm the environment and are still able to get the job done. Solar energy is one energy alternative that will insure the betterment of the country and, at the same time, protect the natural environment.
A Photovoltaic solar cell (PVSC) is an electrical device which converts light from the visible spectrum into direct current (DC) electricity (Honsberg). The International Space Station (ISS) originally used purified silicon solar cells for electrical generation. Silicon cells were primarily used as a result of their relatively light weight and heat conduction properties (Wittry, 2005). In 2001, two 38ft x 239ft solar panels were installed on the ISS. The new cells were multi junction solar cells comprised of gallium indium phosphate on gallium arsenide on germanium. The germanium based cell resists oxidation, unlike its silicon oxide counterpart that experienced degradation in the upper atmosphere due to exposure to oxygen (Wiebusch, 2001). Furthermore, the Silicon based solar cell (deployed on the
Before I go in to detail about usage and implementation of solar cells, let me explain just how they work. Solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells (Photo= light Voltaic=electricity) capture photons, convert them into electrons, and use these electrons to transfer energy to whatever you want to power. To do this, solar cells are made with a material called a semiconductor, which, for solar cells is almost always silicon. When light hits this material, it causes electrons to break loose and flow throughout the material. By placing metal plates on the solar cell, we can capture this flow of electrons, otherwise known as current. Using the equation Power= Volts * Current, you can calculate the voltage output of a cell, which, using silicon, is about 1.1 volts- a 25% or so efficiency.
forms of solar cells made from different materials and in different ways are able to increase the
The world currently functions through the use of fossil fuels. However, fossil fuels possess two significant disadvantages. Fossil fuels harm the global environment because they enhance the greenhouse effect by releasing carbon dioxide, and they release other harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.1 Also, fossil fuels are limited and will run out in the near future if current rates of consumption are maintained. Photovoltaic cells that convert solar energy to electrical energy solve both of these problems. Although the production of photovoltaic cells causes some pollution, photovoltaic cells do not emit harmful gases nor do they pollute the environment. Solar energy is virtually unlimited since the Sun will continue its fusion reaction and provide light energy to the Earth. Solar energy cannot be absorbed on dark or cloudy days, but if it can be stored, solar energy gathered from luminous periods can be used during those dim days.
Solar cells directly convert photons from the sun into electricity (Wikipedia). Solar cells that convert both solar and non-solar light are called photovoltaic cells (Wikipedia 2006). They are made of semi conducting materials, most often silicon (Aldous 2006). The simplest photovoltaic cells power watches and calculators while larger, more complex systems can add to the power grid and provide power for homes.
Preview: Today I will discuss the potential that solar power has to become this country’s main supply of energy and the latest research that can make solar power more efficient and cost effective. I will also present the environmental benefits that come with using solar power over other and more harmful forms of energy.
Solar thermal energy is dead! A solar thermal heating system can cost upwards of $7,000 to install and it most likely won't even save you too much money. This is why many people debate over whether they should use a solar thermal water heating system, because they think they are saving money, or an inexpensive traditional water heating system. A traditional heating system is a system that is powered off of electricity, gas, oil or some other fuel. A solar thermal heating system uses the energy from the sun, hence “solar”, and it turns that energy into hot water to either heat a home or to provide domestic hot water. The energy from the sun is captured by energy collectors, also known as solar panels. The water is heated inside the panels and then distributed throughout the home for use or stored in a tank for later use. The ideas behind this sound great, but in reality that is not the case.Solar thermal energy is not the best choice for home heating a home or hot water heating.
According to Mr. Solar.com, “this type of energy production, known as the Photovoltaic Effect, is achieved by solar panels converting sunlight into energy. Solar panels are made up of several individual solar cells, composed of layers of silicon, phosphorous (which provides the negative charge), and boron (which provides the positive charge). Solar panels absorb the sunlight’s photons and by doing so initiate an electric current, producing electrons. The resulting energy generated from photons striking the surface of the solar panel allows electrons to be knocked out of their atomic orbits and released into an electric field generated by the solar cells, which then pull these free electrons into a DC or directional current.” This electricity then proceeds to a mechanical room beneath our house to a charge controller, which regulates the amount of energy sent to our 24V batteries to be stored.
I am certain that all have heard of the terms greenhouse gases, fossil fuels, and global warming. Have you ever questioned what will happen if nothing is done about the environmental problems facing the world today? What if I answer you that, we can merely use the power from the sun to power up our entire planet without the use of harmful energy sources, which affect our atmosphere? The power from the sun is what we call solar power. Solar power is the energy that comes from the sun as light and heat energy, and then it is later converted into electrical energy through solar panels (Nelson, 2008).
The Earth captures around 342 W/m2 of energy from the sun. This energy is in the form of solar radiation, which the atmosphere reflects about 77 W/m2 and will absorb around 68 W/m2 of solar radiation annually. Therefore, the Earth’s surface is receiving, on average, about 197 W/m2 of solar radiation annually. This amount of energy received is roughly more than 10,000 times the amount of all energy humans consume per year. This energy can be used to produce electricity or heat. This energy source is not being used to it’s potential considering how much effort would come into effect to store and transport this energy.
First of all, solar energy is the energy produced when the sun heats the solar panel. Thus, when the sun heats the panels, it produces electricity. Solar power produces energy during the day and can store energy for the night. Solar power does not pollute the environment. However, it has high maintenance cost, and it takes a lot of land space.