SOLAR

What is solar energy?

Solar
transform the
Whatenergy
is solartechnologies
energy?
energy in sunlight into electrical and thermal
Solar energy
harness
the
(heat)
energy.technologies
The earths surface
receives
suns rays to create
year,
approximately
1000energy.
watts ofEvery
power
from the
thefor
sunevery
produces
approximately
sun
square
metre facing 1,366
the sun.
watts of power per square metre of the
earths
surface.
Solar
energy
is a rapidly growing way to
generate electricity, and it is estimated by the
Solar energy is
a fast growing
way solar
to harness
International
Energy
Agency that
energy
power,
and
some
experts
think
it
will
contribute
will produce nearly a quarter of the worlds
to 50%
of theuse
total
total
energy
byworlds
2050. energy use by 2050.

AN EXAMPLE OF A SOLAR FARM IN CALIFORNIA.

SOURCE: PROMETHEUS.ORG

What types of technology harnesses

solar energy?
Solar
today
can
Thereenergy
are twodevices
types ofavailable
solar energy
devices
be
put into
two major classes:
available
today:
s olathermal
r thermacollectors
l converters
solar
solar
s olaelectricity
r photovolta ic converters

How is energy collected from the sun?

How thermal
is electricity
generated from
Solar
collectors:
solar energy?
These
are the oldest systems of collecting
energy from the sun and make use of the heat
Solar thermal converters: Solar thermal
or thermal energy in sunlight. Solar thermal
convertersuse
aredark
the oldest
systems
of placed
collecting
collectors
coloured
panels
on
energy
from
the
sun.
Thermal
converters
areas such as rooftops to absorb the heat
use dark
coloured
panelscollect
and sometimes
from
the sun.
The panels
heat, then
reflectorthis
panels
oncirculating
areas such through
as
transfer
heatplaced
to fluids
rooftops,
absorb
the heat
the way
sun. to
the
panel. to
This
is a clean
and from
efficient
The panels
collect
heat
which
in turn
heats
heat
hot water.
Some
solar
thermal
collectors
use
the
suns
to boil
into steam.
fluid,
such
as energy
oil or water.
As water
this heated
fluid
The
high
pressure
steam
spins
a
turbine,
travels through the panel, it absorbs the suns
creating
rotational
energy that
is thenortransheat energy
and produces
hot liquid,
even
formed
into
electricity
by
a
generator.
steam. If steam is produced, the steam turns
a turbine, creating rotational energy that is
Solar
Electricity
converted
into electricity by a generator.
Solar electricity systems are usually called
As thermal converters
needthey
heattransform
to create
photovoltaics
(PV) because
light
energy
into electricity.
A typical PV panel
energy
and require
warmer temperatures,
consists
of
two
or
more
thin
they work best in areas closerlayers
to theofequator.
semi-conducting material, which is commonly
Solar photovoltaic
(PV) converters:
Solarand
silicon.
PV cells are connected
together
PV converterstoconvert
into
encapsulated
form asunlight
module energy
or panel.
electricity.solar
A typical
PV captured
panel consists
ofsolar
Incoming
rays are
by the
two or more
of the
semi-conducting
panels.
Whenthin
lightlayers
strikes
silicon, it
produces
electrons
that are conducted
material, which
is commonly
silicon. PV away
cells
by
metallic grid
as direct
current
(DC). This is
area connected
together
and
encapsulated,
then
sent
through
an
inverter
and
converted
to form a module or panel. Incoming solar
into
current
electricity
raysalternating
are captured
by the(AC)
solar
panels. for use
inWhen
the home,
or at school.
Cloudy
weather will
light strikes
the silicon,
it produces
limit
the amount
energy collected.
electrons
that areofconducted
away by a
metallic grid as direct current (DC). This is
then sent through an inverter and converted
into alternating current (AC) electricity for
use in the home, or at school.

This work is copyright. The copying, adapting or issuing of this work to the public on a non-profit basis is welcome. No otheruse of this work is permitted without the prior consent of the
copyright holder. From ElectroCity www.electrocity.co.nz Genesis Energy 2010.

What are the advantages of solar energy?

As PV converters converts light energy
Solar energy is a renewable energy resource
into electricity, they can be used in cooler
that can do useful work in many situations.
climates. Cloudy
weather
willhours
limit athe
Obviously,
the more
sunshine
place
amount
of
energy
collected.
receives, the more energy generated.
What are the advantages of solar energy?
Photovoltaics are one of the most
Solar energy is a renewable
energy
resource
environmentally-friendly
ways
to generate
power
today
because
they
are silent,
produce
that can
work
in many
weather
situations.
no
emissions
while
in
use
and
require
no fuel
Obviously the more sunshine hours a place
toreceives,
run them.
the more energy generated.
Solarare
PVthe
converters
are oneofofsolar
the most
What
disadvantages
energy?
environmentally-friendly
generate
Producing
electricity using ways
solar to
energy
is
power today
theywhen
are silent,
produce
currently
morebecause
expensive
compared
to
nomore
emissions,
and require
no fuel
toreason
run them.
the
traditional
methods.
One
for
this is because PV panels have a limited ability
are theall
disadvantages
ofsunlight
solar energy?
toWhat
transform
the energy in
into
electricity,
decreases
Producingwhich
electricity
using the
solarelectricity
energy is
production.
To
compensate
for
this,
panels
expensive compared to the more traditional
must
coverThis
a larger
area tosolar
collect
more
methods.
is because
converters
sunlight. Also because solar technologies use
have a limited generation output, which
the sun, generating electricity is weather
means low electricity production. You need
dependent and output levels change from day
to install solar panels over a very large area
to day so its not a very reliable energy
in order
to get asover
muchthe
heat
and light
as when
source,
especially
winter
period
possible.
Also
because solar uses the sun,
the
days are
shorter.
generating electricity is weather dependent
and output levels change from day to day
so its not a very reliable energy source,
especially over the winter period when the
days are shorter.

How is solar energy used in New Zealand?

commercial solar farms in New Zealand.
There are currently no large-scale
There are however, many independent
commercial solar farms in New Zealand.
examples around New Zealand, where
There are however, many independent
businesses
and households
use
solar
examples
around
New Zealand,
where
energy toand
heathouseholds
water or generate
businesses
use solarpower.
energy
toNew
heatZealand
water orreceives
generate
electricity.
about
2000 hours of
bright sunshine every year. This is enough
Through the Schoolgen programme
sunlight to generate approximately 4kW
Genesis Energy has installed a 2kW PV
per square metre every day.
system in 42 schools across the North Island.
New Zealand receives about 2000 hours of
ACTIVITIES
bright sunshine every year. This is enough
sunlight
to ONE
generate nearly 4kWh of electriACTIVITY
cal energy per kilowatt of panel every day.
Look around your school. List examples
of items that might use solar energy,
ACTIVITIES
e.g., a solar calculator, solar garden lights.
ACTIVITY ONE
ACTIVITY TWO
Look around your school. List examples of
items
that might
usewhat
solarphotovoltaic
energy, e.g.,stands
a
Students
research
solar
calculator,
solar garden
lights. dont
for and
why photovoltaic
converters
need the suns heat energy to work.
ACTIVITY TWO
Students research what photovoltaic stands
for and why photovoltaics dont need the
suns heat energy to work.

How is solar energy used in New Zealand?

There are currently no large-scale

SUPPORTING RESOURCES
- Australia and New Zealand Solar Energy Society: www.anzses.org/
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority: www.eeca.govt.nz
- Schoolgen Teacher Resources: www.schoolgen.co.nz

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