Solar Energy

Daniel Afshar, Jake Hebert

POE - Block 2
giphy.com

Solar Energy
Inexhaustible & Free
Sun has been burning for 4 billion years

www.nineplanets.org

Provides enough energy to power the worlds needs for

one year, in one minute
Fuses hydrogen atoms into Helium
Radiates to the Earth

How is solar energy made useable?

Solar panels
Transforms the heat into electricity
Electrons knocked off silicon film
Creates collectable/controllable electrical current
Current sent through wires to fuse box
Inverter used to make DC into AC
www.wiseenergy.org

Costs
In Texas, Solar panels cost an
average of $17,000 to install.
Saves $87 every month
No longer a need to pay
utility company for
electricity
Takes 14 years for the panels to
pay for themselves

Special Transmission and

Transportation Needs
Direct sunlight is ideal for consumption of solar energy
Less energy is available for use on overcast days
Energy can still be gained

www.wvtf.org

How widespread is the use of solar energy?

The utility sector produced approximately 4 gigawatts of energy in 2014.
However 1 gigawatt was produced in residential settings. Also the cost of
installation of solar power has
dropped by over 70% as well.

http://www.seia.org/

What new technologies will help solar power?

One new perovskite solar cells are cheaper to make than silicon cells (the
most prominent currently) and their electricity conversion efficiency is still
improving.
Another technology is the rectenna. It converts light directly to DC current.
Its composed of tiny carbon nanotubes and rectifiers that capture light. The
nanotube antennas create an oscillating charge that moves through the
rectifier, switching on and off at incredibly high speed, which then creates a
small electrical current.

http://theconversation.com/tandem-solar-cellwith-silicon-and-perovskite-paves-way-forhigh-efficiency-low-cost-solar-39216

Environment Problems and Benefits

Problems
Hazardous materials used in the creation of solar panels
Can cause habitat loss
Benefits
No pollution or greenhouse gasses
Large amounts of energy able to be produced
Renewable
http://store.sundancesolar.com/
how-much-energy-can-a-solarpanel-produce-in-a-day-1/

Works Cited
"How Do Solar Systems Produce Energy?" NW Wind and Solar. N.p., n.d. Web.
01 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.nwwindandsolar.com/solar-powerin-seattle-and-the-northwest/how-do-solar-systems-produce-energy/>.
"Solar Energy." Renewable Energy,. Alternative Energy, n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.altenergy.org/renewables/solar.html>.
"Solar Energy." SEIA. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2015. <http://www.seia.org/about/solarenergy>.
Wheeland, Matthew. "How Much Does Solar Cost? - Pure Energies USA."Pure
Energies USA. N.p., 15 Feb. 2012. Web. 01 Oct. 2015.
<https://pureenergies.com/us/blog/infographic-how-much-does-solar-cost/>

Works cited (cont)

"Breakthrough Optical Rectenna Turns Light Directly into Usable Electricity."
Inhabitat Sustainable Design Innovation Eco Architecture Green Building. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 06 Oct.2015.
http://inhabitat.com/breakthrough-optical-rectenna-turns-light-directly-into-usableelectricity/
ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2015.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151005132851.htm?utm_source=f
eedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fmatte
r_energy%2Fsolar_energy+%28Solar+Energy+News+--+ScienceDaily%29

Works Cited (cont)

"Environmental Impacts of Solar Power." Union of Concerned Scientists. N.p., n.d.
Web. 06 Oct. 2015.
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewableenergy/environmental-impacts-solar-power.html#.VhSM9flViko