Transcript SOLAR POWER
By: Nate White, Seth Johnston, Angelina Genelow, and Brooke Edwards General Overview •Generated naturally from sunlight •Two types of uses • Direct • Indirect •Also have electrical generation •Many benefits •Also environmental disadvantages http://www.mywindpowersystem.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/alternative-energy-solar http://www.solar-benefits.com/index.5 http://www.solarnavigator.net/images/wind_turbine_aalb INDIREC T http://www.pwkits.org/wpcontent/uploads/2008/08/solar_thermal_collector.jpg http://hurricanecandice.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/biomass s.jpe http://www.fuelfromthewater.com/hydroelectric_power_2.jpg Most problems people have with solar are superficial ones such as they think its an eyesore. Solar plants will require large amounts of land which environmental groups have problems with due to the problem of displacement. Politicians are influenced heavily by lobbyists from oil companies Few politicians feel that they benefit from solar energy in their district or are misinformed about solar energy’s potential Most federal laws support and offer incentives for solar energy through tax credits N.C. has a law which requires power companies to obtain a set percentage of their power from solar energy. Biggest legal hurdles are going through homeowners’ associations and zoning ordinances. Industrialized countries have laws similar to the U.S. that attempt to foster the development of renewable energy such as solar Undeveloped countries do not promote solar energy as much as countries such as the U.S. and China Yearly Solar fluxes & Human Energy Consumption Solar 3,850,000 EJ[6] Wind 2,250 EJ[7] Biomass 3,000 EJ[8] Primary energy use (2005) 487 EJ[9] Electricity (2005) 56.7 EJ[10] (The 3,850,000 EJ is absorbed in the earths atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses.) One year of the sun’s energy is more than the amount of energy that we will get from all of the non-renewable resources combined. The sun makes about 3,850,000 exajoules in one year. That is more than all the energy used in the world within a year. About every minute there is enough energy from the sun to produce energy to meet our demands for an entire year. (if we could harness is properly) In 1890’s solar water heaters were used everywhere in the U.S. In 1897, 30% of the homes in Pasadena were equipped with Solar Water Heaters. By 1920, Thousands of these solar water heaters were sold but the discovery of fossil fuels and that replaced the need for the solar water heaters. Now the solar heaters are making a comeback. The history of solar energy can be an example of how it can potentially help us with our future needs of energy. Now that we have more technology we might be able to harness the energy that the sun provides. Environmental Disadvantages •One environmental downfall of solar energy is the amount of land needed for enough solar panels to generate considerable amounts of energy. •Each photovoltaic panel has only about a 40% efficiency, so cost becomes an issue. •Solar panels are constructed from fragile materials http://www.global-greenhouse-warming.com/images/SolarTowerMojaveDese More Environmental Disadvantage s •These are minor setbacks compared to the many benefits of solar energy. •Storage difficult; relies on batteries that may leak chemicals •PV cells use heavy metals that are toxic and difficult to recycle http://www.maproyalty.com/images/_p http://www.rise.org.au/info/Applic/Solarpump/image003. •Solar energy comes to the areas closest to the equator •Scientist are hoping to expand the range of sunlight’s wavelengths that can be absorbed •Other countries are enhancing more than US Does solar power have to revolve around the equator? •Can be put in less sunny areas •Not as effective and very unreliable •Most beneficial where sun is most prevalent