Transcript SOLAR POWER IN YOUR WORLD

SOLAR POWER IN
YOUR WORLD
Colleen and Erin
Lattyak
SOLAR CELLS
•The process of converting light
to electricity is called the solar
photovoltaic effect.
•Solar cells are made of silicone
alloy and are charged with
photons and electrons to aid in
the transfer of solar rays to
electricity
What do you need to have solar
energy power your home?
•The first step is getting a
solar panel .
•The second is the roof
mounting structure.
•A special solar power inverter is
then needed to convert direct
current electricity into alternating
current electricity.
•You also need a solar power
collector system is linked to your
fuse box and an electric meter so
you can tell how much energy you
have produced and how much
energy you have sold back to the
power company.
Water heating
system
Electricity
system
This works
basically the same
way as the water
heating system,
except it produces
electricity.
Pros.
•Can reduce electric and
water bills
•Produces clean electricity
•Reduces impact of pollution
•Adds value to home
•Government provides small
money to off set cost.
Cons.
Very expensive
The production of a
solar cell often uses as
much energy as a solar
cell can produce in 20+
years
Fun Facts =]
• In a single hour, enough sunlight
reaches the earth's surface to meet
the entire world's energy needs for
a full year.
• In the U.S., there are more than
10,000 homes that get their energy
entirely from solar power.
• As early as 1921, the Nobel Peace
Prize was awarded for experiments
with solar power. was awarded to
Albert Einstein.
Fun facts cont. =]
• Solar power can cut water bills by more than
50 percent each year in a home where a solar
model replaces the electric water heater.
• Germany is making the best use of solar
power, even though its climate includes many
cloudy days.
• It takes only about 8 minutes for solar energy
to travel from the sun to the earth.