Transcript History of Solar Power

Presented by
Nick Thompson
Derek Bowerman
Carolyn Box
Period 6
History of Solar Power
• 2nd Century BC – Mirrors were first used to
light torches
• 1770’s – The first solar ovens were used on
expeditions to Africa
• 1860’s – Solar-powered steam engines are
invented
• 1883 – Charles Fritts made the first solar cell
• 1950’s – The first silicon, modern, solar cells
are made
Use of Solar Energy
• produces heat (thermal)
and light energy
• pool and water heating
for homes and buildings
• produces electricity on
a large scale
• PV (photovoltaic)
systems connected to
grid charge batteries
Solar Cell
• satellites - power
electrical systems
• calculators
• landscaping – lights
• emergency road
signs/call boxes
• parking lot lights
• buoys
Specific Uses
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•
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trolleys
busses
light rails
school
community hall
Old v. New Solar power
Modern Solar Panels can:
•Can be 30% efficient compared to less then
10%
•Convent light directly into electricity
•Must cheaper and more widely used
Estimated Cost
• $0.23 per kWh (1kWh is
3.6 x 10^6 joules)
• = $6.38 x 10^-8 per
joule
• = $6.38 x 10^-5 per kilo
joule
• (1 BTU is 1055.05585
joules)
• =$6.73 x 10^-5 per
BTUs
Installation
• small, single PV system
may cost $900 to install
($12 per watt)
• a system that covers all
energy needs in a home
may cost from $16,000
to $20,000
• maintenance is usually
unnecessary, and
depends on damage
Efficiency
• typically warranted for
25-30 years
• in states with more
sunshine, a solar system
that is a 5.3 kW grid
could pay for itself in
about 11 years in
Georgia, and could also
save about $1,590 in
that time
Efficiency (cont.)
• not more efficient than
other sources (15%)
• PV – 5-10%
• hydro – 80%
• wind – 42%
• tidal – 25%
• GEO – 100%
Where Solar Power works best
An environment that is
- Hot
- Sunny
- Cloudless
Solar panels are often used in remote places off
of the energy grid.
Effectiveness of Solar Power in the US
Top 5 Solar Countries (2010)
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1. Germany (9,785 MW)
2. Spain (3,386 MW)
3. Japan (2,633 MW)
4. United States (1,650 MW)
5. Italy (1,167 MW)
Negative Environmental Effects
• It takes energy and fossil fuels to manufacture and
transport solar energy components.
• A relatively large amount of land is required to satisfy
energy needs per megawatt per square kilometer.
• Solar-Thermal power plants require a lot of cooling
waters as well, making the resource problematic in
some dry areas.
• There are potentially hazardous materials within
photovoltaic solar cells that can damage the health
of manufacturers, and even firefighters.
– Hazards: arsenic, silicon dust, and cadmium.
Positive Environmental Effects
• Solar Energy units create no new carbon emissions, sound or light
pollution, or toxic wastes when being used to harvest energy.
• Small-Scale and dispersed energy sources are the most successful, as
opposed to giant centralized energy facilities.
• Most negatives about this energy source can be easily countered or
adapted to minimize all of the possible disadvantaged to switching to solar
energy. Most negative environmental effects for this renewable energy
source are indirect, anyway.
– Land consumption is still less per unit than coal strip mining, and can be
incorporated into urban areas, decreasing demand for new lands.
– If the Solar energy manufacturing facilities are more dispersed and smaller
scale, there isn’t as much of a concentrated need for coolant waters.
– The amount of fossil fuels required to make solar panels is still less than the
amount of fossil fuels needed to go on with current energy manufacturing
resources.
– Stricter health and safety codes and procedures allow for less error and
danger to the workers who make the solar cells using hazardous materials,
and the probability of a firefighter ever actually being damaged by the
elements needed to make these panels in a rescue is very low.
The Future of Solar Energy
• Some Developments are being
made in how solar energy is going
to be literally shaped. Scientists are
playing around with different
arrangements of the solar cells to
optimize solar absorption, and
adding even more efficiency to
renewable resource.
• Most new developments in solar
research are in finding ways to
make it more accessible to a greater
number of income levels.
– Markets are seeing dropped
prices per personal solar uses,
even though demand for them
has increased.
– Government and local
incentives and initiatives have
also helped the efforts. (i.e.
Wisconsin)
The Future of Solar Energy
• The dream is that renewable energy resources will
eventually take over fossil fuel use as means of
energy by working collectively.
– There are no plans, currently, that will allow solar energy
to create a new type of energy other than the kind it
already creates now.
• Solar energy can be technologically applied to just
about any energy need already including
transportation, and habitation needs.
• The next step for solar energy will just be in making
those feasible applications more efficient and
available to more people.
Go Solar!
• Solar energy is one of the most environmentally
friendly renewable energy resources out there.
– Includes both active and passive solar
energy systems.
• The sun’s life expectancy is somewhere
between 5 and 7 billion years from now.
• Most of the materials required to make it are
easily accessible, abundant, or inexpensive.
• The efficiency of solar modules is projected only
to go up from today.
• The price of solar modules is projected only to
go down from today.
• Solar panels are among the easiest to integrate
into modern life.
• All that’s really needed is a little more interest
and investment into the technology.
•
Sources
Used By Nick:
– Zachary. (2010, July 27). 1bog. Retrieved from http://1bog.org/blog/top-10-countries-using-solar-power/
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Geographic variation in potential of rooftop residential photovoltaic electric power production in the united states. (2004, August).
Retrieved from http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/publications/html/FSEC-PF-380-04/graphs/average.htm
– The history of solar. U.S. Department of Energy. DOI: www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/solar_timeline.pdf
Used By Derek:
– Comparative Review of Alternative Energies . (n.d.). The Electronic Universe. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/1996/ph162/review.html
– Are Solar Panels Cost Effective?. (n.d.). Share Knowledge & Earn Passive Income | Factoidz. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from
http://factoidz.com/are-solar-panels-cost-effective/
– Comparing Energy Costs of Nuclear, Coal, Gas, Wind and Solar. (2010, April 2). Nuclear Fissionary | clean—safe—reliable. Retrieved
November 28, 2011, from http://nuclearfissionary.com/2010/04/02/comparing-energy-costs-of-nuclear-coal-gas-wind-and-solar/
– Get Your Power From the Sun. (n.d.). Get Your Power From the Sun. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from
www.nrel.gov/docs/fy04osti/35297.pdf
– Solar Energy and it's Uses. (n.d.). Solar Energy and it's Uses. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.freesolaronline.com/
– Uses of Solar Energy. (n.d.). Solar Energy: uses, benefits and future.. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://solarenergyworks.net/usesof-solar-energy/
– Uses of Solar Energy. (n.d.). Solarbuzz. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from solarbuzz.com/going-solar/using/uses
Used By Carolyn:
– Brower, M. (2002, October 26). Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies | Union of Concerned Scientists. UCS:
Independent Science, Practical Solutions | Union of Concerned Scientists. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/environmental-impacts-of.html
– Haluzan, N. (2010, November 23). Solar energy environmental impact - Renewable Energy Articles. Energy Articles - Renewable Energy
Articles. Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.renewablesinfo.com/interesting_energy_articles/solar_energy_environmental_impact.html
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Hubbuch, C. (2011, November 27). Solar energy makes gains, but policy puts future in question. La Crosse Tribune - LaCrosse News Source.
Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/solar-energy-makes-gains-but-policy-puts-future-inquestion/article_bd696742-18a7-11e1-bf73-001cc4c03286.html
–
Weir, B. (2011, November 22). The Future of Solar Power | This Could Be Big - Yahoo! News. Yahoo! News - Latest News & Headlines.
Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/this-could-be-big-abc-news/future-solar-power-134303743.html