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Solar energy - Patricia

Assignment for class - Environmental science OS433<br><br>Summary:<br><br>What is solar energy?<br>Advantages and disadvantages<br>How much solar energy?<br>Solar water heating<br>Power towers<br>Parabolic dishes<br>Solar panels<br>Efficiency<br>Final thoughts

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Solar energy - Patricia

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  1. Solar Energy: The Greatest Renewable Resource Patricia L. Harris

  2. What is Solar Energy? • Solar energy is sunlight harnessed using a range of technologies such as solar heating or solar panels; • It is categorized as renewable energy; • It can be used to heat, cool, and light our homes; • It is FREE.

  3. Advantages and Disadvantages • Advantages • Solar reduces our electricity bills • Environmentally friendly • Unlimited source of energy • Financial support from the Gorvernment • Disadvantages • Energy storage • Solar energy is a diffuse source. To harness it, we must concentrate it into an amount and form that we can use, such as heat and electricity. • Low efficiency

  4. How much solar energy? 47% of the sunlight that is incident on top of the earth's atmosphere reaches the surface.

  5. Putting Solar Energy to Use: Solar water heating systems • Solar panels collect the heat from the sun and use it to heat water. • The water circulates throughout a closed system due to convection currents. • Tanks of hot water are used as storage.

  6. Solar-Thermal Electricity:Power Towers • Also known as 'central tower' power plants or 'heliostat‘ • The technology uses many large mirrors to focus sunlight on a receiver at the top of a tower. • A heat transfer fluid gets heated in the receiver and used to generate steam, which, in turn, is used in a conventional turbine-generator to produce electricity.

  7. Parabolic Dishes and Troughs Collectors in southern CA. They work best under direct sunlight and must be steered throughout the day in the direction of the sun.

  8. Solar Panels • They absorb the energy (photons) from the Sun to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect. • Solar panels are connected in series to achieve a higher output voltage. • Sunlight conversion rate is around 20%.

  9. Latitude and Climate Reflectance Thermodynamic efficiency Conduction efficiency values Air pollution Manufacturers Storage capacity/systems Efficiency and Disadvantages

  10. Final Thought • Solar has Incredible Potential • Solar power is green (better than fossil fuels) • Low maintenance and running costs • Mitigates the effects of acid rain, carbon dioxide, and other impacts of burning coal and counters risks associated with nuclear energy. • Reduced contribution to Global Warming

  11. The End

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