Solar Power

1
Solar Power

• The sun bathes the earth with more energy each
  minute than the world consumes in one year.

Photo taken a Pinellas Point Beach 1/27/06
2
What is Solar Power?

• Sunlightsolar energycan be used to generate
  electricity, provide hot water, and to heat,
  cool, and light buildings.
• The solar energy knocks electrons loose from
  their atoms, allowing the electrons to flow
  through the material to produce electricity
• This action is commonly referred to as Solar
  Power

3
Types of Solar Power

• Light from the Sun
• Heat from the Sun

4
There are Five Renewable Energy Sources

• Solar Light
• Solar Heat
• Geothermal Heat
• Biogas
• Biomass

5
What are Photovoltaics?

• Photovoltaic solar cells, which directly convert
  sunlight into electricity.
• They are made up of semiconducting materials.

6
History

• Auguste Mouchout,
• The father of Solar Power

7
History (Cont)

• Making of Ice in 1878 at the Paris World Fair
• William Adams-1878 Developed the Tower of Power
  design used today.

8
History (cont)

• John Ericsson Swedish born American. the
  Parobolic Trough, 1870.

9
Jump Forward to the last few decades

• Solar power has seen a resurgence in importance
  in the US Govt.
• Solar cells (PV) has fallen since the 1970s
• Architecture

10
Solar Power Plants

• Solar Two
• This Power Tower, uses 1050 degree F molten
  salt to store thermal energy from the Sun.
• Can generate energy day or night rain or shine.

(source Southern California Edison)
11
The Parobolic Dish
12
Many Uses for Solar Power

• Heating of water
• Lighting a house
• Cooking
• Power cars and other forms of transportation
• Production of Electricity for the masses.

13
Solar Car

• Midnight Sun Solar Car.

Provided by the University of Waterloo.
14
Disadvantages

• Clouds
• Dirty solar panels
• Initial Costs
• Northern and Southern areas of the Earth

15
Large areas needed for massive production of
solar power
Disadvantages (Cont)
Provided by SEGS Power Company of California.
16
Trees block sunlight
Disadvantages (Cont)
17
Advantages

• Electric Bills dramatically drop.
• No Power Outages
• No pollutants

18
Other Uses.
Hubble Spacecraft
Provided by NASA.
19
Summary

• Solar energy technologies have great potential to
  benefit our nation. They can diversify our energy
  supply, reduce our dependence on imported fuels,
  improve the quality of the air we breathe, offset
  greenhouse gas emissions, and stimulate our
  economy by creating jobs in the manufacturing and
  installation of solar energy systems.

20
Contributors

• Solarenergy.com
• History of Solar Power
• University of Waterloo
• Solar Electric Power Association
• Arizona Solar Center