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Solar EnergyJoe Kearns
Kevin Phelps
Our Hypothesis
• Solar Power has potential to, at least partly, slow down the negative environmental effects of global climate change• Viable alternative to fossil fuels
Advantages
• Most abundant source of energy on Earth• No resource competition between nations• Cannot be manipulated by governments or corporations• No harmful emissions or negative externalities
Problems
• Not enough investment in new technology or engineering• Need advanced batteries to store electricity
Environmental Aspects
Global Climate Change
• Fossil fuels are responsible for climate change• Need for an alternative energy source
The Sun
• Responsible for all sources of energy on Earth• Second Law of Thermodynamics
Intro to Solar Power
• Solar power more powerful and efficient than all other secondary forms of energy• Solar energy only accounts for 0.7% of global energy consumption in
2013
Technological Aspects
Off Grid Homes
Off Grid Homes
• Not connected to the main electrical grid• Power generated with renewable solar energy
sources
PV Cells
Powers applications like off grid homes
PV Cells
• Use semi-conductor to absorb photons• When have enough energy, displace electrons from material they are
manufactured with • Use no fuel• Positive and negative side, creates voltage potential
Concentrated Solar Power Plants
Concentrated Solar Power Plants
• Solar Dish• Parabolic Trough• Solar Power Tower
Ben-Gurion National Solar Energy Center
• National alternative energy institute of Israel• Location of the world’s largest solar energy
dish
Solar Energy Generating Systems (Parabolic Trough)• 3 separate locations• 354 megawatts or 474,700 horsepower• World’s second largest solar thermal
energy generating facility
Ivanpah Solar Power Tower
• Located in Mojave Desert in California• 377 megawatts • Powers 140,000 homes• World’s largest solar thermal energy
generating facility
Social Aspects
Growth in Solar Energy
• 2000-08: Solar Power usage increased 40% annually in the U.S.• By 2020, 10% of electricity generation will come from solar;
Dec. 2014: just 0.45%• 8% PV Cell• 2% Concentrated Solar Power Plants
Solar Power Growth and a Conducive Economic Future• German think tank Angora Energiewende published
report saying that solar power’s cost relative to other energy sources is declining• By 2025, the cost of producing power in central and
southern Europe will have declined to between 4 and 6 cents per kilowatt hour, and by 2050 to as low as 2 to 4 cents• Soon to be the cheapest source of energy in many
parts of the world
Concluding Questions
• Will the changing economic and environmental conditions be sufficient to spark enough growth in solar power?• In what aspects will solar power be most prominent? • Where might solar power fall short?
Wrap-Up
• Solar Power can help address global climate change• It already has several useful modern applications• More favorable economic conditions and more negative
environmental conditions make the present a ripe time to conduct further research and investment in solar energy