LAB 6: S LAR ENERGY Key Q: What other energy sources are there?

LAB 6: S LAR ENERGY

Key Q: What other energy sources are there?

Energy from the Sun

• The sun has produced energy for billions of years

• SOLAR ENERGY is the sun’s rays that reach the Earth

• This energy can be converted into other forms of energy, such as heat and electricity

A basic law in physics is that…

energy can't be created nor destroyed...only transformed

In other words, take the sun's solar energy and transform it into the energy you need

The Suns Energy…

-Provides heat

-Drives photosynthesis

-Drives the water cycle

-Drives Wind

-Can be converted into electricity using

photovoltaic cells

Solar Heating Systems

ACTIVE PASSIVE

• Devices capture the sun’s energy

• No equipment

• Buildings with many windows allow heat in

Solar energy can be converted to electricity in 2 ways:

PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS A device used to change

sunlight directly into electricity

CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER

PLANTS

generating electricity by using sunlight to

heat a fluid which produces steam that is

used to power the generator

How Solar Panels WorkAMS Solar Power

• A RENEWABLE RESOURCE

• DOES NOT EMIT POLLUTANTS when generating electricity

• Produces electricity very QUIETLY

SOLAR Energy – ADVANTAGES

MORE ADVANTAGES…

• Solar panels can be installed on top of many ROOFTOPS (don’t have to find space)

• Energy from the sun is FREE for years to come with virtually

NO MAINTENANCE

• Solar Electricity CAN BE STORED FOR LATER USE

EVEN MORE ADVANTAGES…

• FINANCIAL INCENTIVES from the government

• SAVES YOU MONEY

on your electric bill (if you have one at all)

• Allows us to become LESS DEPENDENT on fossil fuel supplies & foreign imports

A FEW MORE ADVANTAGES…

• EXCESS ELECTRICITY generated can be SOLD to power companies

• More solar panels CAN EASILY BE ADDED

SOLAR Energy – DISADVANTAGES • Solar Panels can be EXPENSIVE

initially

• Some households may need MORE THAN ONE

• Solar panels require a LARGE AREA FOR INSTALLATION

to achieve a good level of efficiency

• Solar powered CARS ARE

SLOWER

MORE DISADVANTAGES…

• Efficiency relies on the LOCATION OF THE SUN

• Solar energy is influenced by

CLOUDS or POLLUTION

• Solar power CANNOT BE GENERATED AT NIGHT

EVEN MORE DISADVANTAGES…