Arno Smets

Introduction to Solar EnergyEnergy Conversion I

Week 1.2.1

`

(Source: NASA)

Energy Joules (J)

Power = Energy/Time Watts (W)

1 W = 1 J/s

1 kWh = 1kW x 1h = 3.6 MJ

The Energy ProblemGrowing world population

The Energy Problem Energy Shortage

Increasing living standard:

Energy consumption per capita

(Source: Wikipedia)

The Energy Problem

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Time

An

n. A

verg

. Oil

pri

ce (

in 2

00

8 U

SD)Energy Shortage

Source: BP workbook of historical data

380

360

340

320

300

280

260

200019501900185018001750

Parts per m

illion

by vo

lum

e

Carbon Dioxide Concentration

Direct Measurements

Ice Core Measurements

Source: Trends in atmospheric CO2 ESRL-GMD

The Energy Problem

0.6

0.4

0.2

0

- 0.2

- 0.4

200019601940192019001880 1980

Glo

bal

Tem

per

atu

re A

no

mal

y (C

)

Global Temperature

NASA GISS 12 months running average

Hottest 12 months on recordJune 2009 to May 2010

Climate change