Solar Energy
Energy Outline
A. Benefits Of Solar Energy
• Does not release green house gases
• Production of solar energy does not produce smoke, gas, or any other chemical byproducts
• Solar energy contributes to about 4 percent of the world’s electricity
• Italy’s Montalto di Castro solar park: o good example of how solar contributes to the decrease in emissions o Decreases the carbon emissions by about 20,000 tons per year compared to fossil fuel energy production.
• Money! o Except for the initial installation and maintenance, solar energy is absolutely free o Does not require expensive raw materials like oil or coal o Less staff working at the power plants since the sun and solar semi conductors do majority of the work
• Jobs o Creates jobs o According to the EIAA, Europe’s solar industry created 100,000 jobs o Types of jobs include: manufacturing, installing, monitoring and maintaining solar panels, research and design. Development, cultural integration, and policy jobs
• Benefits the eco system o Will not require the destruction of forests because solar energy does not require constantly mining raw materials
• Water According to the American Wind Energy Association: o Nuclear power: 2.3 liters of water required to produce one kilowatt hour of electricity o Coal: 1.9 liters of water required to produce one kilowatt hour of electricity o Oil: 1.6 liters of water required to produce one kilowatt hour of electricity o Solar Energy: 110 milliliters of water required to produce one kilowatt hour of electricity o Hence solar energy does not use as much water
B. How solar energy is produced
• Solar panels work through photovoltaic process o Radiation energy is absorbed and it generates electricity
• Specifically, radiation energy is absorbed through semi conductor cells, which are normally silicon. Then it is transformed from light energy into electric current
• When the radiation of the sun hits a silicon atom, a photon of light energy is
A. Benefits Of Solar Energy
• Does not release green house gases
• Production of solar energy does not produce smoke, gas, or any other chemical byproducts
• Solar energy contributes to about 4 percent of the world’s electricity
• Italy’s Montalto di Castro solar park: o good example of how solar contributes to the decrease in emissions o Decreases the carbon emissions by about 20,000 tons per year compared to fossil fuel energy production.
• Money! o Except for the initial installation and maintenance, solar energy is absolutely free o Does not require expensive raw materials like oil or coal o Less staff working at the power plants since the sun and solar semi conductors do majority of the work
• Jobs o Creates jobs o According to the EIAA, Europe’s solar industry created 100,000 jobs o Types of jobs include: manufacturing, installing, monitoring and maintaining solar panels, research and design. Development, cultural integration, and policy jobs
• Benefits the eco system o Will not require the destruction of forests because solar energy does not require constantly mining raw materials
• Water According to the American Wind Energy Association: o Nuclear power: 2.3 liters of water required to produce one kilowatt hour of electricity o Coal: 1.9 liters of water required to produce one kilowatt hour of electricity o Oil: 1.6 liters of water required to produce one kilowatt hour of electricity o Solar Energy: 110 milliliters of water required to produce one kilowatt hour of electricity o Hence solar energy does not use as much water
B. How solar energy is produced
• Solar panels work through photovoltaic process o Radiation energy is absorbed and it generates electricity
• Specifically, radiation energy is absorbed through semi conductor cells, which are normally silicon. Then it is transformed from light energy into electric current
• When the radiation of the sun hits a silicon atom, a photon of light energy is