1. What is Solar Power?

2. There are two types of Solar Power Direct: involves only one transformation into a usable form. – Sunlight hits a photovoltaic cell creating electricity. Indirect: involves more than one transformation to reach a usable form. Many other types of power generation are indirectly solar-powered. – Hydroelectric dams and wind turbines are indirectly powered by solar energy through its interaction with the Earth’s atmosphere. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power

3. There are two types of Direct Solar Power: o Passive: is a broad category of techniques for regulating a building’s indoor air and domestic water temperatures, using climate, site features, architectural elements, and landscape materials. o Active: refers to a system which uses additional mechanisms such as circulation pumps, air blowers or automatic systems, which aim collectors at the sun. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_energy)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_energy

4. There are 3 types of collectors: o Flat-Plate Collectors: are arrays of solar panels arranged in a simple plane; more commonly used type of collector. o Focusing Collectors: are flat-plate collectors with optical devices arranged to maximize the radiation falling on the focus of the collector; used in few scattered areas. o Passive Collectors: absorb radiation and convert it to heat naturally, without being designed and built to do so. (http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/feneric/solar.html)http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/feneric/solar.html

5. Replacing Fossil Fuels Solar energy can be converted into numerous kinds of uses. Through these uses, it can replace numerous non-renewable sources such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal

6. Petroleum Americans especially depend on petroleum, but it is slowly diminishing as a resource and needs an alternative Petroleum is used as the main source of energy for vehicles

7. Natural Gas Natural gas is mainly used for heating homes Active and passive heating systems in homes.

8. Coal Coal is used to power a great majority of power plants A non-renewable source will eventually run out Produces a lot of emissions and is difficult to transport

9. Solar energy be used to Power cars Heat homes Power electric plants

10. Overall Solar energy is less expensive to produce When the source runs out, the world will end and there will be no reason for the source Solar energy can almost

11. Technology needed to make this a Viable Source

12. Passive and Active Energy  Uses natural materials or absorbing structures to gather and hold heat  The adobe dwellings and stone- walled buildings collect heat during the day and release at night  Does not involve much technology  pumps a heat-absorbing fluid medium through a small collector  Also, does not involve much technology Cunningham, William et al. Environmental Science A Global Concern. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., 2005. www.lucianofamily.net/.../ SanIldefonso-Pics.html

13. Photovoltaic Energy  In 1958, Vanguard I powered by 6 palm- sized photovoltaic cells cost $2000 per peak watt of output  1970, $100 per watt  2003, approaching $5 per watt  Last 25 years, efficiency of energy has increased from less than 1% of light to more than 10 % and over 75% in the lab Cunningham, William et al. Environmental Science A Global Concern. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., 2005.

14. Photovoltaic Energy   operate by the photovoltaic effect  In the future, this solar power could affect your solar power independence  Has no moving parts, no pollution, lifetime equal to fossil fuel or nuclear power plant Solar cells that produce electricity directly from sunlight  Made up of silicon Cunningham, William et al. Environmental Science A Global Concern. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., 2005. http://www.solarenergy.com/ws400CS.cgi?category=info _photovoltaics.html&cart_id=1051025104306148&dci=

15. Storage of Photovoltaic Energy Two ways of storing energy – Electrical- battery – Electrochemical- gas tanks

16. Aurora IV Cunningham, William et al. Environmental Science A Global Concern. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., 2005. http://www.despovartes.com/projects/umnsvp/aurora4/index.html  uses exotic metal alloys; gallium arsenide, semi-conducting polymers of polyvinyl alcohol  College students all over North America race solar-powered cars every year to test solar technology  Aurora IV was engineered by undergraduate students of University of Minnesota  Facts: Aurora IV has over 1,900 solar cells, top speed of Aurora 4 is over 80 mph, At 55 mph, the Aurora 4 only uses the power of a 1600 watt hair dryer

17. Negative Environmental Impacts Grid-connected central stations require significant land usage The manufacturing of PV cells generates hazardous materials http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar/images/photo_01224.jpg

18. Positive Environmental Impacts Solar energy systems are silent and create no pollution or waste while operating Solar Energy is a renewable resource and its use does not disturb ecosystems http://cas.bellarmine.edu/tietjen/Ec&Ev_Distance_learning/Ecol ogyIntro/ecosystem.gif

19. Should Tax Dollars Support Solar Energy? Yes. – Environmentally friendly – Costs are now comparable to alternative energy sources – Renewable Resource