The Future of Solar Energy By: Victoria DeMarco

What is Solar Energy? Electricity produced from the sun’s radiation.

What is Solar Energy? Heat and light from the Sun, along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for over 99.9% of the available flow of renewable on Earth.

Benefits of Solar Energy They can diversify our energy supply, reduce our dependence on imported fuels, improve the quality of the air we breathe, offset greenhouse gas emissions, and stimulate our economy by creating jobs in the manufacturing and installation of solar energy systems.

Benefits of Solar Energy 780 million women and children breathing kerosene fumes inhale the equivalent of smoke from 2 packs of cigarettes a day. The increase of solar energy will enable people to live long healthy lives. Solar electricity for the Third World is clearly the most effective energy conservation program because it conserves costly conventional power for urban areas, town market centers, and industrial and commercial uses, leaving decentralized PV- generated power to provide the lighting and basic electrical needs of the majority of the developing world's rural populations.

Benefits of Solar Energy As much as 90% of the export earnings of some developing countries are used to pay for imported oil, most of it for power generation. Expanding solar rural electrification creates jobs and business opportunities based on an appropriate technology in a decentralized marketplace.

Benefits of Solar Energy It will allow for more radio and television technology within the United States so more people can access information. Use of solar electric light aids students in studying during evening hours.

Negatives of Solar Energy Solar energy products can be very expensive. The initial cost is, perhaps, the main disadvantage of solar energy. You need a relatively large area to install solar panels if you want a good level of efficiency. Depending where you live (Arizona vs. Alaska, around many shady trees or in the desert, etc.), you will get different results with solar energy systems.

Negatives of Solar Energy As your energy needs grow, you can add more solar panels. Solar powered cars are not yet up to par with other cars. They have a much slower speed.

Negatives of Solar Energy There is a lack of adequate research. In order to have Solar energy systems, you need to have an adequate storage system. The storage system can lead to fungus and mold growth. To prevent the growth you need to by numerous materials.

Today’s Technology: Our homes Space heating means heating the space inside a building. Today many homes use solar energy for space heating. Heating a house by warming the walls or floors is more comfortable than heating the air inside a house. It is not so drafty. And passive buildings are quiet, peaceful places to live. A passive solar home can get 50 to 80 percent of the heat it needs from the sun.

Today’s technology: Our world Solar energy is also frequently used on transportation signaling e.g. offshore navigation buoys, lighthouses, aircraft warning lights on pylons or structures, and increasingly in road traffic warning signals. Solar energy is used to power environmental and situation monitoring equipment, corrosion protection systems (based on impressing a current) for pipelines, well-heads, and bridges or other structure.

Solar Energy: Our Future For the future, many scientists are working on different ways to create solar powered towns and homes. Today, 20 houses, reassembled, are arrayed in a little solar village, fully operational and open to the public.

Today’s technology: Our homes Today, many people use solar energy systems for water heaters. A well- maintained system can last years, longer than a conventional water heater.

Solar Energy: Our Future The Stirling engine does not use internal heat but external heat. The gas inside is never consumed. A Stirling engine can use any external heat source such as the sun or by burning fuels. Stirling engines are currently used in spacecraft, submarines and as power other sources of power.

Solar Energy: Our future Traditional solar cells could use only visible light but research is being conducted to use the full spectrum of light. A huge effort is underway to reduce the cost of making and implementing solar cells, which will allow for greater technology.

Bibliography chapter20.htmlhttp:// chapter20.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_energy disadvantagesofsolarenergy.com facts-about-solar-energy.com/solar- energy-advantages-disadvantages.html