B101 The Technology Context Course work 1 Sustainable energy Student: QXTmNu3xyI#

Introduction In this presentation I shall be summarising an article on sustainable energy, the topic I have focused my presentation on is Solar energy and recent developments in this technology.

Solar Panels The article I shall be taking from is ‘The Greening of Google’ by Sandra Upson, written October This article explores developments by world famous company Google, and their Head quarters project; which now uses solar recycling technology to power their business into the future.

I have chosen this topic as everyone is aware of the effects of global warming, and projects like this give a real insight into how companies and even home owners like yourself could be reducing your effects on the environment.

Solar panels Google has installed 9212 solar panels on the roofs of their 8 buildings for the Google HQ in Miami

Maximising productivity To make Google’s solar panels as efficient as possible, the roofs that accommodate the 9212 panels are all tilted with a row of panels facing directly south; as to maximise solar intake facing the sun for the largest majority of the day..

In efforts to create as much power as possible even there car park boasts long two rows of solar panels.

This is the current view of the Google head quarters

Productivity The design of the solar panels positioning allows them to create 9000kilowatts in just one day. By the end of 2007, Google claims there panels will produce an impressive 1.6 megawatts electricity, satisfying 30% of there buildings at peak demand.

Just to put that into prospective, producing 1.6Megawatts is enough to power 1000 homes in California.

Joint efforts Obviously Google is not the only company to invest in such a project, although Google has installed the largest Solar project in North America, it is not actually recorded in the top 10 of worlds largest installations. Which shows other countries are continuously competing for a place in the top ten for their solar efforts.

The market for these projects are now increasing 40% every year in the US.

German Market is larger than the US’ market for these projects.

Spain’s market for solar projects is increasing by 100% every year.

Tesco Joins In UK supermarket Tesco are to install what will be the world's biggest solar roof on their new 820,400 square foot Riverside, California distribution centre. The proposed Solar panels will generate in excess of 2.6 million kWh of electricity per year, saving 1,200 tonnes of annual CO2 emissions and powering one-fifth of the distribution centre's refrigerated and frozen food storage.

These are the images as yet of the projects progress, lets hope the final product is as impressive as the figures. Especially as they have Google’s big success to live up to.

I think it is definitely safe to say Google has set the ball rolling with their solar initiative, other companies not wanting to loose reputation and business from their ever growing environmentally aware customers will be taking example and implementing similar projects of their own, as shown by Tesco not soon after Google’s show of environmental caring. Even home owners like yourself are doing their part installing self sufficient energy sources in their homes. Even councils who are growing more aware of the impact of this technology are offering grants to some home owners as contribution towards installing systems. Thank you Google for setting the standard for many to follow

Thank you I hope this presentation has inspired all watching.. Maybe you may consider small projects of your own to do your bit for the environment.

Sources Images; (ref: