EQ: How does the use of renewable and nonrenewable resources affect our ongoing energy crisis? LT: I can explain the environmental consequences of the various methods of obtaining, transforming, and distributing energy. POU: I will understand that there are different types of fossil fuels with different environmental impacts. I will explore solar energy, specifically photovoltaic cells, solar batteries and reflectors. Warm Up Solar Energy PPT (solar panels on calculators, flower toy, etc)

Warm Up 1/27/14 Voices are at “0” 1.What does “obtaining, transforming and distributing” mean in our Learning Target 2. Give 3 examples of when you have seen solar energy in use

3rd Quarter Table of Contents 1 Title Assignment # Alternative Energy Notes 2 Solar /Wind Energy Notes3

What is a Fossil Fuel???

What is “Renewable Energy?”

Solar Energy Basics Joe Rand KidWind Project

Solar Energy – A Bright Idea! “I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait ‘til oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” - Thomas Edison

People have been harnessing solar energy for a long time! Solar collector for heating water A home in California in 1906

Two Main Categories: Solar ThermalSolar Photovoltaic (PV) Water heating and cookingElectricity production

Solar Thermal Energy: Using the heat of the sun Cooking Water Heating

Solar Cooking

Benefits of Solar Cooking Consumes no fuels/wood – No loss of trees & habitat – Trees sequester carbon Generates no air pollution Generates no greenhouse gases Produces no smoke – Cooking smoke kills over 1.6 million people each year, mostly women & children, according to a recent report Eliminates fire dangers

More Benefits of Solar Cooking Eliminates work – No daily search for firewood 2 Billion people rely on wood for cooking fuel! – No risks to women and children – Frees time for other activities – No need to stir food – Helps to liberate women

More Benefits of Solar Cooking Cooks foods slowly and thoroughly Preserves nutrients Foods will not burn Pots are easy to clean; less clean water is needed Use for canning vegetables Use for dried fruit Kill insects in dry grains

Solar Cooking How Long Does it Take? Vegetables: 1.5 hrs Rice/wheat: hrs Beans: 2-3 hrs Meats: 1-3 hrs Bread: hrs

Solar Water Heating Solar water heating is the most efficient and economical use of solar energy Residential systems start at $2500 and typically cost $3500- $4500 installed Savings of $30-$75 per month, lasting 20 years Tax credits and state rebates available

Solar Water Heating

Solar Electric (Photovoltaic)

Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert light energy directly into electricity. Commonly known as “solar cells.” The simplest systems power the small calculators we use every day. More complicated systems will provide a large portion of the electricity in the near future. PV represents one of the most promising means of maintaining our energy intensive standard of living while not contributing to global warming and pollution. Solar Electric Systems

How Does it Work? Sunlight is composed of photons, or bundles of radiant energy. When photons strike a PV cell, they may be reflected or absorbed (transmitted through the cell). Only the absorbed photons generate electricity. When the photons are absorbed, the energy of the photons is transferred to electrons in the atoms of the solar cell.

Best Place For Solar Panels? South Facing roof, adequate space No shading (time of year, future tree growth) Roof structure, condition

Large Scale PV Power Plants Prescott Airport Location: AZ Operator: Arizona Public Service Configuration: 1,450 kWp SGS Solar Location: AZ Operator: Tucson Electric Power Co Configuration: 3,200 kWp

ROXBORO, N.C. – A five-acre solar farm built by Durham-based Carolina Solar Energy in Person County is now online and feeding power to the grid of Progress Energy.The complex is expected to produce 837,000 kilowatt-hours of energy in the first year, enough for some 60 households based on an average annual usage of 14,000 kilowatt hours.Progress Energy is buying the power from Carolina Solar, which owns and operate the farm. The complex is located at the Person County Business and Industrial Center.Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.Progress Energy is acquiring power from three solar farms, including one at SAS headquarters in Cary.State law requires Progress and other utilities to begin producing power from renewable sources. Progress Energy is exploring solar, wind, biowaste and other options to produce power from renewable sources. By 2012, companies have to get 3.5 percent of all retail sales from so-called renewables. The requirement jumps to 12.5 percent by 2021.Duke Energy is also involved in numerous solar and wind projects.

Centralized Wind-Solar Hybrid System In hybrid energy systems more than a single source of energy supplies the electricity. Wind and Solar compliment one another

Demo: How Does the Color/Wavelength of Light Affect PV Efficiency? Test 5-8 colors using different backgrounds on PowerPoint Slides – Purple – Blue – Green – Yellow – Orange – Red – White

Approximate Wavelength: nanometers

Approximate Wavelength: nanometers

Approximate Wavelength: nanometers

Approximate Wavelength: nanometers

Approximate Wavelength: nanometers

Approximate Wavelength: nanometers

Brainpop: Solor Energy

Brainpop: Energy Sources