LIVE INTERACTIVE YOUR DESKTOP Solar Energy in Middle and High School Classrooms Presented by: Michael Tinnesand and Rachel Pokrandt September 13, 2011

Where does U.S. energy come from today? Source:

Where does U.S.energy come from today? Source:

The Potential of Solar Energy

How can we capture the Sun’s energy? Passive Credit: U. S. Department of Energy-Solar Decathlon

How can we capture the Sun’s energy? Solar Concentrators 20 mW concentrator near Seville

How can we capture the Sun’s energy? Photovoltaic panels Credit: U. S. Department of Energy-Solar Decathlon

How can we capture the Sun’s energy? Solar Water heating

How do we measure electricity usage? Watts - A watt is a unit of power. It is a Newton meter per second, or can be given as a joule per second. Kilowatts – 1,000 watts equals one kilowatt (kW) Kilowatt-hours (kWh) – A device such as a plasma TV, which uses 1,000 watts for one hour consumes one kWh of power.

How do Solar Panels work?

Credit: rsc.org p-type n-type

How do Solar Panels work?

How are Solar Panels made? Credit: Solar World

How are Solar Panels made? Credit: Solar World

Challenges for 1 st Generation Solar Panels They don’t work at night and work poorly in cloudy weather. Production uses toxic materials including greenhouse gases and must be treated to prevent release Takes energy to produce solar panels (1-3 year ‘energy payback’) Expensive End-of-use recycling needs to be developed Research in new solar panel technologies needs to continue, improving efficiency, cost, usability.

2 nd Generation Solar Cheaper More flexible – more uses Lighter Not as efficient

Examples of 3 rd generation solar panels

How do they work? What do they look like? How do they work? What do they look like? *+ TO 2n TO 2n - - /2 I I - + S S hv e 3 S [i][i] 2 S A dye, adsorbed on TiO 2 is excited by light 5. The dye is reduced by the electrolyte 2. The excited dye injects an e- into the TiO 2 3. The electron leaves the TiO 2 and is carried through as current 4. The e - returns to the device and reduces the electrolyte 1 3. ITO electrode 2. TiO 2 Semiconductor 1. Sensitizer Dye 4. Catalytic layer to promote I - to I 2 regeneration 5. Electrolyte with I - /I 2 Insulating Seal TiO 2 Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Bioinspiration

Blackberry Solar Cell Lesson Plan Standards and skills NS SCIENCE AS INQUIRY NS PHYSICAL SCIENCE NS EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE NS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY NS PERSONAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES Lesson activities Learn how traditional solar panels are made Consider this process against the 12 principles of green chemistry Construct a dye sensitized solar cell Evaluate and compare the differences in solar cell technologies

Making the cell with your students!

TiO 2 Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Using Solar Power On the grid

Using Solar Power Off the grid

U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

The Solar Decathlon Events

Team Germany

Team California

Appalachian State University

Phase Change Wallboard Photo: National Gypsum

Measuring heat of phase change. Measuring temperature vs phase change

Measuring heat of phase change. Measuring temperature vs phase change

Measuring heat of phase change. Heat of fusion lab

Measuring heat of phase change. Heat of fusion lab H f of paraffin ≈ 200 J/g Specific heat capacity of paraffin ≈ 2 J/g x°C

Resources U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon - ChemMatters – Beyond Benign-Blackberry Solar Cell Activity - ml Solar World - National Renewable Energy Lab -

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