1. Solar Power

2. Alternative/Renewable Energy: Solar Power By: Sally Alonge & Ryan Oldt

3. What Am I & Where Did I Come From? Solar power is energy which comes from the sun. This energy is very powerful and hits the earth regardless of whether or not we take advantage of it. Even the tiny percentage of sunlight that touches the earth is plenty to meet the energy and power needs of the entire human population more than 8,500 times over.

4. How Do I Work? Earth receives 174 petawatts (PW) of incoming solar radiation at the upper atmosphere. Approx. 30% is reflected back to space. While the rest is absorbed by clouds, ocean, and land mass. Light and radiant heat from the sun that influences Earth’s climate and weather and sustains life. Sometimes used as a synonym for solar energy or more specifically to refer to electricity generated from solar radiation.

5. Diagram!

6. Understand The Diagram!!! Solar rays (the sun) –Sunny days and cloudy days will produce power in a solar electric system. Light rays from the sun — those that you can see (visible light) and some that you can’t see (ultraviolet) — both help to produce electricity in the panels. Solar panels –Solar panels are the power producing mechanism. These panels contain solar cells. Each cell produces electric power when exposed to sunlight. Siemens solar panels have no moving parts, are very reliable, and have a long life. Solar panels are attached to your roof using a framework of aluminum and stainless steel units.

7. Understanding The Diagram… Part II Electrical inverter –Solar cells produce DC (direct current), which is similar to that produced by a car battery or flashlight battery. The electrical inverter, through electronic circuits, produces the AC (alternating current). This current is used by your home appliances and lighting fixtures. The inverter makes the power useful by producing AC power to the standards of your local power company. The inverter is in an attractive cabinet and can be mounted inside the home, in the basement, or on an outside wall. Wiring to the power system –Wiring connects the Siemens EarthSafe™ solar system to the load center (circuit breaker box or electrical panel) of your home. The solar electric system, when installed this way, can be thought of as a home appliance which produces power, rather than one that uses power.

8. Solving Problems One Step At A Time… 1. Saves you money –After the initial investment has been recovered, the energy from the sun is practically FREE. –The recovery/ payback period for this investment can be very short depending on how much electricity your household uses. –Financial incentives are available form the government that will reduce your cost. –If your system produce more energy than you use, your utility company can buy it from you, building up a credit on your account! This is called net metering. –It will save you money on your electricity bill if you have one at all. –Solar energy does not require any fuel. –It's not affected by the supply and demand of fuel and is therefore not subjected to the ever-increasing price of gasoline. –The savings are immediate and for many years to come. –The use of solar energy indirectly reduces health costs.

9. Solving Problems One Step At A Time…Again… 2. Environmentally friendly –Solar Energy is clean, renewable (unlike gas, oil and coal) and sustainable, helping to protect our environment. –It does not pollute our air by releasing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide or mercury into the atmosphere like many traditional forms of electrical generations does. –Therefore Solar Energy does not contribute to global warming, acid rain or smog. –It actively contributes to the decrease of harmful green house gas emissions. –It's generated where it is needed. –By not using any fuel, Solar Energy does not contribute to the cost and problems of the recovery and transportation of fuel or the storage of radioactive waste.

10. Solving Problems One Step At A Time…Again…& Again… 3. Independent/ semi-independent –Solar Energy can be utilized to offset utility-supplied energy consumption. It does not only reduce your electricity bill, but will also continue to supply your home/ business with electricity in the event of a power outage. –The use of Solar Energy reduces our dependence on foreign and/or centralized sources of energy, influenced by natural disasters or international events and so contributes to a sustainable future. –Solar Energy supports local job and wealth creation, fuelling local economies.

11. My Drawbacks…BOO! You Stink! Solar panels require quite a large area for installation to achieve a good level of efficiency. The efficiency of the system also relies on the location of the sun, although this problem can be overcome with the installation of certain components. The production of solar energy is influenced by the presence of clouds or pollution in the air. Similarly, no solar energy will be produced during nighttime although a battery backup system and/or net metering will solve this problem. The use of silicon crystals in the Photovoltaic cells makes it expensive. Silicon crystals are currently assembled manually. Silicon purification is difficult and a lot of silicon is wasted. Also, the operation of silicon cells require a cooling system, because performance degrades at high temperatures. solar powered car’s slower speed might not appeal to everyone caught up in today's rat race.

12. The Most Important part of All… THE OPINION… All in all, we think Solar energy is a great alternative resource. However, its disadvantages are a main concern. In our opinion, to actually want a solar powered house, more research is needed. It is very costly, but in the long run, saves you moola! However, it is possible that other alternative energy sources that are more efficient, are out there.

13. The End! ☺