Solar+Energy

= = =Solar Energy =

How Solar Panels Work
 Solar energy is initially powered by the sun. The sun’s energy is created using nuclear fusion, which produces radiant energy. This means the energy can reach Earth. The Earth first absorbs the energy in its atmosphere. The energy is then absorbed into the land and oceans, etc. This warming of the Earth also creates wind, meaning the sun’s energy is also the source of wind power. In order to actually create electricity from solar power, solar panels are required.

Solar panels are made up of silicon. These silicon disks are less than a centimeter thick, and have dopants added to them. Dopants are materials which can change the charge in photovoltaic cells (what solar panels are composed of). Each of these cells is packaged into modules, and groups of modules are called arrays. In order to make solar panels more efficient, more cells and higher quality cells are used. This increases the amount of electricity produced. Metal is also added along each disk in order to allow the electricity to be conducted. There is generally also a thin layer of glass on top of these cells in order to protect them. Glass is clear, and does not affect the photons hitting the cells on the solar panel.

The sun’s energy is changed into electricity using P-n junction diodes. As photons hit the solar panel, the diodes pull the electrons away using electric fields. This causes electrons to leave their orbit. They are being taken away in Directional Current. This electricity is then transferred to a grid, and then to buildings. It can be used in the same way as any other electricity, however if there is a cloudy day there may be a shortage of electricity. One way to counter this is to store up the solar energy in batteries; saving it for a rainy day.

 //This video summarizes solar panels with visuals: //  media type="youtube" key="5S7xDxrHI5s" height="333" width="390" ==**[|**solar energy is boss**] **==

Advantages and Disadvantages
**Pros: ** · Solar energy does not produce any pollution while in the process of generating electricity, as other energy sources such as coal do. The only opportunity for creating pollution would be in the manufacturing, transporting, and installation of the panels. · Solar energy does not create any sound. Without sound, it is possible for solar panels to be placed in vast amounts near populated areas, which is an issue for other sources of renewable energy, such as wind power. · Solar panels take up very little space. They can easily be installed on a rooftop in a city or other small places · Solar energy can generate electricity in remote areas, including space. As well, in remote areas, building a solar panel system can be cheaper than laying high voltage wires or connecting to a national electricity grid. · Sunlight, unlike fossil fuels, is distributed all across the globe, although it is in different concentrations (equatorial regions get the most direct sun, arctic regions get the least) · Many governments have introduced financial incentives to install solar panels · It is sometimes possible to sell back unused electricity to the utility, which in turn reduces electricity bills and makes electricity available at night, when the panels would not be generating energy. · Though solar panels are initially expensive, the cost can be recovered over several years · Solar Panels require little maintnance · Cost of Solar Electricity does not fluctuate · Sunlight is a renewable energy source, and does not deplete over time · Solar Panels can be easily removed or added depending on your energy needs

Cons:
· Solar panels are expensive to install. Currently, the cost of purchasing and installing solar panels for an average household is approximately $30000-$50 000, but this can change depending on energy usage.[|1] · The second issue with solar panels is their intermittency. Solar panels will not work at night, and their efficiency will be affected if it is cloudy or particularly smoggy. · Although solar panels can be installed in small spaces, to provide a significant amount of electricity, a larger space is needed · Positioning can be a problem, as shadows of other buildings or trees can affect the functioning of the panels · Solar panels only have an efficiency of approximately 40%, which means 60% of the available energy is lost[|2] 1 Elle MacKenna, //Cost of Installing Solar Panels for Your Home, // http://hubpages.com/hub/Costs_of_Installing_Solar_Panels_for_Your_Home (accessed May 21, 2010) 2 Lisa Zyga, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">40% Efficient Solar Cells to be Used for Solar Electricity // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt;">, http://www.physorg.com/news99904887.html (accessed May 21, 2010)

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">History
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> History has shown that Solar Energy was first used by the Romans in the simplest form. They were able to understand the basics of Solar heating. By covering south facing buildings with glass or mica in order to store heat of the winter sun. In 1838, Edmund Becquerel made the first published observations on solar energy and the nature of which materials turn into light energy. However, Solar Energy was not considered of high importance at the time and was disregarded. Further research was done and Auguste Mouchout was the first man to patent a design for a motor that ran on solar energy. After receiving funds from the French monarch, he designed a device that transformed solar energy into mechanical steam power.[|[1]] Unfortunately, its high cost in addition to the falling price of coal in England caused for the downfall of importance in Mouchout’s work and was pushed aside. Nonetheless, scientists continued to experiment with Solar Energy throughout the 19th century. Around 1876, William Adams wrote a book on Solar Energy. This included discussion of experiments he preformed using mirrors to power a steam engine, his design known as the “Power Tower” concept, is still in use today. As the development and study of solar energy grew, several more scietists began trying their own methods of converting it to electricity. For example in 1883, Charles Fritz converted the suns rays into electricity. His solar cell only had a conversion rate of 1-2%[|[2]]. In the beginning of the 20th century, Solar Energy companies began to arise though, they never seemed to last long. In 1954 Bell Laboratories scientists Gerald Pearson and Daryl Chaplin revealed the use of silicon solar cells as a semi conductor, which led to the construction of a solar panel with a 6% efficiency rate. By 1956 the first solar cell was made available to the public,, but it was very expensive, costing approx. $300 per watt. As the space program developed, this opened up for many new advancements in solar technologies. The Vanguard I was launched in 1958, it was the first satellite that used solar energy to generate electricity. Around 1973, solar energy came into the spot light as researchers realized how dependant the world was on non-renewable resources such as coal and oil. Because of this, the price of solar cells plummeted to around $20 per watt. Presently and in recent years, there has been a renewed intensified focus on developing solar energy as more and more people see the many advantages. Financial aid from governments is becoming more prominent. Solar electric systems can now be found in every day life, from generating electricity for entire buildings to cars to appliances. Solar energy is everywhere.

[|[1]] //Solar Energy History//, 2006, [] (accessed May 16, 2010) [|[2]] //Solar Energy History//, 2006, [] (accessed May 16, 2010) <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Bibliography
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"> //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How are Solar Panels Made? // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Web. 25 May 2010. <http://www.solarpanelinfo.com/solar-panels/how-are-solar-panels-made.php>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"> //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How do Solar Panels Work? // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Web. 11 May 2010. <http://www.solarpanelinfo.com/solar-panels/how-solar-panels-work.php>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"> //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How Solar Energy Works // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. Web. 25 May 2010. <www.soltrex.com/learn/how.cfm>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">//History of Solar.// 2008. May 16th 2010. <http://64.82.101.14/solar/solar-roadmap/solar_how-to/history-of-solar.htm> MacKenna, Elle.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cost of Installing Solar Panels for Your Home. // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Web. 21 May 2010. <http://hubpages.com/hub/Costs_of_Installing_Solar_Panels_for_Your_Home>. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Solar Energy Advantages and Disadvantages. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Web. 21 May 2010. <http://www.facts-about-solar-energy.com/solar-energy-advantages-disadvantages.html>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">//Solar Energy, History//. 2006. May 16th 2010. <http://www.facts-about-solar-energy.com/solar-energy-history.html> MacKenna, Elle. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Pros and Cons of Solar Energy. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Web. 11 May 2010. < http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/articles/pros_and_cons_of_solar_energy.html>. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pros and Cons of Solar Energy. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Web. 21 May 2010. <http://www.energyforthenewage.com/getting-started/solar-basics/pros-and-cons-of-solar-energy/>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">U.S. Department of Energy. //The History of Solar.// May 17th 2010.<http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/solar_timeline.pdf>

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Zyga, Lisa. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">40% Efficient Solar Cells to be Used for Solar Electricity. // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Web. 21 May 2010. <http://www.physorg.com/news99904887.html>.