Solar Energy
Bhavik, Hana, Ali
History of Science Behind Solar Energy
1839: Edmond
Becquerel The
3rd C BC: Burning
P.V effect
Mirrors
1860s: August
Mouchet develops a
solar-powered
steam engine
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The Beginning of The Solar Age
1905: Einstein Publishes A 1954: Silicon
Paper on The Photoelectric Photovoltaic Cell
Effect was Developed Bell
Labs
Photoelectric effect
is the release of
electrons in space, 1954 Onward: The War Of Efficiency
while photovoltaic is
the jump of them in
their valence band.
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Branches of Solar Energy
Solar Thermal Energy Photovoltaic Cells Concentrated Solar Power
• It consists of converting • They convert radiant energy • To start off, radiant energy is
radiant energy into in photos into electrical transferred into thermal energy
thermal energy. energy in electrons. As a by installed panels and mirrors,
result, they can produce which is stored in heat transfer
• For this approach, electricity directly from
different devices such as fluids that boil the water
sunlight. needed to make steam.
optics and glass are used
to concentrate light which • They can still generate • This steam spins a turbine
is then used to heat water. electricity with scattered which generates mechanical
and reflected light. energy from the existing
• Solar thermal energy
allows passive heating and • They do not need any thermal energy.
cooling of homes and moving parts hence have • Finally, the mechanical energy
buildings. low maintenance and causes the generator magnets
operating costs. to spin which yields electricity.
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Availability
Availability on large scale of solar is limitless
Solar Panels Covering Land Size of Michigan
Lake can power the whole U.S
Availability on small scale of solar is
unpredictable.
Capacity factor:
Seattle Washington: 14%
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Phoenix Arizona: 33%
Astronomical Factors
Earth's orbit causes different weather patterns which fluctuates the capacity of solar
panels.
Solar is most available during the afternoon
when the demand for energy is the lowest.
This causes a mismatch between when solar
energy is most available versus when it is most
needed.
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Geographical Factors
Solar is very land-intensive, making it impossible to power
large cities with solar arrays either in the cities or nearby.
Meteorological Factors
Meteorological factors such as clouds can affect the
capacity of solar panels.
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Significance
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Efficiency
15% average efficiency of
10-20% average Concentrated Solar
efficiency of thermal power plants
Photovoltaic cells
Efficiency varies greatly
with temperature of Solar
thermal panels.
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Principle: Converts radiant energy
to electrical energy using properties
of silicon alloys.
Science Behind
Solar P.V
Phosphorus Region Boron Region
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Principle: Converts radiant energy
to thermal energy which then gets
converted to mechanical energy
using a steam turbine.
Science Behind
Solar
Concentrated
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Principle: Converts radiant energy
to thermal energy
Science Behind
Solar Thermal
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The Source of the Power: Sun
The sun’s gravitational field exerts immense
pressure on the hydrogen atoms in the star
causing them to combine and form Helium.
This process is called nuclear fusion and
it releases A LOT OF ENERGY!
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Devices Solar PV
Though there are many
layers in a solar panel,
what makes the
electricity production
happen are the solar
cells.
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Devices Solar
Concentrated
There are many
smaller devices, but
the main ones are
concentrators, power
tower system, turbine.
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Devices Solar Thermal
Solar thermal uses a "dark
absorbing surface, a
transparent cover, a heat
insulating backing and ... a
fluid that transports heat
from the absorber to a water
tank." (Green Match, 2023)
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Environmental
Aspects
Reduced Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
• Electricity generated by solar energy massively reduces
the greenhouse gases emitted (specifically CO2)
• By reducing these emissions, we can mitigate the
effects of climate change by reducing the overall carbon
footprint.
• Therefore, this will help slow the rate of global warming
and its associated impacts, such as the rise of sea-levels,
severe heatwaves, droughts, and floods.
• In comparison to coal, coal produces 25 times more
carbon dioxide than solar to create the same amount of
energy.
• an average UK home implementing a photovoltaic (PV)
system could reduce carbon emissions by 1.3-1.6 tonnes
a year
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Improved Public
Health
• Increased consumption of solar energy
means lowers emissions of harmful gases like
nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide.
• This improves the overall air quality which
means that respiratory issues, such as asthma,
along with cardiovascular hospitalizations will
decrease.
• Additionally, this helps reduce the risk of heart
attacks and premature deaths. This would
provide over $400 billion in health and
environmental benefits in the United States and
Energy.gov save over 25,000 lives.
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Reduced Water Usage
• Solar panels do not require water to
transform solar energy to electricity. This is
particularly helpful as water scarcity rates are
increasing.
• Conventional power plants require water to
cool themselves off. In 2010, U.S. power
plants were responsible for 45 percent of
total water withdrawals, 38 percent of total
freshwater withdrawals, and 51 percent of
fresh surface-water withdrawals.
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Land Usage
In Cities: In Rural Areas:
• Solar panels can be set up on the • Ground-mounted solar panels
rooftops of buildings to collect can compete for areas of land
solar energy. Long haul with agricultural uses. It is
transmission lines can also be difficult to use the land for both
reduced and so the space purposes. Furthermore, building
required for the solar panel large-scale facilities usually
installations can be for dual use. contributes to land degradation.
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Habitat Loss
• As mentioned, the installations of solar panels
require you to clear large areas of land. This
impacts nearby ecosystems and life cycles
due to the habitat loss associated with it.
• A study, by the Carnegie Institution for
Science and Stanford University, shows the
ecological footprint of solar power
development could grow to more than 27,500
square miles—roughly the land area of South
Carolina.
Yale Climate Connections
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Indirect
Emissions
• The manufacturing process of solar
panels has a carbon footprint that can
often go unnoticed.
• The mining and extraction process of
the raw materials needed to produce
the solar panels has a large carbon
footprint.
• Furthermore, the transportation process
of these raw materials also
releases carbon dioxide due to the
diesel used in the vehicles hence
contributing to the air pollution.
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Solar Energy Job Electric Power Generation Employment by Technology
Growth
• In 2021, solar energy was the fastest
growing renewable energy sector, providing
more than 4 million jobs globally
• In the United States, in 2021, solar
energy jobs increased by 5,4% adding 17,212
new jobs
• "Amidst the unique challenges of a nation
coming out of a global pandemic, America's
energy sector stands out with considerable
job growth in nearly all industries" - Jennifer
M. Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy
United States Energy and Employment Report 2022
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Solar Equity Gap
• In Connecticut, a solar powered home uses 8,288
kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually, and
has the same eco benefits as planting about 150
trees yearly
• According to the NREL , LMI households' rooftop
solar could contribute 42% of all residential
rooftop solar energy generation in the future
• "People can save money by going solar, low-
and moderate-income households stand the
most to gain from adopting rooftop solar" -
Sydney O'Shaughnessy, researcher at the
Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley Solar Energy Industry Association
National Laboratory
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Public Health
Benefits
• The SunShot vision outlined by the DEP
provides over $400 billion in health and
environmental benefits across the United
States
• The NREL discovered widespread solar
adoption would result in a significant
decrease in emissions of nitrous oxides,
sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. Department of Energy, Solar Energy Technologies Office
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Advantages Disadvantages
Conclusion Zero Direct Emissions Very Land Intensive
Has A Huge Potential for Low Efficiency
Future
Reduced Water Usage Habitat Loss
Improved Public Health Indirect Emissions
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Sources
• https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42995
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Sources
• https://youtu.be/UJ8XW9AgUrw
• https://youtu.be/8RjGHmlOu58
• https://www.iaea.org/bulletin/what-is-fusion-and-why-is-it-so-difficult-to-
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penetration-solar
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