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Alternative source of energy
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Solar Energy is not a Solution to America’s Energy Crisis With the growing cost of fuel for cars and the rolling blackouts of last summer, the need for an alternative, cost-effective, environment friendly energy source is escalating. Many possible solutions have been presented, such as nuclear power, wind power, and hydrogen fuel cells; prevalent among these is solar power. Solar cells directly convert photons from the sun into electricity (Wikipedia). Solar cells that convert both solar and non-solar light are called photovoltaic cells (Wikipedia 2006). They are made of semi conducting materials, most often silicon (Aldous 2006). The simplest photovoltaic cells power watches and calculators while larger, more complex systems can add to the power grid and provide power for homes. How Solar Power Works Most solar cells are made of crystalline silicon. Pure silicon has 14 electrons that form 3 different tiers around the individual atom. In the last tier there are only 4 electrons, but as each tier desires 5 electrons there is one missing from this tier. To fill the last spot the electrons will join together to share their electrons. This linking is what forms the crystalline structure, which is vital for photovoltaic cells. (Aldous 2006) Solar Energy 3 Pure silicon is not a good conductor for electricity because it has no free electrons, so we add impurities to the silicon. The process of adding impurities is called doping. Phosphorus is an impurity that can be added into the silicon used for solar cells. This type of impure silicon is called N-type and is much better as a conductor than pure silicon. This is because phosphorus has five electrons in its final tier so every atom of phosphorus has one electron not shared with ... ... middle of paper ... ...sidered as a viable alternative energy source at the present, nonetheless if, with further research, efficiency continues to increase and the cost to produce solar panels continues to decrease, solar energy could be a major contributor to power in the future. Solar Energy 7 References Aldous, S. How Stuff Works. How Solar Cells Work. Retrieved August 3, 2006 from http://www.howstuffworks.com/solar- cell.htm Carlstrom, P. (2005, July 11). The Chronicle. As solar gets smaller, its future gets brighter Nanotechnology could turn rooftops into a sea of power-generating stations. Retrieved August 3, 2006 from http://www.sfgate.com/cgi- bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/11/BUG7IDL1AF1.DTL SOLAR CELLS. Retrieved August 3, 2006 from http://www.solarnavigator.net/solar_panels.htm Wikipedia. Solar Cell. Retrieved August 3, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell
Solar energy is energy taken from the light that reaches earth's surface from the sun. There are four different kinds of solar energy, which are active solar systems, passive solar systems, photovoltaic cells and concentrating power systems. An active solar systems is a system that captures solar energy by mechanical means. Common active solar systems are often in buildings or homes. Some examples are roof collectors and water heating. Low Intensity and high variability have limited the use of active solar energy in Canada. A pass...
The sun has been a major aspect of life since the beginning of time. People used many other forms of energy before electricity was discovered. There has been a debate over energy resources for years. Many people are worried about what current energy resources may be doing to the environment. Oil spills and nuclear power plant mishaps have only been a few accidents that have had a big impact on the environment and the people who inhabit it. There are plenty of energy sources that do not harm the environment and are still able to get the job done. Solar energy is one energy alternative that will insure the betterment of the country and, at the same time, protect the natural environment.
Before I go in to detail about usage and implementation of solar cells, let me explain just how they work. Solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells (Photo= light Voltaic=electricity) capture photons, convert them into electrons, and use these electrons to transfer energy to whatever you want to power. To do this, solar cells are made with a material called a semiconductor, which, for solar cells is almost always silicon. When light hits this material, it causes electrons to break loose and flow throughout the material. By placing metal plates on the solar cell, we can capture this flow of electrons, otherwise known as current. Using the equation Power= Volts * Current, you can calculate the voltage output of a cell, which, using silicon, is about 1.1 volts- a 25% or so efficiency.
The solar panel, is able to work through solar modules using light energy, or photons, from the sun to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect. The photovoltaic effect is the creation of voltage or electric current in a material upon exposure to light. A research conducted by Imperial College, London has improved a way of making solar panels much more efficient by studding the light-receiving semiconductor surface with aluminum nano-cylinders which are fairly similar to the ridges o...
In the debate of traditional energy vs. renewable energy the clear winner is renewable energy. Renewable energy is vastly superior over traditional energy because it decreases dependence on foreign resources, produces no emissions, and is not limited in quantity. Opponents of renewable energy are likely to argue that this is not the case and that instead, traditional energy is better because it creates job growth, is reliable during all hours and climates, and comes with a lower cost. These advantages however are either misconstrued or hardly outweigh the long-term positive benefits of renewable energy.
Nanotechnology is the answer for solar energy. With electrical device being used 24/7 and electricity on high demand, we need to constantly produce energy. Nanotechnology can help rise efficiency up to 40% which allows a normal panel module to produce around 30 watts per square foot. That’s 1.3 mWh for one acre. With this advancement in the process of development, soon there won’t be any energy crisis.
Claim: Solar power has the potential to become the United States main supply of energy and replace are needs for more conventional and harmful forms of power generation.
Solar is a viable alternative energy source with solar panels becoming more affordable and more efficiently designed.
Duke Energy. n. d. a. d. a. d. 10 April 2014. http://www.duke-energy.com/about-energy/generating-electricity/nuclear-how.asp>. “How do solar cells work?” Physics.
There is a Fresnel lens on top of every solar cell. Solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells, are essentially a mechanical device that light into electricity. It is able to do this because of the photovoltaic effect. The photovoltaic effect is essentially when, due to the introduction of light electrons on a surface are expelled out. Due to this ejection, electric energy is generated. Chemically, electrons are jumping across valence bands and are becoming highly excited. This is what accelerated energy. This is critical to the working of solar concentrators because ...
... Sunlight and heat will always be available to us because, it is a non-extinguishing resource and so, let us make use of it. With all these points made, there is no question that, solar energy is capable of becoming the world's future power supply. Works Cited Venables, M. (2008), “Bring me sunshine [Solar energy].” Engineering and Technology Vol.
The photovoltaic effect, electricity can be created directly from sunlight. Some semi-conductor materials that are exposed to sunlight can create electron-hole pairs, which can be collected to produce electricity. This occurs when photons have energy above a certain threshold. These photons have shorter wavelengths. In silicon, the threshold for electron-hole production is in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
First of all, solar energy is the energy produced when the sun heats the solar panel. Thus, when the sun heats the panels, it produces electricity. Solar power produces energy during the day and can store energy for the night. Solar power does not pollute the environment. However, it has high maintenance cost, and it takes a lot of land space.
The world that we live into today affords us the expectation that the flip a switch will turn the lights on. As populations increase and developing nations undergo dramatic economic growth, this energy demand will only continue to grow. The International Energy Agency (IEA) believes that “the world’s energy needs could be 50% higher in 2030 than they are today” (ElBaradei). Given this projected growth, it is necessary for world leaders must take action to secure the energy supply. Meaning that world leaders need to start seriously considering an alternative to non-renewable energy sources. “In 2012, the United States generated about 4,054 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. About 68% of the electricity generated was from fossil fuel (coal, natural gas, and petroleum), with 37% attributed from coal” (U.S. Energy Information Administration). The fossil fuels that are used to supply over half of our country’s energy are in finite supply and are increasing in price to astronomical heights.
Using fossil fuels such as coal and oil is inefficient, dangerous, and otherwise a process that is known to eventually fail as a long lasting energy source. Yet, there is hope for the future of energy, this new hope has many shapes and forms, but requires a chance to be fully implemented in our everyday life. Such energy sources like solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, and hydro power are the key to our future. These energy sources are proven to be long lasting, safe, more reliable, and the next innovation. In short, all Americans should switch to renewable energy, resulting in a safer and more efficient world.