By: Rebecca Iyoob, Brooke Whipkey, Kassidy Everard, Evan Pencek, Michael Lee

SOLAR ENERGY

ECONOMIC BENEFITS• Solar energy can help the economy in many ways, solar energy is often used to generate

electricity, along with communications, and monitor the conditions of different habitats.

• Solar energy can be used to generate electricity***

• monitor ecosystem conditions

• pump water for livestock

• provide lighting and communications in dessert areas

Electricity is produced when “photons”(contained within the suns rays) hit a solar cell, the electrons contained in the solar cell material absorb this solar

energy, which transforms the electrons into conductions electrons. If the energy of these photons is great enough then the electrons are able to

become free and carry an electric charge through a circuit to the destination.

GENERATE ELECTRICITY

Solar energy is good for the environment but everything has something bad about it.

Another way solar energy affects our environment:

•Solar energy can negatively impact our environment by habitat destruction to build more solar panels, and by creating a changed habitat after the

solar panels are added that can affect the wildlife habitat the animals live in.

SOLAR ENERGY IMPACT

•Solar energy is renewable

•Solar energy does not give off any harmful toxins or poisons.

•Solar energy helps keep our environment clean, our water clean, and pure of toxins.

*** solar energy panels collect suns energy and absorb it so that the energy can be used for a reliable energy source at a different time.***

AFFECTS TO THE LAND

***SOLAR ENERGY***

***

• The graph on the top includes the power output provided by a solar panel in certain conditions.

• The graph on the left includes the value provided by a solar panel for the consumers’ money.

GRAPHS!

• Solar power takes the suns energy and transforms it into a useable form of energy.

• The energy travels through an electrical breaker box to go to outlets in the house.

• The electrical appliances are able to consume the energy at this time.

• This chart shows how much money will be saved each year from electrical bills with solar panels and the table shows the money saved by different sized panels from extended periods of time.

GOOD-BYE UNNECESSARY FEES!

• In the US solar energy is used to provide heat, light, hot water, electricity, cooling for homes, businesses, and industry.

• Although solar energy is a good alternative, it only provides about one percent of the US energy needs

• California uses the most solar power in the US. Some of the other states using solar energy are Colorado, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, New Mexico, and many others.

• The graph on the top shows how much solar power each state uses per month in the US

HOW IT IS USED IN THE UNITED STATES:

Annual average daily solar radiation per month, using a flat-plate collector facing south at a fixed tilt equal to the latitude of the site. Capturing the maximum amount of solar radiation throughout the year can be achieved using a tilt angle approximately equal to the site's latitude.

This is a picture of a field of solar panels located in the US. This also shows the impact on public lands because as youcan see solar panels can take up a lot of space.

• Japan produces about 45% of the world’s solar energy and exports about 30% of the energy to other countries. This is produced in commercial solar plants

• It is also the world leader in the number of home solar systems

• The largest solar power plants are in Germany and they are mainly used for solar heating and electricity

• China produces about 55% of the world’s solar thermal technology, which is used to heat homes and commercial buildings

• Also, solar heating and electricity are used in some parts of Indonesia, Kenya, and the Philippines.

• Many other countries use solar power as well, such as Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Belgium, China, France, and India.

• Solar energy is effective because it is a way to heat water, get energy, and more without polluting the earth.

HOW SOLAR ENERGY IS USED OUTSIDE OF THE US

To the left is a picture of a way solar panels are used in Germany. There are solar panels on the roof

of a building.

To the right is an example of how solar panels are used

in Spain

To the left is an example of how Italy uses solar panels to create solar

power

• Solar energy is fairly efficient. A solar panel usually converts about 15% of the sun’s energy into electricity. This

may not sound like a lot, but it make a big difference because it is good for the environment and it is renewable

energy.

• Scientists are working on improving the efficiency of solar panels and how

much energy they can produce.

HOW EFFICIENT IS SOLAR ENERGY?

Advantages• Solar energy is a renewable energy source,

which means it will never run out like coal or oil.• Solar energy is also non-polluting, which means

it will not pollute the environment and will keep the planet clean.

• The easiest way to use the sun as energy is through solar panels. Solar panels are very easy to maintain and can last as long as twenty years.

• Overall, solar energy is one of the safest and most dependable sources of energy, unless you live in the north or south pole.

Disadvantages• The easiest way to use solar energy is through solar panels.

However, solar panels are very expensive and can be damaged very easily.

• Also, solar panels are large and must be placed in a larger area. If the area is not large enough the user will not be able to harness the power of the sun.

• If a person tries to use solar power, they can fail very easily. Pollution around the solar panels used to absorb the sun can damage the panels causing them to fail. In return, that person has no power/electricity.

• Overall, solar panels decrease the usefulness of solar energy just because of how easily they can be damaged and leave the user without electricity for their business or home.

Fossil Fuels vs. Solar Energy

•Fossil fuels pollute the earth and we have the risk of having another oil spill, which pollute our waters.•78% of our electrical energy needs are met by fossil fuels and nuclear energy, but solar energy is a very good alternative.•Solar energy does not pollute our waters or air, and it is a renewable source of energy.

• http://www.clean-energy

• http://c1cleantechnicacom.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2011/06/true-cost-solar-energy1.png

• http://www.civicsolar.com/sites/default/files/jwysiwyg/tmp25981/imagecache/Screen%20Shot%202012-08-28%20at%202.12.33%20PM.png

• http://www.igtsolar.com/wp-content/themes/igtv2/includes/timthumb.php?src=/blogs.dir/8/files/2012/03/how_solar_works.jpg&w=556&h=300&zc=1

• http://www.cbsolar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Best-System-Table-300112.jpg

• http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/people/a_energy.html

• http://1bog.org/blog/top-10-countries-using-solar-power/

• http://solar.calfinder.com/ask/which-states-use-2

• http://www.pvpower.com/howefficientissolarenergy.html

WORKS CITED