2. Table of Contents
Project Purpose
What Is Solar Energy?
How Does Solar Energy Work?
Did You Know?
Solar Energy Applications
Benefits of Solar Energy
Drawbacks of Solar Energy
Overcoming the Drawbacks
Recent Advancements
References
3. Project Purpose
Solar energy is growing in today’s society and may soon be the
one main source of clean energy available on a global
standard, as it is already “one of the most widely used forms
of renewable energy” (Conserve Energy Future, 2015).
The purpose of this project is to familiarize individuals about
what solar energy is, how it is harnessed and distributed
among end users, as well as the few potential drawbacks
associated with the use of solar energy, its technology, and if
these drawbacks can somehow be overcome.
4. What Is Solar Energy?
Solar energy is a form of renewable
energy that is produced by the Sun via
rays of sunlight and converted into
electricity to be used in applications
around the world.
Although solar energy and solar power
are often interchangeable terms, solar
power refers more specifically to the
conversion of sunlight into electricity.
This conversion happens by the use of
solar panels, which are an array of
photovoltaic (PV) cells that produce
electricity once light hits it’s surface.
These PV cells are made up of silicon
and other conductive materials placed
together in thin film layers. Once
sunlight hits the cell, chemical reactions
within the cell generate electrons, that
in turn, generate electricity.
5. How Does Solar Energy Work?
Producing solar power can be done in numerous
configurations, such as solar powered plants to power
company users or rooftop solar panels to a single home.
Overall, the basic setup is as follows:
1) Solar Panels – The panels made up of photovoltaic cells convert
the Sun’s light into DC electricity (SolarCity, 2015).
2) Inverter – The device that is in charge of converting the DC
electricity into AC electricity (SolarCity, 2015).
3) Electrical Panel – This is where the AC electricity goes to be
distributed among home appliances, such as lights, ovens, etc.
(SolarCity, 2015).
4) Utility Meter – This is in charge of measuring a home’s energy
use. It goes backwards when more power is generated than
you can consume. Any excess energy generated will offset the
energy used at night (SolarCity, 2015).
5) Utility Grid – Everything is connected to the grid, because you
will still need that power at night, but the cost is offset by any
excess energy generated during the day. External batteries can
also be used in conjunction with solar panels to store this
excess energy for use at night as well (SolarCity, 2015).
7. Did You Know?
Although solar panels have just began to rise in popularity, Leonardo Da
Vinci actually developed the thought of using solar power way back in his
day (GBE Facts, 2012).
“More energy hits the earth from the sun in one hour than the whole world
uses all year” (GBE Facts, 2012).
The Mojave Desert in California is home to the world’s largest solar power
plant, which is responsible for about 90% of the world’s commercially
produced solar power (GBE Facts, 2015).
The amount of energy obtained from just 20 days of sunshine is enough to
match the energy stored in Earth’s reserve of coal, oil, and natural gas
(Union of Con…, 2015).
Germany is the leader in solar panel installations, in front of Italy, Japan,
and the USA (GBE Facts, 2015).
8. Solar Energy Applications
There are many uses for solar power
today and the possibilities almost
seem limitless. Basically, if it is
powered by electricity, then it can use
solar power. This includes:
• Residential, commercial, or industrial
use for lighting, heating, or cooking.
• Public use for traffic lights, road signs,
or advertisement screens.
• Personal use for charging or
powering electronics and building
your own solar power projects.
• Powering satellites or space stations
high up in Earth’s orbit.
• Powering cars that run off of
electricity by the use of roof-mounted
solar panels.
• And so much more!
9. Benefits of Solar Energy
Non-polluting
• Solar energy is just one of many alternatives to fossil fuels and cause no pollution. It is clean,
reliable, and renewable in that it does not pollute the air with harmful gases such as carbon
dioxide or nitrogen oxide (Conserve Energy Future, 2015).
Renewable Source
• Solar energy is a 100% renewable energy source and can be used to produce electricity for users
for as long as the sun still exists (Conserve Energy Future, 2015).
Easy Installation
• Solar panels do not require any wires, cords, or power sources and can be installed on places
like rooftops, requiring no extra space needed to have them (Conserve Energy Future, 2015).
Can Be Used in Remote Locations
• Solar energy is ideal for areas that have no access to power cables, or in areas where running
power lines would be extremely difficult or expensive (Conserve Energy Future, 2015).
Long Lasting Solar Cells
• These solar cells make no noise at all and contain no moving parts to operate. Due to this, the
cells can last for a very long time with very little maintenance (Conserve Energy Future, 2015).
10. Drawbacks of Solar Energy
Initial Startup Costs
• Startup costs for purchasing and installing solar panels is a bit high. Even though you end up
saving more in the long run, it could take between 10 to 15 years before you make up for your
initial investment (Conserve Energy Future, 2015).
Location and Availability of Sunlight
• Solar panels are limited to where they can be placed and the weather conditions in that area.
Surrounded by things such as trees, buildings, other houses, mountains, or clouds can reduce
the amount of electricity generated by the solar panels (Conserve Energy Future, 2015).
Pollution
• Pollution already existing in the environment can degrade the quality and efficiency of the
photovoltaic cells that make up the solar panel, Conserve Energy Future, 2015).
Inefficiency
• Not all light can be absorbed by the solar panels which gives them about a 40% efficiency rate
(Conserve Energy Future, 2015).
Reliability
• They can be unreliable in that solar panels can not be used at night, like other renewable
energy methods. This means you will have to depend on a utility grid or backup solar batteries
for night time usage (Conserve Energy Future, 2015).
11. Overcoming the Drawbacks
Most, if not all, of the drawbacks
associated with solar energy can be
solved by further research on solar
technology.
Continuing research could result in
new, innovative ideas for the existing
technology.
This research could:
• Overcome the worst of the effects
caused by already existing pollution.
• Increase the rate of efficiency in
photovoltaic cells.
• Increase the amount of excess
energy stored for night time use.
• Drive down the costs for solar panels
by creating easier and more efficient
ways to manufacture photovoltaic
material.
12. Recent Advancements
Light-Sensitive Nanoparticles: “A group of scientists at the University of Toronto unveiled a new
type of light-sensitive nanoparticle called colloidal quantum dots, that many believe will offer a less
expensive and more flexible material for solar cells” (Alternative Energy, 2015).
Gallium Arsenide: “Researchers at Imperial College University in London believe they have
discovered a new material, known as gallium arsenide, that could make solar PV systems nearly
three times more efficient than existing products on the market” (Alternative Energy, 2015).
Solar Panel with Built-In Battery: “In a project funded by the United States Department of Energy,
Ohio State University researchers recently announced they created a battery that is 20% more
efficient and 25% cheaper than anything on the market today. The secret to the design is that the
rechargeable battery is built into the solar panel itself, rather than operating as two standalone
systems” Alternative Energy, 2015).
Magnesium Chloride: “Over 90% of solar panels are compromised of silicon semiconductors, which
are the key ingredient to converting sunlight into electricity. Many believe however, that the next
generation of solar panels will be made of a thin film technology that uses narrow coatings of
cadmium telluride in solar cells, which promises to be a much cheaper and more efficient way to
engage the photovoltaic process. An obstacle facing cadmium telluride however is that is becomes
highly unstable during the manufacturing process, which uses cadmium chloride. In replacing the
cadmium chloride with magnesium chloride during the manufacturing process though, will make the
process much more safe and increase the efficiency of these solar cells from 2% to 15%” (Alternative
Energy, 2015).
13. References
SolarCity. (2015). How does solar energy work?. Retrieved from
http://www.solarcity.com/commercial/how-does-solar-energy-work
Oakwood Energy. (2015). How Solar Panels Work in the UK. Retrieved from
http://www.oakwoodenergygroup.co.uk/how-solar-panels-work-in-the
uk/
GBE FACTS. (2012, September 7). Ten Facts About Solar Panels. Retrieved from
http://greenbuildingelements.com/2012/09/07/ten-facts-about-solar-panels/
Union of Concerned Scientists. (2015). How Solar Energy Works. Retrieved from
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-
energy/how-solarenergy-works.html#.Vh7lW9GFNes
Conserve Energy Future. (2015). Advantages of Solar Energy. Retrieved from
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/Advantages_SolarEnergy.php
Conservative Energy Future. (2015). Disadvantages of Solar Energy. Retrieved from
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/Disadvantages_SolarEnergy.php
Alternative Energy. (2015). The Latest in Solar Technology. Retrieved from
http://www.altenergy.org/renewables/solar/latest-solar-technology.html
