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Solar Power by Andrew Murphy 422-003

Introduction:Solar Power is actually one of the cleanest methods of energy known to man. Solar panels simply convert the energy of the sun into the energy we use in our daily lives, and there are know harmful products or threats to the environment in this process. One major problem with this is the cost of solar panels and they are made of tenuous materials such as glass so they often have to be replaced. Also the panels only have about a 40% efficiency so in order to achieve a great amount of power you have to have multiple panels.

1. What is the problem at hand? 2. What is the driving force of the problem? 3. What are poeple currently doing or not doing to solve the problem? 4. Pick your favorite of the following list 5. Explain how it works. THIS IS A BIG ONE! 6. determine the amount of CO2 it produces or inhibits 7. determine the amount of water it can generate or purify 8. highlight the best aspects of it 9. describe how the critics would discuss it 10. If it already makes up a lot of the world's fuel/energy supply explailn why. 11. If it doesn't make up much of the world's fuel/energy supply explain why. 12. Try to include a lot of pictures. 13. Try to include quotes from scientists or policy makers. 14. Explain how it could help solve some of the problems or contributes to those problems. 15. Explalin what it would take to do your thing better or in a larger scale. 16. Explain who uses that technology and why. If it isn't used very much explain that instead. 17. After learning about it what would you do next to change how its used? why?

QUOTES: "The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun."---RALPH NADER

"Clearly, we need more incentives to quickly increase the use of wind and solar power; they will cut costs, increase our energy independence and our national security and reduce the consequences of global warming."---HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

"I think we need to take positive steps toward space solar-power systems. We need to move in a step-by-step manner. It's a real possibility to have a great new energy source for mankind."---DANA ROHRABACHER



1) The problem at hand deals with fossil fuels, which consist of petroleum, coal, and natural gases. The fossil fuels are a good source of energy, but they have a bad impact on the environment. Not only does their excavation from the ground alter the environment, but their combustion leads to a great amount of air pollution.



2) The driving force of the problem is that solar power has a better outcome for the earth in the long run. Fossil fuels are polluting the planet and they are starting to cost a lot of money, for example petroleum. Where as solar power costs a lot of money now but in the long run you will save a lot of money because you don’t need to buy energy from the sun.



3) People are trying to improve this problem with solar power because it it actually one of the cleanest methods of energy known to man. One major problem with this is the cost of solar panels and they are made of tenuous materials such as glass so they often have to be replaced. Also the panels only have about a 40% efficiency so in order to achieve a great amount of power you have to have multiple panels.



4) Solar power works because it consists of photovoltaic tiles and they convert some of the energy in sunlight into electricity that we can use in our daily lives. The PV cells consist of a positive and a negative slice of silicon placed under a thin slice of glass. As the protons of the sunlight beat down onto the PV cell they knock the neutrons off the silicon. The negatively charged free neutrons are attracted to the silicon but are trapped by the magnetic field that is formed from the opposing fields. Small wires on the silicon catch these neutrons and when connected in a circuit an electric current is formed. This reaction gives Direct Current electricity though, and it must be passed through an inverter to be converted into an Alternating Current used in our homes to power any electrical items. Some of the power is lost in this part of the process as the inverter is only around 95% efficient but this is a much greater efficiency than was once available.



5) The best aspects of solar power is that it has no chemicals or other products that are harmful to out environment. Also it is very efficient, and the solar panels require no maintenance until about 25 years, but they are very delicate and you must be carefil setting them up. Once the panels are set up the energy is completely free.



6) The critics would take solar power as progress in our nation, but they would argue that it is to much money to have every family set these up. Also i think they would say that the panels are only 40% effective, and that there is not as much sun light in some states as there is in others.



7) Solar power does not use any fuel and the only energy it uses is the suns energy, and that is unlimited to anyone and it is free. It doesn't use any fuel because it simply converts the energy from the sun into electricity we can use at home.



8) Solar power could solve many problems, if it became our main source of energy it would decrease the percentage of global warming. And in the long run it would cost our country less money.



9) In order to increase solar power among households and such you would have to have loads of money. Photovoltaic Tiles are not cheap and even for a simple house the average rate to get going would be about 30,000 dollars.



10) This technology is more common in colorado particularly because there is alot of sunlight and the elevation is higher so you are closer to the sun. After a couple years of having the panels in Colorado they will almost of made back all of their money.



11) The only thing that i would change after learning about solar power is that i would try to find a way to make cheaper panels because i am sure that many homes think that it is a great idea but they do not have the money for the panels.