1. SOLAR ENERGY
By Daniel Chang, Allison Lee, Arcadia Peralta, Tamir Elsharif, and Samhitha Sunkara

2. What is Solar Energy and How is it Used currently in the US?
Solar Energy is the radiant energy produced by the Sun in the form of light and heat. It is majority of the renewable energy on Earth.
We use solar energy for various things.
One of its uses is essential to life – photosynthesis. In photosynthesis, plants use the sun’s light to convert the water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen, which is the stored energy they need in order to live.
Sun’s energy is used to create heat so that the Earth doesn’t freeze
Solar energy can be used to be converted into thermal and heat energy, and is usually used to heat water (like in a swimming pool and water used in homes). Also, the sun’s heat can be used to heat the air in homes and buildings and dry clothes
Solar energy can be used to cook and heat up food
Solar energy harnessing technologies are often installed on roofs as back up power.
Sun’s energy can be used for agriculture in green houses, seed and crop drying, etc.
Sun’s energy is used for large scale production of electricity through central power generation.
Sunlight can be converted into electricity through solar cells that become electric when sunlight strikes them
Solar energy can be harnessed by power plants that produce electricity for commercial use. These power plants take in the sun's energy to create steam. The steam is converted into mechanical energy to power an electricity generator.
The Sunraycer car made by General Motors uses solar cells that convert the sun’s energy into electricity to get the car going and to charge the battery of the car. BASF has solar charged electric chargers for electric car recharging. Electric car energy production has been getting popular and uses solar energy as its source of power.
The US military has been trying solar powered equipment as a more efficient method.

3. Pictures of Solar Energy currently in use in the US

4. Impact of Solar Energy on Public Lands
Huge amounts of water and land are needed for generators to produce solar electricity because rooftops aren’t enough, and some people believe this is a waste of water and land that could be used for less expensive sources of energy
Lands are used to create solar farms, but this doesn’t harm the land and is effective. In fact, 20% of the Sahara Desert could be used to power all of Europe through solar energy
However, only 670,000 acres of leased public land are used for solar energy sources, while the oil and gas industry have 44.5 million acres of leased public land.
Solar energy will never ever destroy the land as much as coal, oil, and gas extraction do mostly because solar energy isn’t retrieved from the land, but instead from the sun and atmosphere.
Solar energy doesn’t pollute lands or have the potential to harm lands because it doesn’t release harmful chemicals or pollutants and it doesn’t contribute to greenhouse gases or global warming.

5. Solar Energy in Public Lands
These are solar panels planted into the land. The Bureau of Land Management decided to continue allowing new solar projects on public lands along with the 125 already given applications for solar projects using the public lands. James Caswell, the BLM director, says that “By continuing to accept and process new applications for solar energy projects, we will aggressively help meet growing interest in renewable energy source, while ensuring environmental protections.”
This is a solar power tower under construction on public lands in the Ivanpah Valley. The Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) set up 17 solar energy zones that are strongly recommended to use for building solar energy sources on and recommended a few other sites. The PEIS recognizes possible solar development on about 20 million acres of public land throughout these sites. Many people think the PEIS is a "historic milestone in our nation's effort to accelerate environmentally responsible renewable energy generation that will create jobs, reduce greenhouse gases, and contribute to national energy security." 

6. Comparison to Fossil Fuels
Solar energy is renewable because the sun will always be there. Contrarily, fossil fuels are nonrenewable because if we continue to use them, they will eventually run out
Solar energy doesn’t harm the environment because it doesn’t extract anything from the land and doesn’t emit any pollutants. However, fossil fuels must be extracted from the land and when they are burned, and the combustion releases harmful amounts of carbon dioxide into the air that can contribute to global warming
Only 670,000 acres of leased public land are used for solar energy sources, while the oil and gas industry have 44.5 million acres of leased public land.
Less than 1% of total energy consumption is solar, while about 85% is from oil, natural gas, and coal (fossil fuels). As of right now, fossil fuels are 85 times more popular.
Solar energy costs a lot of money to be shipped all around the word similar to fossil fuels. In addition to that solar energy creates the same sense of international interdependence that fossil fuels create.

7. Advantages of Solar Energy
Solar energy does not emit green house gases, so it is good for the environment. Solar energy instead conducts the sun’s radiation so it doesn’t have any smoke, gas, or other chemical by-products.
Infinite free energy – it doesn’t require raw materials like fossil fuels do, because the sun always shines and we don’t have to pay to get the sun’s radiation because it is always there. This helps reduce the cost of obtaining the source of energy.
Solar energy use avoids price manipulations and politics that mess with the prices of obtaining the energy source because solar energy comes from the sun, not from companies that own it.
According to the EIAA, Europe's solar industry has created about 100,000 jobs so far.

8. Disadvantages of Solar Energy
The biggest disadvantage for Solar Energy is that it does not work at night, because there is no sun to help power the Solar Panels.
The second greatest disadvantage is that solar panels are expensive and because of this, many people still have not even thought of buying them.
Another disadvantage of solar energy is that because the slow conversion rate as well as the instability of the sun due to clouds and night it can not totally take over for the conventional energy in an average house hold.
Not only is solar energy expensive to install it is also expensive to ship worldwide

9. This graph shows how consumption for Solar Power will increase over time in comparison to other energy sources. Though the consumption now is very little, advancements are being studied to increase the efficiency of solar energy so that it is easier to harness. This way, it can be cheaper and more available, and the consumption and user rate would increase. Solar Energy is predicted to be used so much in the future that other sources of energy will become obsolete.

10. The graph shows the abundance of solar energy on earth compared to the amount of other fossil fuel reserves such as coal, oil and gas. It shows how so little fossil fuels we have and that if we don’t switch to solar energy soon, we will eventually run out.

11. This graph shows solar energy’s consumption expenses
This graph shows solar energy’s consumption expenses. It shows how solar energy is by far the most expensive energy source, especially in comparison to the fossil fuels. Solar energy costs about half a dollar per kilowatt-hour, which is currently considered to be very expensive. As of right now, this causes solar energy to not be popular and frequent in use and consumption.

12. PV is photovoltaic cells, or solar cells used to harness solar energy
PV is photovoltaic cells, or solar cells used to harness solar energy. This line graph shows over time how PV cells have been more effective. Their prices have decreased per watt and their popularity has increased per year because their production has been increasing. This shows the consumption and use of PV cells in solar energy becoming better over time.

13. There are two layers of semi-conducting material in these solar cells
There are two layers of semi-conducting material in these solar cells. One is positive, and one is negative. When the sunlight hits the cell, photons are absorbed by the atoms and electrons go from the negative layer to the positive layer. This transfer of energy creates a voltage, which flows through a circuit, and creates electricity.

14. These are heat collecting plates that are insulated on all sides to keep heat in. When the sun shines on the plate, flat plate collector collects the heat and the insulation traps it in. There are flow tubes inside that allow the heat to flow to the outlet connection. Then, then converts it into electricity through PV cells that are present at that site.

16. A large field of sun tracking mirrors are placed on the land, and they are called heliostats. These concentrate sunlight on the receivers that are located at the top of the tower. The sun heats the salt in the receiver and then the salt is stored in a hot storage tank. Then, the hot salt is pumped through a steam generator. The steam drives the generator which produces electricity.

17. Sun heats the reflectors which then put the heat into the absorber tubes. Then, this heat flows into a generator. This produces the electricity.

18. Data to Support Energy Usage
Solar energy takes 0.7% of all global energy consumption, so it isn’t too popular yet
75 million barrels of oil are saved annually by all solar energy users, so this means solar energy is effective and good
35 million tons of C02 are saved annually by all solar energy users, so also proves that solar energy is good for the environment
The annually growth rate of global solar energy capacity is 102%. This means through technological advancements, solar energy has become more available and usable.
The amount of global energy that hits the earth each year is 8.2 million Quads. This shows the great potential solar energy poses for our future if we decide to switch to solar energy. Abundant solar energy is available, and this is a good thing and makes solar energy easy to acquire.
The total quads of solar energy currently annually used by the entire globe is 400. This is not good, because 8.2 million quads hits the earth annually, but the earth only uses 400. Solar energy isn’t quite efficient yet. However, it is good because it shows how the consumption of solar energy is still significantly high.

19. Data to Support Energy Usage cont.
The sun provides more energy to the earth in one hour than that produced by all nations in a year, which is good because solar energy can provide more energy than other energy resources could .
The average solar panel size needed to cover an entire home is 600 sq. ft., which is bad because it costs 1.94$ per sq. ft. which will cost about 55,000$ in total.

20. Effectiveness of Solar Energy Production
The main type of solar energy conversion being used now is the conversion of solar energy into electricity, and this is mainly through photovoltaic cells. The efficiency of photovoltaic solar varies throughout reports from 10-30%.
Some newer technologies and advances in PV cells have exceeded expectations with efficiencies over 40.7%.
Currently, commercial efficiency is about 15%, which is an improvement of only 4% over the efficiency of solar power from markets in 1950s.
Solar energy is also effective in, over the long run, lowering the energy bill for residential users
Solar energy has also lead to discoveries in off grid power sources having to do with the sun. An example of how useful solar energy is lies right in our everyday lives. In math class when we use calculators they are partially solar powered and partially battery powered, but however they could not run solely off the sun’s energy.

21. Effectiveness of the Photovoltaic System

22. Effectiveness of the Photovoltaic System Continued
The system of solar cells has increased its efficiency over the years while also lowering its costs per watt and energy costs per kilowatt hour, so overall it has become more effective. These graphs also show how in the future (2020), solar energy will continue to become even more effective with increased efficiency of solar cell systems and less money costs and more energy efficient. This will happen through continued research.

23. Current Research on Solar Energy Technologies
They have been trying to develop advanced technologies such as concentrated photovoltaics and organic photovoltaics
Also they have been helping the PV industry speed up the manufacturing process
They are also making and improving PV cells in several material systems. 
NREL researchers are improving concentrating solar power (CSP) and solar heating technologies.
For the first time, a silicon-based optical fiber with solar-cell capabilities has been developed that has been shown to be scalable to many meters in length. The research opens the door to the possibility of weaving together solar-cell silicon wires to create flexible, curved or twisted solar fabrics. That way it would be thinner than the width of a human hair!

24. Solar Energy in the US
Solar energy can be used as another means of tax, which in turn creates more revenue for the solar energy market.
That money goes toward research for the further advancement of solar energy recreationally and scientifically.
Over the last 20 years solar energy has been developed enough to be used for data monitoring communications, well pumping and, calculators, and wristwatches.
An obvious use of solar energy in the US is in the houses of American residents partially powering their electric appliances, seeing as this method of energy transformation has yet to completely replace conventional grid powered energy

25. Solar Energy Being Used Globally
As shown in the graph, solar energy technology is being used globally. Total production of solar cells in the world in 2006 was 1,744 megawatts
The technology is through PV or photovoltaic cell installations. In fact, some countries use this technology more than the US.
An example of how solar energy is currently used in the world is that Germany accounts for 55% of the world’s PV market.
Japan has the second highest number of installations with 17%.
Globally and in the US, solar energy is mostly used for the conversion to electricity. Japan and Germany currently offer subsidies to solar energy companies to arouse their solar energy markets. This solar energy powers large electricity generation centers like Concentrated Solar Power Plant facilities.
Other examples of solar energy current use outside of the US is for light, obviously, because all life in earth requires the sun’s natural light. Also, solar powered dryers, cookers, hot water heaters, and pool heaters are becoming popular outside of the US because the world has begun to realize the efficiency of solar energy through international research corporations.

26. Solar Energy Being Used Globally continued
Also, Europe has begun developing Electric Car Energy Production with solar energy.
These panels on the roof of common buildings in Germany allow solar energy to be used to heat the building's water, warm the building’s inside spaces, and provide energy for the building’s industrial activity.

27. Group topic: solar energy
Credits
Group topic: solar energy
Group members: Samhitha Sunkara, Daniel Chang, Arcadia Peralta, Tamir Elsharif, And Allison lee
Class: 4th block A day
Teacher Mrs. Brennan
Date due: January 3rd 2013
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!