Solar and Wind Energy

Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert light energy directly into electricity. Commonly known as “solar cells.” Solar Electric Systems

Without congressional action, the upcoming expiration and reduction of the Investment Tax Credit is expected to lead a 57% decline of installed solar capacity in 2017.

How Do PV Cells Work? Sunlight is composed of photons. When photons strike a PV cell, they may be reflected or absorbed. Only the absorbed photons generate electricity. When the photons are absorbed, the energy of the photons is transferred to electrons in the atoms of the solar cell.

Solar cells are made of two thin pieces of silicon. One piece of silicon has a small amount of boron added to it, which gives it a tendency to attract electrons. It is called the p- layer because of its positive tendency. The other piece of silicon has a small amount of phosphorous added to it, giving it an excess of free electrons. This is called the n-layer because it has a tendency to give up negatively charged electrons. How Do PV Cells Work?

Utility Scale PV Power Plants Prescott Airport Location: AZ Cesar Chavez Parking Complex Location: CO

Concentrated Solar Power The concentrators use an array of mirrors to focus sunlight onto a pipe located at a focal line. A fluid circulating inside the pipe collects energy and transfers it to a heat exchanger.

Wind Energy Wind turbines convert mechanical energy energy directly into electricity. The current estimate of wind energy potential is 10 times the amount of electricity consumption for the entire country.

Wind Energy

Orientation Turbines can be categorized into two overarching classes based on the orientation of the rotor Vertical AxisHorizontal Axis

Wacky Designs…

450’ base to blade Each blade 112’ Span greater than tons total Foundation 20+ feet deep Rated at 1.5 – 5 megawatt Supply at least 350 homes Wind Turbine Perspective

Nacelle 56 tons Tower 3 sections Workers Blade 112’ long

How Does a Wind Turbine Work?

KidWind Project |