SOLAR POWER Jennifer Dubois

Solar energy is…. the cleanest most abundant renewable energy source available Canada has an excellent solar resource Solar power could theoretically supply the world with all of its electricity needs. FUN FACTS

There are two common types of technology – Solar Photovoltaics or – PV (converting light to electricity) and Solar Thermal (heating and cooling water and air). HOW ITS USED TO CREATE ELECTRICITY OR POWER

1.Solar Panels - made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells, which convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity 2.Inverter—device converts the DC electricity into the alternating current (AC) electricity. 3.Electrical Panel—AC electricity is sent from the inverter to your electrical panel to power your lights and appliances 4.Utility meter- measures your energy use HOW IT WORKS / STAGES OF SOLAR POWER

ADVANTAGED OVER FOSSIL FUELS

more people employed in the solar energy marketplace than mining coal The banal argument that transitioning to a clean energy economy will cost us jobs is simply false The fossil fuels industry cut about 4,000 jobs last year JOBS

Solar panels have a seen a consistent drop in prices over the last three decades Since 2008, the cost of coal has risen 13 percent Two-thirds of global solar capacity has been installed over the last two years. 175 coal fired power plants in the U.S. are expected to be shut down over the next five years (more than 10 percent of total capacity) COST

Coal impacts you may not know….. acid mine drainage and coal sludge pollutes rivers and streams air pollution causes acid rain, smog, respiratory illnesses, cancers coal dust from mining causes respiratory illness coal fires in abandoned mines put tons of mercury into the atmosphere coal combustion waste is the second largest contributor to landfills after solid waste enormous contributor to global climate change ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

DISADVANTAGES

– sun doesn’t shine 24 hours a day When the sun goes down or is heavily shaded, solar PV panels stop producing electricity. If we need electricity at that time, we have to get it from some other source. In other words, we couldn’t be 100% powered by solar panels. At the very least, we need batteries to store electricity produced by solar panels for use sometime later. NOT A LOT – ONLY ONE NOTICEABLE