1. Solar Energy Joe Kearns Kevin Phelps

2. Our Hypothesis Solar Power has potential to, at least partly, slow down the negative environmental effects of global climate change Viable alternative to fossil fuels

3. Advantages Most abundant source of energy on Earth No resource competition between nations Cannot be manipulated by governments or corporations No harmful emissions or negative externalities

4. Problems Not enough investment in new technology or engineering Need advanced batteries to store electricity

5. Environmental Aspects

6. Global Climate Change Fossil fuels are responsible for climate change Need for an alternative energy source

7. The Sun Responsible for all sources of energy on Earth Second Law of Thermodynamics

8. Intro to Solar Power Solar power more powerful and efficient than all other secondary forms of energy Solar energy only accounts for 0.7% of global energy consumption in 2013

9. Technological Aspects

10. Off Grid Homes

11. Not connected to the main electrical grid Power generated with renewable solar energy sources

12. PV Cells Powers applications like off grid homes

13. PV Cells Use semi-conductor to absorb photons When have enough energy, displace electrons from material they are manufactured with Use no fuel Positive and negative side, creates voltage potential

14. Concentrated Solar Power Plants

15. Solar Dish Parabolic Trough Solar Power Tower

16. Ben-Gurion National Solar Energy Center National alternative energy institute of Israel Location of the world’s largest solar energy dish

17. Solar Energy Generating Systems (Parabolic Trough) 3 separate locations 354 megawatts or 474,700 horsepower World’s second largest solar thermal energy generating facility

18. Ivanpah Solar Power Tower Located in Mojave Desert in California 377 megawatts Powers 140,000 homes World’s largest solar thermal energy generating facility

19. Social Aspects

20. Growth in Solar Energy 2000-08: Solar Power usage increased 40% annually in the U.S. By 2020, 10% of electricity generation will come from solar; Dec. 2014: just 0.45% 8% PV Cell 2% Concentrated Solar Power Plants

21. Solar Power Growth and a Conducive Economic Future German think tank Angora Energiewende published report saying that solar power’s cost relative to other energy sources is declining By 2025, the cost of producing power in central and southern Europe will have declined to between 4 and 6 cents per kilowatt hour, and by 2050 to as low as 2 to 4 cents Soon to be the cheapest source of energy in many parts of the world

22. Concluding Questions Will the changing economic and environmental conditions be sufficient to spark enough growth in solar power? In what aspects will solar power be most prominent? Where might solar power fall short?

23. Wrap-Up Solar Power can help address global climate change It already has several useful modern applications More favorable economic conditions and more negative environmental conditions make the present a ripe time to conduct further research and investment in solar energy