brief and simple explanation of how solar energy works

1. Solar Energy
Past, Present & Future

2. “Let there be light”
Gen 1: 3
• The sun gives off more energy in one
second that people have used from
the beginning of time.
• The sun is our planet’s power plant. It
is nature’s energy source. Plants turn
sunlight into energy to support all live
on earth.
• The sun also makes the wind blow,
the currents flow and seasons change.

3. How do we use solar
energy today?
• Thermic : capturing heat from
the sun to raise temperature
Photovoltaic: “photo’ means light and
“voltaic” means electricity. Capturing
light from the sun to create electricity.
Tampa Bay Solar

4. Solar PV panels are made of silicon.
Silicon atoms have very important
properties.
When a photon, or a packet of energy
from sunlight, hits one the atoms in the
silicon cell it knocks off one of the atom’s
outer electrons, creating a flow of direct
current.
Tampa Bay Solar

5. Why do we need solar energy today?
• The predominant source of energy in our
society, fossil fuels, is causing millions of tons of
CO2 emissions that are changing our atmosphere
and our environment.
• The sun provides an inexhaustible source of
energy with ZERO emissions.
• Sunlight is free and the sun shines for everyone,
everywhere.

6. What else can we do
with solar energy?
• We already use many things
powered by the sun: calculators,
parking meters, even some boats, RVs
and airplanes.
• However, the
best is yet to
come: The options
are as limitless as
our imaginations.

7. • Solar energy has been the main source of energy
for our planet since the beginning.
• Some technological developments were needed in
order to capture solar energy to power our
modern life.
• Solar energy is clean and affordable.
SUMMARY

8. • If you have questions or want to learn
more about solar energy email
li@tampabaysolar.comQUESTIONS