“Oh GOSH! Reflecting on Hackteria's Collaborative Practices in a Global Do-It...
Solar Power Plants & Greenhouses: A Sustainable Farming Match
1. SOLAR POWER PLANTS
AND GREENHOUSE
FARMING
Zana Sabadin, Črt Grlj, Jan Eller, Samo Bordon, Matija Bažec, Petra Trstenjak
2. SOLAR POWER PLANT
based on the conversion of sunlight into electricity
Types of solar power plants:
1. PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR POWER PLANT
2. SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY PLANT
3. CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER PLANT
3. 1. PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANT
-appropriate substitute for the usual electrical energy (used in houses)
-Photovoltaics (PVs): arrays of cells containing a solar photovoltaic material that
converts solar radiation or energy from the sun into direct current electricity
-the process of energy conversion is clean and simple
2. CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER PLANT
-use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small
beam
-the light from the sun is directed towards the photovoltaic cells (converted into heat energy)
-usually very big companies use this
4. WHERE, GEOGRAPHICALLY, ARE THEY IN USE?
1) PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
-growin rapidly
-China, Japan
2) CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER PLANTS
-Spain – the world leader in CSP
-USA, North Africa, India, China
6. FUNCTIONING AND PRODUCTION
OF ELECTRIC SOLAR PANELS
1. STRUCTURE, BASIC COMPONENTS AND PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION OF A SOLAR CELL
Solar cells are:
ELECTRONIC DEVICES THAT CATCH SUNLIGHT AND TURN IT DIRECTLY INTO ELECTRICITY
work similar as a battery
silicon, gallium/arsenide and cadmium telluride
(sunlight directly into electricity)
when sollar cells absorb sunlight, free electrons and holes
are created at positive/negative junctions
7. 2. PERFORMANCE OF SOLAR CELLS/ PANELS BASED ON LOCATION, LATITUDE
latitude: corner of sunrays hitting the Earth
It‘s important where we cunstruct the solar cells
3. EFFICIENCY OF PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES
becoming more and more efficient (able to produce more energy)
4. FEASIBILITY OF INVESTMENT
the concept has grown
an average family can afford it now
families investing in their own solar panels – income source
8. USE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF SOLAR
POWER ENERGY PRODUCTION
1. CHANCES OF INNOVATION OF SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION
street lights, backpacks, tents…
In fabric
solar cells in shape of foil
window glass that converts solar energy to electricity
hairy solar panels
microinverters (convert DC energy to AC energy witch is used in households)
solar cells from titanium or vanadium (absorb infra red light)
moving solar panels
9. 2. SUSTAINABILITY OF SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
two main “sun batteries” (Powerwall and Powerpack)
better than fusil fuels (supply is not limited, doesn‘t pollute)
better than organic fuels (no new space needed)
3. CONSUMPTION OF SOLAR POWER IN SLOVENIA AND OTHER EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES
average potencial efficiency of solar power in Slovenia: around 1300 kWh/m2
most solar power is used in: Germany, Italy, UK, France, Spain and Slovenia
concentarted solar power is used only by: Spain, Italy,
Germany and France
POWERWALL
10. 4. CHALLENGES OF IMPLEMENTATION OF SOLAR PANELS IN SLOVENIA
special permissions are not needed
space is not a problem anymore (foil shaped solar cells)
the inicial price is quite high (but it pays off in the long run)
5. NATIONAL POLICY ON TYPES OF ENERGY PRODUCTION AND USE
Slovenia encourages the use of renewable sources of energy
only 3 windmils and no bigger solar panel systems
multiple hydro and termo power plants, one nuclear power plant
11. WHAT IS A GREENHOUSE?
is a structure with walls and roof made chiefly
of transparent material, such as glass, in which
plants requiring regulated climatic conditions
are grown.
12. How is it made?
Sizes, Angles, What you will need
Making the base
Making the side wall-frames
Making the roof sections
Erecting the side walls and roof
Making the end walls and doors
Making the window, The cover
Price: 400$-2000$
13. Sustainability
Cornell University, NY
If, for example, ample sunlight is streaming in, lights will shut off
automatically and heating and cooling are properly coordinated to save
energy. This eliminates previous inefficiencies while providing optimum
growing conditions for plants at all times. All controls tie into a centralized
digital control system that can be managed remotely.
Savings: -30-40% of the total energy
- a 35% saving on steam heat.
14. SPAIN
Almeria 2000 ha (organic production)
57.600 ha greenhouse crops (50% with two harvests per year)
Financial support for organic farmers
fruit, vegetables
15. THE NETHERLANDS
Rank 1st in the EU and 2nd worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind
only the USA, with exports earning €80.7 billion in 2014
25% of world tomatoes
one-fifteenth of the world's apples
fresh-cut plants, flowers, and flower bulbs (2/3)
17. TYPES OF GREENHOUSE FARMING
SMALL SCALE ORGANIC FARMING
-farmers produce good quality products
-it‘s in danger - global markets and prices hurt small scale communities
LARGE GREENHOUSE FARMING
-needed to produce a high number of products
-offer better prices and are competitive on the market
18. Agricultural organic and sustainable myths
1. „Organic farming is good for the environment“
2. „Organic farming is more sustainable“
3. „Pesticides are not used in organic farming“
4. „Pesticide levels in conventional foods are dangerous“
5. „Organic food is healthier“
6. „Organic food has more nutrients“
7. „Demand for organic food is growing“
8. „Organic farms are small businesses“
The myths have lead to increased sales
Before deciding to spend the extra money on organic produce it‘s good to
know the facts
