Solar Power Essay

Solar Energy Essay
Solar Energy
~Some history, types, and facts~
In this modern fast paced world that we live in, there are many issues that are looked over, energy
is one of these. As a world, we are dependant on dwindling fossil fuel supplies and take for granted
electricity, oil, and gas. There are four completely renewable sources of energy around us that should
be used and developed, they are: wind, growing plants, flowing water, and the sun. These sources of
energy are the ones we should be tapping, because they are reliable and renewable. Harnessing the
suns energy is the most certain and ultimate energy source. Looking at a brief history and some facts
about solar energy, a glimpse of the future can be seen, a future not dependant on...show more
content...
Bailey decided to separate the water heating system and the water storage system because at night the
water in the tank would cool down.
The greatest energy that can be produced by the sun is electricity. Photovoltaics, or solar cells,
capture the sun and convert it into electricity. Solar cells were discovered by the Europeans back in
the 1870's when they used selenium to develop the telegraph. They found that when light hits
selenium it would produce and electrical current. Soon enough there were many scientists and
engineers working on photovoltaic systems. Silicon and Selenium proved to be the two best
elements to conduct electricity when light hits them. Photovoltaic systems (PV cell) work by
converting the suns light into electricity. A semi conducting material absorbs the sunlight, that
energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms, this allows the electrons to flow through the
material to produce electricity. The further development of solar cells can be attributed to the
satellite industry. Solar cells were expensive and there was no use for them until satellites came.
Because it is impractical to tether satellites it became important to develop solar energy at any cost
that would power these satellites. This created a sustainable market for solar power, the first of its
kind.
Passive solar heating designs are some of the simplest forms of incorporating solar energy into your
daily home life. Passive solar designs incorporate the sun
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Solar Energy Synthesis
The energy of the sun is the future energy of the world because of two words solar energy
meaning that we can get electricity from solar energy which is the sun. In Source A they talk
about how solar energy works and say solar power uses the power of sunlight to either create
electricity or to heat water or air. In Source C, they talk about the Solar Revolution but that comes
with mistakes because the low efficiency and the lack of storage space of battery. In source C, they
talk about how the rise of oil will cause this change because they will better the system and make the
market rise.
The Solar power in Source C say that it is clean and that it will cost much less than oil.
The solar energy and fusion are the ultimate solution for the

Solar Energy Essay
Solar energy is better for the environment than energy derived from other sources. Even though it is
the most difficult source of energy to channel, solar energy can provide great amounts of resources
for the environment as well as market venture, if proven effective. The fact that solar energy comes
from the sun, makes it the most desired source of energy. Withoutsolar energy, oxygen and food
would be rare to find; mostly from the fact that the sun brings forth all life on planet Earth. The idea
that the sun itself could be a cash cow has those from environmental engineers to scientists trying to
find ways to harness its immense energy. Students from across the world as well as accountants use
solar energy more than anyone else,...show more content...
The venture for solar energy first came into existence from Edmund Becquerel, a French physicist
who observed and published findings about the nature of materials to turn light into energy but sadly
they were not pursued, until thirty years later when Auguste Mouchout was the first man to patent a
design for a motor running on solar energy. Charles Tellier, was also a Frenchman whose work in
creating preserved foods through refrigeration, experimented with a non–concentrating
/non–reflecting solar motor. He installed the first solar energy system for heating household water
on top of his roof. Today, all across the world there is more focus in utilizing solar energy. As
Becquerel, Mouchout and Teller were pioneers for advances in the past, modern day has its
shares of crafty inventors. Recently, a group of environmentalist in Oregon, lead by Mark Dixon
called "Your Environmental Road Trip" (YERT), are building the first solar roadways, in which
they plan in the future will span to all fifty states. Dixon and his crew by using solar energy to
power highways are saving money for the state as well as the consumer. By using garbage from
the local land fields to generate the durability of asphalt, solar highways are able to sustain the
pressures of vehicles with mass such as transferee trucks, while at the same time creating storage
space for solar energy. In an interview regarding how did he plan to revolutionize highways using
solar energy, Dixon stated, "If

Solar Power Essay
Solar Power: An Alternative Energy Source
Since first discovered in the 1860s, the concept of storing energy from the sun to use as a source of
power has been studied and pursued by many programs. Either using solar collectors or photovoltaic
cells, the methods of using solar power are becoming more efficient and cost–effective. Solar
technology is currently being used by homes and businesses, but is still too expensive and risky for
many residents. Researchers are still making advances to solar technology for it to be a feasible
energy source in the future.
Solar energy was first started in the 1860s when Auguste Mouchout and William Adams found a way
for storing solar radiation into tanks of water. Since then, there have been...show more content...
Because silicon cells are only semi–conductive, it is harder to generate an electrical current, and
therefore require collective grids to transfer electrons through a series of thin wires. Although
collective grids are the
Solar Power 3 most efficient way of solving conductive issues, it is expensive to produce. Instead,
photolithography is used to attach the metal grid to the cell. After the development of PV cells in
the 1940s, little progress was made for the next few years because of its expensive cost. However,
it was used in the space industry in the 1950s and 60s. Now, with nanotechnology and other
improvements, there is possibility for cheaper and more efficient production. Finally, there are
uses of solar furnaces to collect solar energy in a small area by reflecting the heat using mirrors. An
example of this is a solar furnace in Odellio, France that has the ability to heat up to 33,000 degrees
Celsius (Darvill, 2007, para. 11).
Experiments with Solar Power Plants:
The Mojave Desert is an ideal place for solar power plants since it is so insolated and has more
sunlight than most areas of the United States. The Solar Energy Generating Systems were nine
trough power plants built in 1980s converting sunlight into electricity. Combined, they produced 354
MW of power, enough to support 500,000 people and making it a successful project. (Wikipedia,
2007, para. 1).
The Solar Energy Technology Program (SETP) set up solar initiatives in hopes of replacing fossil

Solar Energy Essay
Solar Energy There is a bright future for solar power (no pun intended). On the average sunny day
the sun shines approximately 1,000 watts of energy per square meter, enough energy to power all of
our electricity needs and excess("How").
This plethora of power and will be utilized in the future because we can't afford not to. It is
predicted that in 100–500 years our fossil fuels will be depleted: this means that alternative sources of
energy will be a necessity (Exxon). We consider solar power a renewable resource because it is
conitinuosly supplied to us by the sun. When discussing solar technology it is generally broken up
into two different categories: photovoltaic and solar–thermal technology....show more content...
Grants, Loans, and Green tag programs all exist to entice people into turning to solar(EPA).
People need to be more informed and more of these types of programs need to exist in order to
increase the demand for solar power. PA currently offers a 10 Percent Investment Tax Credit, this tax
credit is available for businesses that invest in or purchase qualified solar energy equipment(EPA).
Consumer demand for clean renewable energy and the deregulation of the utilities industry has
sparked interest in: solar, wind, geothermal steam, biomass, and small–scale hydroelectric sources of
power(Cnn). Small commercial solar power plants are already popping up in some markets.
Because solar energy has zero emissions and does not produce any solid waste it is very
appealing to consumers("Sunny"). Only the land consumed by photovoltaic systems is considered
a issue. Double digit growth is expected from both wind and solar technology, based on both
increased public subsidies and technological advances over the next 20 years("Sunny"). However,
because they currently make up such a small percentage of our total power consumption, less then
5% of our total power consumption will be from solar at that time. 20 years ago (PV) was 50 times
as expensive than traditional energy resources. That number has increased to 4 times as expensive
currently: this shows promise for the future of affordable solar technology ("The Future"). Our planet

Essay on Solar Energy
Solar Energy
Solar energy is the most ancient kind of energy found on earth, for it is as old as the sun.
"Solar" means from the sun. The earth is only one of the many planets which is bathed
in the sun's overflowing energy. Every second the world receives 95.8 trillion watts of power...just
think about that for a minute. Think about how much power the earth just received in the time it
took you to read this sentence? It is well beyond the amount of power used in one day. It has the
potential to satisfy all our energy needs forever without ever having to use the pollutive fossil fuels
ever again. "The problem however, does not lie in the limited source, as do fossil fuels, but in
harnessing...show more content...
In the 1690's an Italian scientist invented a solar furnace that was so hot it could shatter a diamond,
one of the hardest substances on earth (Asimov 119).
The real question around the beginning of the 19th century concerning solar energy was
"could the sun produce electricity directly?" The main motivation behind this desire
was that electricity could be stored in a battery, and used later. It would not be necessary to use the
device in the sunlight. All inventions failed, until Frank Shuman, an engineer from Pennsylvania
finally made a breakthrough. He built an experimental plant that used black troughs covered in
glass with a few inches of water. When exposed to the sun, the water got very hot, causing it to
circulate and power an electric generator. His data was so convincing that he got financial backers
and built the world's first solar electric power plant in Egypt. However, the Eastern Sun Power
Company went out of business even though it was using free fuel. It didn't produce enough
electricity for the area that it used, 14,000 sq. ft of sun–collecting land (Zweibel 48).
In 1954 Bell Laboratories invented the first photovoltaic (or solar) cell, made from the
semi–conductor silicon, and other elements. It was the first way to convert sunlight directly into
electricity. When the space program was launched in the 60's, it

Argumentative Essay On Solar Energy
Everyone lives on the same planet, and future generations will continue to inhabit this special
planet. It is vital that the world we live on is well preserved and able is able to remain habitable.
Natural oils remove precious and limited sources and are not good to rely on in the case that it will
eventually run out. Furthermore, solar energy is also one of the fastest growing industry in America,
and it has employed over 120,000 workers (Green Mountain). Renewable energy releases little to no
emissions, making it environmentally friendly. Solar energy is able to be renewable since it is an
unlimited resource. Over time, solar energy can save people money and make competition in the
solar energy industry. Solar energy has vastly more benefits over fossil fuels for both the
environment, economy, and it will be better for the future generations.
Fossil fuels are going to eventually run out, and humans need an alternate energy source that will be
consistent and will not fluctuate. An issue with fossil fuels is that there is only a set amount that can
easily run be all used up. In the late...show more content...
The government is offering incredible tax credits and rebates to encourage homeowners to switch
to renewable energy. The amount of solar rebate can cover 30% of the solar power system cost.
The government is supporting people because they know that will be better for the economy and
that is the main priority for them. Adding solar panels to your roof can also add more home value
to your house. They can add up to another 10% value of your house(Livinggreen). The lifespan of
solar panels last as long as 40 years, and manufacturer gives the customers a warranty on the product
of anywhere from twenty–five to thirty years. Solar panels can you people a great deal of money,
and at the same do something which is better for the

Solar Power Essay example
Solar Power
All life on Earth depends on energy from the sun. Solar energy is the source of energy for
photosynthesis. It provides the warmth necessary for plants and animals to survive. The heat from
the sun causes water on the Earth's surface to evaporate and form clouds that eventually provide
fresh rainwater.
Solar energy is the result of thermonuclear fusion reactions deep within the sun. These reactions
produce so much energy that they keep the surface temperature of the sun at about 10,300B0F. Even
though solar energy is the largest source of energy received by the Earth, its intensity at the Earth's
surface is actually very low due to the large distance between the Earth and the sun and the fact that
the Earth's atmosphere...show more content...
Because the intensity of the sun's radiation at the surface of the Earth is so low, collectors designed to
capture solar energy must be large.
In the sunniest parts of the continental United States, for example, in order for a collector to gather
enough energy to serve one person for one day, the area of the collector's surface must be about 430
square feet. The actual energy that can be used depends on the efficiency of the collector and of the
device that converts the radiation into usable energy.
Flat–plate collectors. The most common flat–plate collectors consist of a dark metal plate, covered
with one or two sheets of glass, that absorbs heat. The heat is transferred to air or water, called
carrier fluids, that flows past the back of the plate. This heat may be used directly or it may be
transferred to another medium. Flat–plate collectors are used for home and hot–water heating.
Flat–plate collectors typically heat carrier fluids to temperatures ranging from 150B0 to 200B0F.
The efficiency of such collectors varies from 20 to 80 percent.
Concentrating collectors. When higher temperatures are required, a concentrating collector is used.
These collectors reflect and concentrate sunlight from a wide area.
One such device, called a solar furnace, was installed in the Pyrenees in France and has several
acres of mirrors focused on a single target. The energy concentrated at

solar energy Essay
Solar Energy
All life on Earth depends on energy from the sun. Solar energy is the source of
energy for photosynthesis. It provides the warmth necessary for plants and animals to
survive. Scientists have found a way to use God's natural light towards the advantage
of our daily lives. The affects of this idea revolutionary, results ofsolar power could
lead to a more modernized society and efficient economy.
Solar energy is a term that usually means the direct use of sunlight to produce
heat or electric power. Solar technology is improving rapidly. Someday, it may
provide a clean and abundant source of power. Solar energy is a very useful resource.
Today 80% of the energy we use comes from fossil fuels and about 1% comes...show more content...
Scientists have developed a
way to convert the energy absorbed by the sun in the daylight to a rechargeable
battery when night falls. So when the sun shines the next morning, it is a recycling
process.
However, even though solar power has its advantages, some scientists argue
it's Disadvantages. The sun's energy is plentiful, but it is thinly distributed over a
large area and must be collected and concentrated to produce usable power. As a
result, solar energy is a more expensive power source than fossil fuels for most
applications. On the other even though it may be more expensive its well worth it.
Deaths caused by sicknesses such as lung failure can quickly be cut in half. For, most
of the time people develop bad lungs by breathing in the pollutants lingering in the air

produced by cars, buses, and other types of automobiles. Solutions such as
carpooling were developed in order to decreased the amount driving cars but it
seemed ineffective. Solar power seems to be the only real logical solution. Picture
highway of automobiles in motion without inhaling any type of harmful chemical in
your body.
Ever since the dawn of time, the sun has been a resource we cannot live or do
without, so its not such a shock that man has come up with the idea of solar energy .
The ideas of solar energy dangerous and some, a very valuable asset
to the modern world. However, I feel that solar power is a great idea, by using

Solar Power Essay

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