Exploring Solar Energy
Review: Atomic Structure
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Three particles
Nucleus
Electrostatic Force
Strong nuclear force
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Radiant Energy
Nuclear Fusion
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Northern Hemisphere Seasons
Variances in Solar Radiation
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Average Daily Solar Insolation Per Month
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Major Uses of Solar Energy
oDaylight
oDrying Agricultural Products
oSpace Heating
oWater Heating
oGenerating Electrical Power
oConcentrating Solar Power (CSP)
oPhotovoltaics
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Daylighting
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Daylighting
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Drying Agricultural Products
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Space Heating Through Passive Solar
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Passive Solar
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Active Solar Heating
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Solar Collector
 Glass on outside
 Absorbent on inside
 Circulating Fluid
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Solar Thermal Collector Uses
Source: Energy Information Administration Annual Energy Review Figure 10.7
http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/annual/showtext.cfm?t=ptb1007
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Generating Electrical Power
 Concentrating Solar
Power (CSP)
• Trough systems
• Power towers
 Heat exchanger plus
steam turbine
 Photovoltaics
• Small-scale (buildings)
kW production
• Large-scale (utilities)
MW production
 Photoelectric effect
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Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
Power Tower
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How a Power Tower Works
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Ivanpah, Mojave Desert
 The United States houses the largest CSP plant in the
Mojave Desert.
 Ivanpah is operated by NRG. It uses 347,000 garage
door-sized mirrors and 173,500 heliostats.
Image courtesy of NRG Energy
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Photovoltaics
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PV Cell
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N-type
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P-type
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P-N Junction
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Conversion Efficiency
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PV Array Components
 PV Cells
 Modules
 Arrays
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PV System Components
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Net Metering
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Net Metering Participation
EIA: Electric Power Annual 2012
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PV Array Fields
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Remote PV Power
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Total PV Installation Worldwide
Source: European Photovoltaic Industry Association
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World Photovoltaic Capacity
US Department of Energy,
NREL 2012 Renewable Energy
Data Book
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Global Regional PV Installations per Inhabitant
Source: European Photovoltaic Industry Association
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Projected Global Photovoltaic Market
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Advantages of Solar Energy
• Clean
• Sustainable
• Free
• Provide electricity to remote
places
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Disadvantages of Solar Energy
 Less efficient and costly
equipment
 Part Time
 Reliability Depends On Location
 Environmental Impact of PV Cell
Production
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Classroom Photovoltaics
 Experiments help students understand the conditions
needed for optimal power production
 Focus of secondary-level solar curriculum
 Use digital multimeters
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Using a Digital Multimeter
DC Voltage
Scale
Resistance
Scale. Do
not use.
Indicates
voltage from
alternating
current. Do not
use.
DC Current
Scale
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Wiring the PV Modules
Series
Parallel
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For More Information
The NEED Project
www.need.org
info@need.org
1-800-875-5029
Energy Information Administration
U.S. Department of Energy
www.eia.gov