Solar Power
Before the bell rings get out your
notes and begin answering the
following based on your row…
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Row 1- (closest to the front!)- What are the three types of
fossil fuels, and which do you believe is the “best”?
Row 2- What is wind energy? How is it harnessed? What are
the advantages and disadvantages?
Row 3- What is hydroelectric energy? How is it harnessed?
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Row 4- What is the difference between wave and tidal energy?
How are they harnessed? What are the advantages and
disadvantages?
Row 5- What is biomass? What are the advantages and
disadvantages?
Row 6 (if there is one)- What is geothermal energy? How is it
harnessed? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
2 Types of Solar Heating Systems
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What is a Passive System
Uses an architectural design which enhances the
absorption of solar energy without mechanical
power
 Is used to reduce heating costs but must have a
backup system.
 Uses roof overhangs to shade windows in the
summer, and in winter allows sunlight to penetrate
into a room.
 Uses building materials that absorb heat energy
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Look at the overhanging roof
Solar Heating Systems
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What is an Active System ?
Requires mechanical energy through pumps and fans
to move air or water carrying heat to areas where
heat is stored.
 Energy is collected in a flat plate collector
 They have been used in to heat homes but also solar
water heaters, solar pool heaters, and space heating
systems.
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Why do we need this boiler?
What is Solar Electric (2 types)?
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Photovoltaic Cells
A device made of silicon
cells which changes
sunlight directly to
electricity through the
release of electrons.
Many uses (calculators,
wristwatches, appliances,
satellites, space shuttles,
and some road signs.)
Expanding globally
Have been used on the
roof tops of buildings
Solar Electric
Type 2:
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Solar Thermal Technology
Uses mirror-lined dishes or panels that rotate
with the sun and collect solar energy
CSP- Concentrating solar power
Converts the sun’s energy into heat which is then
used to generate electricity.
 There are three types of CSP technologies: trough,
dish/engine, power tower
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Parabolic Trough
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Power plants
use a curved
trough which
reflects the
direct solar
radiation onto a
receiver (also
called absorber
or collector)
running along
the trough,
above the
reflectors
Dish Design
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A dish system uses a
large, reflective,
parabolic dish (similar in
shape to satellite
television dish).
It focuses all the sunlight
that strikes the dish up
onto to a single point
above the dish, where a
receiver captures the
heat and transforms it
into a useful form.
Power Tower
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Use an array of flat, moveable mirrors (called
heliostats) to focus the sun's rays upon a collector
tower (the receiver).
This tower has a steam turbine to create electricity.
CSP Video
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Click Here
Solar lighting
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Parabolic
collectors
focus sunlight
into a fiber
optic system
to illuminate
buildings
Fiber Optic Lighting
Impacts of solar Energy
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No air pollution.
Inexhaustible supply.
Lack of consistent sunlight in most areas.
Requires large areas to produce a lot of energy.
Still too expensive to compete with fossil fuels
in most cases.
Cannot be stored…unless converted into a
battery.