By: Nate White, Seth Johnston,
Angelina Genelow, and Brooke
Edwards
General
Overview
•Generated
naturally
from sunlight
•Two types of uses
• Direct
• Indirect
•Also have electrical
generation
•Many benefits
•Also environmental
disadvantages
http://www.mywindpowersystem.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/alternative-energy-solar
http://www.solar-benefits.com/index.5
http://www.solarnavigator.net/images/wind_turbine_aalb
INDIREC
T
http://www.pwkits.org/wpcontent/uploads/2008/08/solar_thermal_collector.jpg
http://hurricanecandice.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/biomass
s.jpe
http://www.fuelfromthewater.com/hydroelectric_power_2.jpg


Most problems people have with solar are
superficial ones such as they think its an
eyesore.
Solar plants will require large amounts of land
which environmental groups have problems
with due to the problem of displacement.


Politicians are influenced heavily by lobbyists
from oil companies
Few politicians feel that they benefit from solar
energy in their district or are misinformed
about solar energy’s potential



Most federal laws support and offer incentives
for solar energy through tax credits
N.C. has a law which requires power
companies to obtain a set percentage of their
power from solar energy.
Biggest legal hurdles are going through
homeowners’ associations and zoning
ordinances.


Industrialized countries have laws similar to
the U.S. that attempt to foster the development
of renewable energy such as solar
Undeveloped countries do not promote solar
energy as much as countries such as the U.S.
and China
Yearly Solar fluxes & Human Energy Consumption
Solar
3,850,000 EJ[6]
Wind
2,250 EJ[7]
Biomass
3,000 EJ[8]
Primary energy use (2005)
487 EJ[9]
Electricity (2005)
56.7 EJ[10]
(The 3,850,000 EJ is absorbed in the
earths atmosphere, oceans, and
landmasses.)



One year of the sun’s energy is more than the
amount of energy that we will get from all of
the non-renewable resources combined.
The sun makes about 3,850,000 exajoules in one
year. That is more than all the energy used in
the world within a year.
About every minute there is enough energy
from the sun to produce energy to meet our
demands for an entire year. (if we could
harness is properly)

In 1890’s solar water heaters were used
everywhere in the U.S.
 In 1897, 30% of the homes in Pasadena
were equipped with Solar Water
Heaters.
 By 1920, Thousands of these solar
water heaters were sold but the
discovery of fossil fuels and that
replaced the need for the solar water
heaters.
 Now the solar heaters are making a
comeback.
The history of solar
energy can be an
example of how
it can potentially
help us with our
future needs of
energy. Now that
we have more
technology we
might be able to
harness the
energy that the
sun provides.
Environmental
Disadvantages
•One
environmental
downfall of solar energy
is the amount of land
needed for enough solar
panels to generate
considerable amounts of
energy.
•Each
photovoltaic panel
has only about a 40%
efficiency, so cost
becomes an issue.
•Solar
panels are
constructed from fragile
materials
http://www.global-greenhouse-warming.com/images/SolarTowerMojaveDese
More
Environmental
Disadvantage
s
•These
are minor
setbacks compared to
the many benefits of
solar energy.
•Storage
difficult; relies
on batteries that may
leak chemicals
•PV
cells use heavy
metals that are toxic and
difficult to recycle
http://www.maproyalty.com/images/_p
http://www.rise.org.au/info/Applic/Solarpump/image003.
•Solar energy comes to the areas closest to
the equator
•Scientist are hoping to expand the range
of sunlight’s wavelengths that can be
absorbed
•Other countries are enhancing more than
US
Does solar power have to
revolve around the equator?
•Can
be put in less sunny areas
•Not
as effective and very unreliable
•Most
beneficial where sun is most
prevalent