Solar and Wind
Power
The Future of Clean Energy
The Problem with Non
Renewable Energy Sources
• Examples of non renewable energy
sources: coal, fossil fuels, etc…
• They will run out eventually
• Bad for the environment
• Negative health effects
Solar Power
What is Solar
Power?
•A renewable energy source
•The conversion of solar
power from the sun into
heat or electricity
•Uses solar panels
•There are three main
methods of obtaining solar
power
•Best suited for areas
where there is low cloud
cover that will block out the
sunlight
How Does it Work?
Methods of Using Solar Energy
Photovoltaic cells
•Consists of semi-conductors
•As light hits the surface, energy is produced
Solar Thermal Electricity
•A mirror is used to reflect the sunlight to a
central receiver
•A fluid is circulated that drives a generator
•The generator produces electricity
Solar Thermal Heater
•Solar panels on roof absorbs sunlight
•Sunlight is converted into energy that heats
the house
Advantages
•Renewable
•Produces no pollution
or waste
•If the area is sunny,
solar energy can be
used in remote areas
where no other energy
source is available
•Require very little
maintenance
•Although expensive in
the beginning, you will
save a lot money in the
long-term
Disadvantages
•Doesn't work at night
•Solar cells/panels can be very
expensive
•Can be unreliable unless you're in a
very sunny climate. For example, it
wouldn’t be very effective in the United
Kingdom
• Solar power isn't much use for highpower applications. It may just be
enough to heat your house. To obtain
decent amounts of solar power, you
need a large area of solar panels.
The Effects of Solar Power on
the. . .
• Atmosphere: No release of pollutants
• Lithosphere: No effect because solar
panels are usually just installed on preexisting buildings
• Hydrosphere: No effect
• Biosphere: Light is reflected off the
panels. This light can distract birds and
even airplane pilots. This can be
dangerous.
Example of Solar Power around
the World
Argentina
•Solar power is being used
to improve the lives of
villagers in a small
community in Argentina
•The EcoAndina
Foundation introduced
solar powered stoves to
the villagers so that they
could cook food easily
•Before the solar power
cooking stoves were
available, the villagers had
to use fire wood
•Since Argentina receives
a good amount of sun, it
definitely comes in handy
India
•Currently, India relies on
coal to provide power
•The goal of the plan is to
have 20 gigawatts of
solar energy by the year
2022.
•The entire project is
estimated to cost about
$20 billion.
Switzerland
Solar Impulse Plane
•The wings hold 11,628
solar cells.
•The propellers are
powered by four 100
kilogram lithium
batteries.
•The goal is to make
the plane fly for 36
continuous hours
Solar Energy Power Plants
Solar Power
Wind Power
What is Wind Power?
•It is a renewable energy
source
•The use of the wind to
produce electricity
•Wind energy is the fastest
growing energy source on
earth
•The rate at which technology
is improving is making wind
power more and more appealing
•Most effective in areas that
receive a decent amount of
wind
How Does it Work?
Advantages
• The wind is free
• Does not cause green house gases or other
pollutants.
•Although wind turbines can be very tall, they only
take up a small plot of land. Therefore, the land
below can still be used (example: for agriculture)
•Wind farms are appealing to the landscape.
•Remote areas that have no other energy source
available can use wind turbines to produce their
own supply.
Disadvantages
•The amount of wind available always
varies. There will be times when they
produce no electricity at all.
•Wind turbines can be noisy. It can be
equivalent to the noise of a car
traveling at 70 mph.
•Because wind turbines have to be
anchored to the ground this could
possibly impact soil structure.
•They do not produce enough
electricity to power large amounts of
homes.
•Birds and bats are threatened
because they can get caught in the
turbines.
The Effects of Wind Power on
the. . .
• Atmosphere: No release of pollutants
• Lithosphere: The anchorage on the
ground may affect the soil structure
• Hydrosphere: No effect
• Biosphere: Birds/bats get caught in
the wind turbines. This could threaten
the population of the birds.
Examples of Wind Power
Around the World
Malawi
•William Kamkwamba decided
to build several wind mills in
his small village
•Using anything he could find
in the junkyard, he was able
to build five windmills, the
biggest being about 37 feet
tall
•The windmills provide
electricity and pump water in
the small village
Vancouver
•Wind turbine built
on Grouse Mountain
•Will provide the
mountain with up to
25% of its power
•The windmill will
attract lots of
tourists, which will
create revenue for
the mountain
The Good and Bad of Wind
Power
Wind Power
Conclusion
•Investing in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power is very
important
•Solar and wind power provide clean energy
•Both methods come with advantages and disadvantages
•Hopefully, with rapidly growing technology, these two power sources will
become used all over the world and replace non renewable sources
The End
Bibliography
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http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/alternative-energy/solar/india-to-increase-solarpower-capacity/ http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/alternative-energy/solar/solarimpulse-plane-tested/
http://www.whywind.org/pb/wp_643568b8/wp_643568b8.html
http://windpowerbuzz.net/the-advantages-of-wind-power-generation
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/10/05/malawi.wind.boy/index.html
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/
http://blogs.journalism.cuny.edu/nycondeadline/tag/green/
http://www.aweo.org/ProblemWithWind.html
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/30088-really-big-things-solar-powerplant-video.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfSaJW6m680