By: Rachel Beres &
Kathleen Gallagher
 How
solar energy works
 How wind energy works
 Comparing solar and wind energy


Advantages
Disadvantages
 Carbon
footprint (EIO-LCA)
 Which is more green?
 the
main element is silicon
 Silicon, Si, has 4 outer electrons

Can accept 4 more electrons from another
element
 Si
can combine with more Si and create a
stable, pure crystalline silicon

Si2 is a poor conductor, thus useless in creating
solar power
 Phosphorus


Combined with Si, makes SiPWith 8 outer electrons and an extra electron
from the phosphorus
 Boron


has 5 outer electrons
has only 3 outer electrons
Combined with Si, makes SiB+
With only 7 outer electrons
 The
panel is made of both SiP- and SiB+ and
protected under a sheet of glass
 Photons then hit the panel
 The extra electron from SiP- transfers to SiB+
 Causing electricity to be
formed
 Air
moves the turbines to create kinetic
energy which is converted to mechanical and
electrical energy.
 Turbine systems include: a rotor, blades, an
enclosure holding a drive train, gearbox and
generator, a tower, and electronic controls.
Size:
rotor diameters: 50 m to 90 m
towers are roughly the same size
 The amount of electricity generated depends on
the turbine’s size and speed through the rotor.
Power ratings: 250 watts to 5 MW
 Performance is determined by wind speed.
A site’s wind speed is measured through wind
resource assessment prior to construction.
Small wind electric turbines: 9 mph on average
utility-scale power plants:13 mph

 Solar
energy is consistent. The sun will
always be there.
 Solar panels release no emissions
 Little to no maintenance required to operate
 The only renewable source that makes no
noise
 It can pay for itself

Cost can range from $100 to $10,000 depending
on amount of panels purchased
 Usually
allow for a tax credit
 Wind
is free
 Wind does not generate green house gases
 Does not take up a lot of space
 Remote areas can produce their own
electricity
 Come in various sizes, so they can be used at
various sizes of needs
 Strength
of wind is varies and the amount of
electricity produced is varied.
 Make as much noise as a car traveling at 70
mph.
 Some people do not find them aesthetically
pleasing.
 Some pollution is produced from the
manufacturing process
 Need a lot of wind turbines to support many
homes
According to www.eiolca.org
Solar Power

As a semiconductor machinery manufacturing
$500 solar panel – 0.242 MT of CO2 equivalent
$1000 solar panel – 0.483 MT of CO2 equivalent
$5000 solar panel – 2.42 MT of CO2 equivalent
Wind Power

Turbine and Turbine Generator
$1.2 million – 477 MT of CO2 equivalent
$2.6 million – 1030 MT of CO2 equivalent
 Both
produce no emissions when being used
 Both produce emissions when being
manufactured.
 Solar has no noise, where wind makes noise
of a 70 mph car.
 Solar is more pleasant to look at.
 Solar energy is more consistent than wind
energy.
 Solar energy is more efficient


Solar: 14MW to 20 MW
Wind: 250 watts to 5 MW
 Solar
energy would be the most beneficial of
solar and wind energy.
 Wind energy is useful in remote areas.
 Solar energy is useful in all areas, though.
http://www.eiolca.net/cgi-bin/dft/use.pl
http://www.enf.cn/database/panels-usa.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?10-Benefits-of-Solar
Energy&id=2154024
http://www.nextag.com/solar-panel/stores-html
http://www.solarhome.org/infohowdosolarpanelswork.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell#Lifespan
http://www.wksolargroup.com/
http://www.awea.org/faq/wwt_basics.html#top
http://www.technologystudent.com/energy1/wind8.htm
Pictures
http://www.environmentgreen.com/images/solar_panels_green_grass.jpg
http://www.awea.org/faq/wwt_basics.html#top