Solar Energy Notes Outline Solar power has been used for warmth for thousands of years, and,

beginning in the nineteenth century, as a means of generating energy to provide heat, light, and electricity. (Lerner) I. Solar Energy is the forms of energy emitted by the sun including light, radio waves and x-rays. (Miller) 1. Solar energy is the technology used to harness the suns energy and make it useable. (National Geographic) 2. Today, the technology produces less than one tenth of one percent of global energy demand. (National Geographic) 3. Electricity can produced by putting solar panels on the roofs of buildings. (National Geographic) II. These panels have PV cells that convert sunlight to electricity. (Miller) 1. When sunlight hits the panels it sets the electrons lose. (National Geographic) 2.As the electrons flow through the panels, they generate energy. (National Geographic) 3. Another way of electricity production using sun power is the use of turbines.(Miller) 4. In the turbines the suns heat can be used to convert water into steam and then this steam is used to run turbines. Inside the generators they have generators which in turn produce electricity. (Miller) 5. Passive thermal energy technology involves the collecting and converting the suns energy into heating applications like water and air heating, cooking and drying, steam generation, and distillation. (Miller) III. Solar power has some ways to store it and a lot of advantages.

1. The electricity that is produced during the day can be stored in batteries for use at night (Miller). 2. Solar energy is renewable which means it will never run out. (National Geographic) 3. Solar energy does not require any special fuel that needs to be bought. (National Geographic) 4. Solar energy does not cause any pollution. (National Geographic) 5. Solar energy is noise-free so it also doesnt cause any noise pollution. (National Geographic) IV. Solar energy has some disadvantages, but they are greatly fewer than the advantages. 1. Solar energy is expensive 2. Solar energy is pretty limited and is dependent on the weather 3. The sun doesn't shine in the North Pole for 6 months so they cannot use solar power then 4. There are some disadvantages, but they are greatly outweighed by the benefits. V. Solar energy is used worldwide. 1. Solar energy is mainly used in Japan, Germany and some others. 2. Japan announced completion of its third solar project, a free field solar park on kyushu island (Solar Power Opportunities) 3. Out of 42 countries, in Europe, 28 installed solar power capacity combined make up 70.09% of solar power energy capacity installed worldwide. (Solar Power Opportunities) 4. Market and business attractiveness are because it is renewable and solar (Solar power opportunities).