Solar Power

Period 1Jason Hong

Iris LaMabel Chan

Source

Cost

• Costs significantly higher than hydrocarbon fuels to generate electricity

• Avg. system cost: $95 per square foot

• Avg. solar panel output: 10.6 watts per square foot

• Avg. solar energy system costs: $8.95 perr watt

Equipment

• Solar panels; photons in suns rays strike the electrons so they are free to carry an electrical charge

• Semi-conductive materials (mostly silicon) are used

Efficiency

• 15% of sun’s energy is converted into the sun

• Initial costs are high (5-KW system costs $45,000)

• Not very efficient now, but technology will improve in the future

Consumption/Usage

• Provides less than 1% of U.S. needs

• Provides less than 1% of worldwide energy consumption historically and in the foreseeable future

Disadvantages• Not usable during stormy weather or

night time

• Not efficient in areas with little sunlight

• Initial costs are very expensive

Disadvantages

• Always need to be facing the sun without blockage; hard to get sunlight in the valley

• Improper disposal can pollute the environment; solar panels contain toxic materials like lead and sulfur

Advantages

• Makes no noise

• Very little maintenance to keep running; no moving parts

• Money evens out in the long run

Advantages

• Technology is improving consistently

• Easy to install; no cords or power sources

• Safe for animals

Advantages

• Completely renewable

• Energy can be stored in batteries and used whenever

• Absolutely no pollution