Exploring Solar Energy

Review: Atomic Structure

Three particles
Nucleus
Electrostatic Force
Strong nuclear force

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Radiant Energy

Nuclear Fusion

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Northern Hemisphere Seasons

Variances in Solar Radiation

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Average Daily Solar Insolation Per Month

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Major Uses of Solar Energy

o Daylight
o Drying Agricultural Products
o Space Heating
o Water Heating
o Generating Electrical Power
oConcentrating Solar Power (CSP)
oPhotovoltaics

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Daylighting

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Daylighting

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Drying Agricultural Products

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Space Heating Through Passive Solar

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Passive Solar

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Active Solar Heating

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Solar Collector
Glass on outside
Absorbent on inside
Circulating Fluid

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Solar Thermal Collector Uses

Source: Energy Information Administration Annual Energy Review

Figure 10.7
http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/annual/showtext.cfm?
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Generating Electrical Power

Concentrating
Solar Power (CSP)
Trough systems
Power towers

Heat exchanger
plus steam turbine

Photovoltaics
Small-scale
(buildings) kW
production
Large-scale
(utilities) MW
production

Photoelectric effect

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Concentrating Solar Power

(CSP)

Power Tower

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How a Power Tower Works

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Ivanpah, Mojave Desert

The United States houses the largest CSP plant in
the Mojave Desert.
Ivanpah is operated by NRG. It uses 347,000
garage door-sized mirrors and 173,500 heliostats.

Image courtesy of NRG Energy

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Photovoltaics

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PV Cell

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N-type

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P-type

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P-N Junction

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Conversion Efficiency

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PV Array Components

PV Cells
Modules
Arrays

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PV System Components

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Net Metering

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Net Metering Participation

EIA: Electric Power Annual 2012

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PV Array Fields

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Remote PV Power

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Worldwide PV Installed
Capacity

Top Countries for Installed PV

Capacity

US Department of Energy,
NREL 2013 Renewable
Energy Data Book

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Global Regional PV Installations per Inhabitant

Source: European Photovoltaic Industry

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Projected Global Photovoltaic Growth

450
400
350
300

GW Installed Capacity

250
200
150
100
50
0
2015

2020E

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Advantages of Solar Energy

Clean
Sustainable
Free
Provide electricity to remote
places

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Disadvantages of Solar Energy

Less efficient and costly

equipment
Part Time
Reliability Depends On
Location
Environmental Impact of PV
Cell Production

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Classroom Photovoltaics
Experiments help students understand the
conditions needed for optimal power production
Focus of secondary-level solar curriculum
Use digital multimeters

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Using a Digital Multimeter

DC Voltage
Scale

Resistance
Scale. Do
not use.

Indicates
voltage from
alternating
current. Do
not use.

DC Current
Scale

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Wiring the PV Modules

Series

Parallel

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For More Information

The NEED Project
www.need.org
info@need.org
1-800-875-5029

Energy Information Administration

U.S. Department of Energy
www.eia.gov

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All NEED schools have outstanding classroom-based programs in which students learn
about energy. Does your school have student leaders who extend these activities into
their communities? To recognize outstanding achievement and reward student
leadership, The NEED Project conducts the National Youth Awards Program for Energy
Achievement.
Whats involved?
Students and teachers set goals and objectives, and keep a record of their activities.
Students create a digital project to submit for judging. In April, digital projects should
be uploaded to the online submission site.
Want more info? Check out www.NEED.org/Youth-Awards for more application and
program information, previous winners, and photos of past events.