Description
Solar energy comes from the sun. It comes down to Earth and changes the heat into energy using solar plants or
photovoltaic cells. Other than heat and light solar power also causes the wind we feel on Earth and is also responsible for fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal. Solar energy is different than other sources of energy because it does not cause air pollution.
The Production of Power From Solar Energy |
Most solar thermal systems consist of three basic parts: a collector, a distribution system and a storage medium. |
Step One: It uses solar heat to heat up and boil the water
Step Two: Then the steam created goes through the turbines
Step Three: The steam from the boiling water is pushed through large turbines or fans and the turbines are connected to a generator
Step Four: A dam has water going through the turbines which then goes to a generator.
Step Five: In the generator, the magnets create electricity in the copper wires.
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Advantages of Solar Power |
Disadvantages of Solar Power |
| It is renewable because the sun will not burn out while we are living. |
It can't be collected at night |
| It does not pollute like gas and oil and does not cause global warming. |
It takes a lot of land to build a solar plant and we would have to cut down trees which give us oxygen. |
| It is cheap compared to other sources of energy | You need to feed energy to a solar plant
to keep it working. You give it carbon dioxide. |
Some places solar things are used in Canada are the General Motors Battery Plant in Oshawa, Ontario that has a solar wall. It performs like a solar panel, but looks like a conventional metal wall. It provides heated ventilated air for the plant. It operates by drawing air through a large number of small holes that penetrate the cladding.
The Sustainable House in Alberta is filled with light, beautiful lines and spaces, and a terrific floor plan. It has 1625 square feet of living space. It doesn't have a basement. On the second floor there are 3 bedrooms, compartmentalized bathroom, storage areas and several study/reading/meditation nooks and crannies. It uses solar heat by using solar walls which attract the sun and warm
it up. It also has solar panels on the roof.
It was built on four principles:
*Occupant Health *Environmental Responsibility *Energy Efficiency
*Affordability
Bibliography
Internet sources:
"Renewable Energy Policy Project." available http://www.solstice.crest.org/renewables/re-kiosk/solar.html February 24, 2002.
"The Sun As An Energy Source." available http://www.rockyview.ab.ca/bpeak/students/energy/solar.html February 24, 2002.
Text Source:
"Solar Energy." McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. 1987.
Graphics Credit:
"Solar Power." Available http://www.rdg.ac.uk/~esu98ejf/solar.html February 24, 2002.
Test sources cited on the yellow sheet for KISH papers.
