Solar Energy

  Solar Energy, radiation produced by nuclear fusion reactions deep in the

Sun’s core. Solar energy travels to Earth through space in discrete packets of
energy called photons19. A Photon is defined as a packet or quantum of a
wave-like fluctuations in electric and magnetic fields traveling through free
space or a material medium17. 

   The simplest example of solar energy use is your calculator. As long as

there is light in the room, the calculator will always work by converting light
into useful energy. The solar cells on a calculator are called photovoltaic
cells and are made of semiconductors, like silicon19. 

   On the side of Earth facing the Sun, a square kilometer at the outer edge of
our atmosphere receives 1,400 megawatts of solar power every minute. Only
half of that amount reaches Earth’s surface. The amount of light that reaches
any point on the ground depends on the time of day. The total radiation
power varies only slightly, about 0.2 percent every 30 years. Any
considerable change would alter or end life on Earth19.

   Greenhouses and solariums are common examples of the direct use of

solar energy, having glass surfaces that allow the passage of visible light
from the sun but slow down the escape of heat and infrared energy3.

Solar Energy - Advantages

• Clean, non-polluting.

• Renewable, endless supply that belongs to no one.

• Works best in the sunniest, often the poorest, parts of the world.

• Dovetails with other clean systems.

• Flexible and modular - systems can be resized.

• Safe.
Solar Energy - Disadvantages

• Some research and development not funded.

• Electricity produced is more expensive.

• Cannot be used as the only system in cloudy places.

• Energy has to be stored in batteries, hydrogen, water or other matter

Wind Energy

Wind energy is defined as the “power generated by harnessing

the wind, usually by windmills”16. In scientific terms, wind
energy is the "force" of winds blowing across the earth’s
surface21. Wind energy is usually associated with wind
turbines/windmills, but there are other similar concepts out
there, check outFloating Air Turbines and Underwater Power.

Wind is caused by uneven heating on the earth’s surface. The

equator region receives more heat than say, Antarctica. That heat tries to
move from hotter to colder regions. Wind energy was first harvested
centuries ago, when early windmills were used to power millstones, pumps,
and forges.

Wind farms have been, and are being constructed in upland areas of the
British Isles, such as Wales and the Lake District, but they have been
objected to because of visual and noise pollution. To solve this problem,
engineers have suggested offshore locations, where wind speeds are higher
and the impact of visual pollution is dramatically reduced16.

When harnessed, wind energy can be converted into mechanical energy for
performing work such as pumping water, grinding grain, and milling
lumber21. The amount of kinetic energy within Earth's atmosphere is equal to
about 10,000 trillion kilowatt-hours. 

The picture below shows how much wind energy is currently harvested by
the entire world and a future prediction. Image Source: WWEA
An efficient windmill can produce approximately 175 watts per square meter
of propeller-blade area at a height of 25m3. In 2006, a total of 73,904 MW
was generated, so if each windmill has 2 sq. meters of area, that equals to
over 200,000 wind turbines working throughout the globe.

Wind Energy - Advantages

• Wind energy is free, clean and non-polluting. The generation of wind

power does not produce any by-products that could be harmful to the
environment. There are no chemicals involved, no waste production, it's
squeaky clean.
 

• Wind supply is plentiful, so

wind energy is a renewable
supply. Click on the image on
the right, to see the "amount of
wind" available across the
United States.

• Suitable for less sunny regions. This creates the possibility of generating

energy non-stop, during day and night.

• Dovetails well with other systems. The generated wind energy can be

used full time in residential or commercial applications combined with your
regular power supply. It can also act as a back-up in case your residential
supply line fails.

• Simple technology. There is nothing too complex, mechanically, in terms

of designing and building wind turbines.

• Cheap electricity.  Wind energy is relatively cheap as compared to other

sources.

• Safe, if properly maintaine

Wind Energy - Disadvantages

• Aesthetically disturbing. Some people just don't like the look of giant

whirling blades structures outside their window. A number of companies are
working on solving this problem. Check out Underwater Wind Power and
Floating Air Turbines.

A company called Verdant Power came up with an

idea of placing wind turbines underwater. This new
free-flow hydropower technology utilizes
underwater currents to harvest energy. The
advantages are that this system is out of sight,
hidden deep in rivers or oceans. Some disadvantages
could be the cost of installation and maintenance.
Image Sources: VerdantPower
 

An Ontario-based company is also working to an

alternative approach, by placing "turbines"
floating hundreds of feet high above the ground!
This could pose a risk for airplanes thought, or act
as a giant conducting wire for lightning bolts.
Image Source: Magenn Company.

• Inconstant nature of the wind. Hey, it might be windy, or not. Who

knows. Constructions companies try to place turbines in the most windy
areas, even though at times, it still might not be as windy.

• Affects the bird population. Birds and other flying creatures have trouble
seeing the turbines. Although special coloring patterns and slower moving
 blades have reduced this problem.

• Wind farms generate noise in quiet, rural sites. Construction companies

tried to solve this by moving the turbines offshore (in the middle of a lake or
a river).

Solar Energy Can Be Used for Heat and Electricity

When converted to thermal (or heat) energy, solar energy can be used to:
 Heat water — for use in homes, buildings, or swimming pools
 Heat spaces — inside homes, greenhouses, and other buildings

Solar energy can be converted to electricity in two ways:

 Photovoltaic (PV devices) or “solar cells”change sunlight directly
into electricity. Individual PV cells are grouped into panels and arrays of
panels that can be used in a wide range of applications ranging from single
small cells that charge calculator and watch batteries, to systems that power
single homes, to large power plants covering many acres.
Solar Photovoltaic
Photovoltaic Cells Convert Sunlight into Electricity
A photovoltaic cell, commonly called a solar cell or PV, is the technology
used to convert solar energy directly into electrical power. A photovoltaic
cell is a nonmechanical device usually made from silicon alloys.

How Photovoltaic Systems Operate

The photovoltaic cell is the basic building block of a photovoltaic system.
Individual cells can vary in size from about 0.5 inches to about 4 inches
across.  However, one cell only produces 1 or 2 watts, which isn't enough
power for most applications.

To increase power output, cells are electrically connected into a packaged

weather-tight module.  Modules can be further connected to form an array. 
The term array refers to the entire generating plant, whether it is made up of
one or several thousand modules.  The number of modules connected
together in an array depends on the amount of power output needed.

Weather Affects Photovoltaics

The performance of a photovoltaic array is dependent upon sunlight. 
Climate conditions (such as clouds or fog) have a significant effect on the
amount of solar energy received by a photovoltaic array and, in turn, its
performance.  Most modern modules are about 10% efficient in converting
sunlight. Further research is being conducted to raise this efficiency to 20%.

Commercial Applications of Photovoltaic Systems

The success of PV in outer space first generated commercial applications for
this technology.  The simplest photovoltaic systems power many of the
small calculators and wrist watches used every day.  More complicated
systems provide electricity to pump water, power communications
equipment, and even provide electricity to our homes.

Some advantages of photovoltaic systems are:

1. Conversion from sunlight to electricity is direct, so that bulky

mechanical generator systems are unnecessary.

2. PV arrays can be installed quickly and in any size.

3. The environmental impact is minimal, requiring no water for system

cooling and generating no by-products.
Photovoltaic cells, like batteries, generate direct current (DC), which is
generally used for small loads (electronic equipment).  When DC from
photovoltaic cells is used for commercial applications or sold to electric
utilities using the electric grid, it must be converted to alternating current
(AC) using inverters, solid state devices that convert DC power to AC.