Name Solar Energy

Solar Power
Solar power is power that is generated from
sunlight. Solar power is a renewable energy
source, because when we use solar power, we aren’t permanently using
up any of the Earth’s resources like when we burn coal or oil. Solar energy
is also considered a “green” energy source because it does not generate
pollution as it is used.

You have probably seen solar panels on the roofs of houses. Solar panels
are panels of individual solar cells, also called photovoltaic cells. The word
photovoltaic is a combination of the words “photo” meaning “light” and
“volt,” which is a measurement of electricity. Photovoltaic cells can also
be found in wristwatches and calculators.

Here is how photovoltaic cells work. When particles of light, called

photons, hit the surface of the cell, electrons are attracted to the surface.
As a result, voltage forms between the top and bottom layers of the cell.
When an electric circuit is created between these two layers, current
flows, which powers electrical equipment. The more power that is
required, the more photovoltaic cells are used. This is why it takes entire
panels of photovoltaic cells to produce enough power to meet the
electrical needs of a house.

The first practical silicon solar cell was demonstrated at Bell Labs on April
25, 1954. Since then, they have not only become a popular and cost-
effective way to power homes and commercial buildings, they have also
been used to power spaceships and satellites. The U.S. government has
been offering tax credits for the use of solar power since 1990.

There are some drawbacks to solar power. One is that sunshine is not
always consistently available due to time of day, time of year, and the
weather. Another is that photovoltaic cells are expensive, so converting to
solar power typically requires a significant up-front financial investment.

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Name Solar Energy

QUESTIONS: Solar Power

Circle the correct answer.

1. Solar energy is considered a ___________ energy source.

A. green
B. renewable
C. cost-effective
D. all of the above

2. Solar panels are made up of:

A. calculators
B. photovoltaic cells
C. particles of light
D. electrons

3. The word “photon” means:

A. a measurement of electricity
B. volt
C. light
D. particle of light

4. The first practical silicon solar cell was demonstrated in:

A. 1925
B. 1954
C. 1990
D. none of the above

5. Which of the following is NOT a drawback of solar power?

A. sunshine is not always consistently available
B. photovoltaic cells are expensive
C. solar panels required a significant up-front financial investment
D. it does not generate pollution

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Name Solar Energy

Is Solar Energy Efficient?

Solar energy is generally considered an efficient way to power your home.
Because energy from the sun is “free,” and can be converted into the
energy needed to power electrical devices, the operating costs for solar
panels are virtually nothing. Neither does solar energy exact
environmental costs. Solar energy is considered a “green” energy source
because it is renewable, and it does not generate pollution.

Solar cells themselves, however, are far from efficient.

The efficiency rating of a solar panel measures what
percentage of sunlight that strikes the panel is actually
turned into usable electricity. The higher the efficiency
rating of the panel, the less panels you need. The
average efficiency rating for a solar panel is about 15%, and for most
panels efficiency is closer to 11%. Reasons for this include that some of the
light spectrum is reflected, rather than being absorbed by the
semiconductor material. Infrared light beams are too weak to create
electricity, and some ultraviolet light creates heat energy instead of
electricity. Though 11% to 15% is a pretty small number, there is typically
enough sunlight hitting panels mounted on a house roof to fully power the
house. Solar panels in a laboratory have reached up to 40% efficiency,
but this level of efficiency has not yet been made commercially viable.

The efficiency of a solar panel is also affected by other factors like panel
orientation, the pitch of the roof and panels, the temperature of the
panels (which can be controlled somewhat by installing them with a few
inches for air flow between the panel and the roof), and the amount of
shade to which the panels are exposed. Although every home will have
a different configuration of these variables, in most cases installing solar
panels is always a worthwhile and cost effective thing to do.

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Name Solar Energy

QUESTIONS: Is Solar Energy Efficient?

1. Why is the operating cost for solar power virtually nothing?

2. Why is solar energy considered a “green” energy sources?

3. Are individual solar panels efficient?

4. What affects the efficiency of solar panels?

5. The average efficiency rating for a solar panel is ____________.

6. In laboratories, solar panels have achieved as high as ______________

efficiency.

7. What factors having to do with how and where solar panels are
installed affect their efficiency?

8. How can the temperature of the panels by controlled?

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Name Solar Energy

Solar Photovoltaic
The technology behind solar panels is called Solar Photovoltaic (PV). Solar
PV generates energy by converting solar radiation (i.e., sunlight) into
direct current electricity using semiconductors. When sunlight makes
contact with the semiconductor in the Solar PV cell, freed electrons form
an electric current.

Individual Solar PV cells are usually seen

connected to each other and mounted on a
frame called a module. These modules are what
we typically refer to as “solar panels.” Multiple
modules can be combined to create an array.
The array can be larger or smaller as needed in
order to produce the required amount of energy.

Solar PV cells are most commonly made of silicon, although other

materials (Monocrystalline Silicon, Polycrystalline Silicon, Amorphous
Silicon, Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), and Copper Indium Gallium Selenide
(CIGS)), each with different applications and efficiencies, are being
tested in hopes of increasing the efficiency of solar panels, which currently
averages only about 15%.

The first practical silicon solar cell was demonstrated at Bell Labs on April
25, 1954. Since then, they have not only become a popular and cost-
effective way to power homes and commercial buildings, they have also
been used to power spaceships and satellites. The U.S. government has
been offering tax credits for the use of solar power since 1990.

Solar PV has both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it is

easily scalable, and it takes advantage of the most abundant source of
renewable energy on the planet—the sun. On the other hand, in the
winter, on rainy or cloudy days, or in areas where there is a lot of shade,
Solar PVs cannot produce significant amounts of electricity.

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