Solar Energy
MTLE 4962- Energy, Environment and Economy
Ziyu (Grace) Zhou
Overview
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What is solar energy?
How does solar energy generated?
 Photovoltaics
Why do we care about solar?
 Common applications
 Money
What is the future of solar?
 Solar Energy Trees
 Pros and Cons
 Technological Challenges
Question and Discussion
http://graphican.deviantart.com/art/Green-Energy-78673552
What is solar energy?
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Solar energy is defined as energy derived from the sun in the
form of solar radiation
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First observed in 1839 by Alexandre Edmund Becquerel
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Bell’s Lab developed first PV device in 1954
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laiza-king-/how-solar-energy-is-chang_b_10071270.html
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/china-solar-energy/
How does solar energy generated?
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Use photovoltaic cell (semiconductor material) to transfer solar energy into
electricity
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Photons strike and ionize semiconductor material on the solar panel, causing outer
electrons to break free of their atomic bonds.
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The electrons are forced in one direction creating a flow of electrical current
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Solar cells are not 100% efficient due to reflection and heat generation
https://in.pinterest.com/explore/semiconductor-diode/
Why do we care? - Applications
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Solar Powered Transportation
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Solar Technologies
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Solar Heating
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Solar Lighting
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Rooftop Solar
5 Common Applications
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Solar Powered Transportation
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Railroads, subways, buses, planes
and cars
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Solar Impulse 2 (12-2009)
 long-distance
all-solar aircraft
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Solar buses in China (07-2012)
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Solar Spirit in Australia
 Student
designed solar car in
2011, 2013 and 2015
http://news.energysage.com/most-common-solar-energy-uses/
5 Common Applications
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Solar Powered Transportation
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Solar Technologies
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Solar powered charges
 E.g.
Anker’s PowerPort
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Solar Flashlights
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Wearable solar
 E.g.
Future Apple Watch
http://news.energysage.com/most-common-solar-energy-uses/
5 Common Applications
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Solar Powered Transportation
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Solar Technologies
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Solar Heating
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Solar water heater
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Solar space heater
http://news.energysage.com/most-common-solar-energy-uses/
5 Common Applications
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Solar Powered Transportation
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Solar Technologies
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Solar Heating
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Solar Lighting
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Outdoor solar lighting (energy
storage)
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Join with LED or other lighting
technologies
http://news.energysage.com/most-common-solar-energy-uses/
5 Common Applications
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Solar Powered Transportation
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Solar Technologies
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Solar Heating
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Solar Lighting
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Rooftop Solar
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Save utility cost !
http://news.energysage.com/most-common-solar-energy-uses/
Why do we care？-- To Save Money !
https://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/03/much-can-solar-panels-save/
What is the future of solar?
https://in.pinterest.com/explore/semiconductor-diode/
New Technology – Solar Energy Trees
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Tree Leaves - Organic Solar Cells
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Each leaf is a power converter
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Multi-converter system: collect energy from solar, wind and heat
temperature
Trunks – 3D Printed Wood-based Biocomposites
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/3d-printed-solar-energy-trees/
Pros and Cons
Advantages
Disadvantages
1. Renewable/Sustainable
1. Intermittent
2. Abundant/Good Availability
2. Energy Storage (Expensive)
3. Low Maintenance
3. Pollution (solar panel manufacture)
4. Silent
4. Exotic Materials vs Efficiency
5. Government Support
5. Require Space
……
……
Solar Energy Challenges
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Energy Storage
Cost
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Semiconductor material used as solar cell
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Solar panel manufacture
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Electricity generation?
Low Efficiency
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Only about 20% - 40% efficiency
Social Awareness
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Reliability
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Pre-investment
Question and Discussion
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How to improve solar energy efficiency?
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Technology Improvements
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How to make solar energy more accessible to the general
public?
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How to further reduce the cost?
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Do you want solar energy?
Reference
1. "Green Energy." On DeviantArt. Accessed February 13, 2017. http://graphican.deviantart.com/art/GreenEnergy-78673552.
2. "Solar energy." Dictionary.com. Accessed February 13, 2017. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/solar-energy.
3. King, Laiza. "How Solar Energy Is Changing the World Using New Technologies." The Huffington Post. Accessed
February 13, 2017. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laiza-king-/how-solar-energy-is-chang_b_10071270.html.
4. Http://www.facebook.com/luluchang79. "China is now the world’s largest solar power producer." Digital
Trends. February 06, 2017. Accessed February 13, 2017. http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/china-solarenergy/.
5. Photovoltaic (Solar Electric)." SEIA. Accessed February 13, 2017. http://www.seia.org/policy/solartechnology/photovoltaic-solar-electric.
6. "Semiconductor Diode." Pinterest. Accessed February 13, 2017.
https://in.pinterest.com/explore/semiconductor-diode/.
7. "How Much Are Solar Panels? Wrong Question. Ask How Much Solar Panels Can Save You." CleanTechnica.
February 03, 2014. Accessed February 13, 2017. https://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/03/much-can-solar-panelssave/.
8. Richardson, Luke. "How is Solar Energy Used? The 5 Most Common Examples of Solar Power." EnergySage.
December 14, 2016. Accessed February 13, 2017. http://news.energysage.com/most-common-solar-energyuses/.
9. "3D Printed Solar Energy Trees." AENews. Accessed February 13, 2017. http://www.alternative-energynews.info/3d-printed-solar-energy-trees/.
10. Agnes Peterson et al. "Solar Energy Pros and Cons." Energy Informative. Accessed February 13, 2017.
http://energyinformative.org/solar-energy-pros-and-cons/.
11. "Why It Is Not More Widely Used." Problems With Solar Energy. Accessed February 13, 2017.
http://www.solarpoweristhefuture.com/problems-with-solar-energy.shtml.