Solar Electric Power in Texas
Eighth Grade Explanations: Why Solar Power in Texas?
Jun 12, 2015
Join Dr. Rick Borry and Dan Bedell in a guest appearance to Mr. Chacchia's eighth grade science class at Killian Middle School in Lewisville, Texas.
•Where does the electricity in your house come from?
•How much does electricity cost?
•Which saves more money - turning off the lights or installing solar panels?
•How does solar power work?
•Why would we want to use solar power?
First, we will investigate the electric power system in Texas as it applies to the students' lives. Then, the students will use math and science to analyze the engineering principles behind electricity conservation and solar power generation. We will look at the best times and places to generate solar power, and we'll review some free resources and apps related to solar power and the electric grid in Texas.
We will broadcast the 3rd period class live via this webinar. All middle school science classes are encouraged to join. You will be able to ask questions via text chat and we will answer as many as we can. We will record the session and it will be available to the public for playback.
•Where does the electricity in your house come from?
•How much does electricity cost?
•Which saves more money - turning off the lights or installing solar panels?
•How does solar power work?
•Why would we want to use solar power?
First, we will investigate the electric power system in Texas as it applies to the students' lives. Then, the students will use math and science to analyze the engineering principles behind electricity conservation and solar power generation. We will look at the best times and places to generate solar power, and we'll review some free resources and apps related to solar power and the electric grid in Texas.
We will broadcast the 3rd period class live via this webinar. All middle school science classes are encouraged to join. You will be able to ask questions via text chat and we will answer as many as we can. We will record the session and it will be available to the public for playback.
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Transcript
Solar Electric Power in Texas
How does this work?
How Power Grids Work
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/power.htm
CAN THE “POWER PLANT” USE SUNLIGHT TO
PRODUCE ELECTRICITY?
Photovoltaic (PV) Solar
Photovoltaic Effect PV Solar Panels
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/solarcells/
Concentrating Solar
http://solareis.anl.gov/guide/solar/csp/
http://ivanpahsolar.com
Solar Power for Your Home
WHY SOLAR?Engineering - the application of science, technology, and
math to get things done… the right way
How much power are thosefan lights using?
Power vs. Energy
POWER Rate at which work is done Watts (W) Four light bulbs in your fan:
4 x 60 Watts = 240 W
ENERGY Amount of work done Kilowatt-Hours (kWh) Leave your lights on all day:
240 Watts x 8 hours = 1920 Wh = 1.92 kWh
www.diffen.com/difference/Energy_vs_Power
How much does electricity cost?
$126.07 / 1233 kWh
= $0.102 / kWh
Should you turn off your lights?Or buy a solar panel?
Lights:– 240 W– 8 hours / day– $0.10 / kWh
Solar Panel:– 240 W ~ $500– 8 hours / day– 25 years
Cost of Lights vs. Solar Lifetime:(240 W / 1000 W/kW) * 8 hr/day * $0.10/kWh * 365 days * 25 years = $1,752
WHEN DO YOU USE ELECTRICITY?
Months of the Year
Time of Day
WHERE DO YOU FIND LOTS OF SUN AND LOTS OF PEOPLE?
P = I * V
WHY SOLAR?Electricity generated:• When you need it• Where you need it• With no fuel cost• And no pollution
WHY NOT SOLAR NOW?
How Power Grids Work
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/power.htm
The Electric Power Industry
39%
28%
19%
1%7%
6%
Electricity Generation 2013
CoalNatural GasNuclearPetroleumHydroOther
Copyright Principal Solar, Data Source: EIA.gov
24
The Power Industry - Nuclear
Nuclear
• Clean• Expensive• Reliable• Dangerous?
25
The Power Industry - Coal
Coal
• Abundant Fuel• Cheap Fuel• Reliable• Dirty
26
The Power Industry - Gas
Natural Gas
• Clean• Abundant fuel• Reliable• Low cost
27
The Power Industry - Solar
Powerhouse-1 Fayetteville TN4 Sites of 750 kW
= 3 MW peak capacity
LEARN ABOUT ELECTRICITY IN TEXAS
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas“ERCOT”
Search App Store for “ERCOT”
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