.

Advancements in Renewable Energy

Solar Power at a glance

http://www.bnl.gov/SET/LISF.php

Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP).

Photovoltaics convert light into electric current using the photovoltaic effect.

Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam.

Energy Sources: Solar". Department of Energy. Retrieved 21 April 2015

What Is Solar Power and How Does It Work

Photovoltaic (PV) vs. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-photovoltaic-cells.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sLej0oD1Ak

Photovoltaic Cells**A Brief History**

Most people would be surprised to learn that Photovoltaic technology dates back over 175 years. The basic science was discovered in 1839 but the

real advancements came in the 20th century.

1839 - Experimenting with metal electrodes and electrolyte, nineteen-year-old French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerel observes a physical

phenomenon allowing light-electricity conversion. 1901 - Nikola Tesla receives US patent for "method of utilizing, and apparatus

for the utilization of, radiant energy." 1905 - Albert Einstein publishes paper on theory behind “photoelectric effect”

along with paper on relativity theory. 1916 - Robert Millikan provided experimental proof of Einstein’s theory on

photoelectric effect 1922 - Einstein wins Nobel prize for 1905 paper on photoelectric effect.

http://www.sunlightelectric.com/pvhistory.php

Bell Laboratories, while working on silicon semiconductors, discovered silicon had photoelectric properties and quickly developed Si solar cells, achieving 6% efficiency and

early satellites were the primary use for these first solar cells .

1954 - Bell Labs exhibits first high-power silicon PV cell. The New York Times forecasts that solar cells will eventually lead to a source of "limitless energy of the sun". 1958 - PV array powers radios on US Vanguard I space satellite 1963 - Sharp Corporation produces a viable photovoltaic module of silicon solar cells. Japan installs a 242-watt PV array on a lighthouse, the world's largest array at that time. 1966 - NASA launches Orbiting Astronomical Observatory with a 1-kilowatt PV array 1970s - Research drives PV costs down 80%, allowing for applications such as offshore navigation warning lights and horns lighthouses, railroad crossings, and remote use where utility-grid connections are too costly 1974 - Japan formulates “Project Sunshine” to fuel PV research and development 1977 - US Dept. of Energy establishes US Solar Energy Research Institute in Golden, CO 1980s - Continued improvements in efficiency and cost enables PV to become a popular power source for consumer electronic devices, such as calculators, watches, radios, lanterns and other small battery charging applications

http://www.sunlightelectric.com/pvhistory.php

The Commercial Solar Age Begins

How PVs Work Photovoltaics is the direct conversion of

light into electricity at the atomic level. Some materials, such as Silicon, exhibit a property known as the photoelectric effect that causes them to absorb photons of light and release electrons. This flow of free electrons is called a current. And the formula for voltage is:

Voltage(V)=Current(I) x Resistance(R)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2zjdtxrisc

Advancements in Solar Technology

In 1883 Charles Fritts built the first solid state PV cell with an efficiency of only about 1%

In 1953 Bell Laboratories built the first silicon cells with an efficiency of about 6%.

In 1957 AT&T create a solar cell with about 8% efficiency. In the 1960 Hoffman Electronics breaks into the double digits

with 10% efficiency. In 1992 University of South Florida fabricates a thin film that has

15.89% efficiency. In 1996 Switzerland achieves 11% efficiency. In 1999 The National Renewable Energy Laboratory achieves

18.8% efficiency. In 2013 Germany created a new cell that has 44.7% efficiency. Today Australia leads the world with the most efficient solar cell

converting 46% of the sunlight that hits it into energy. 1. http://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/200904/physicshistory.cfm 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_solar_cells

Why use Solar Energy

The amount of energy used by humans in one year is equal to 1 minute of sunlight.

Sunlight is the cleanest form of renewable energy. In the recent years we have made incredible advancements in solar technologies. We have come along way since the earliest cell was created in 1883.

It is calculated that Solar Panels(with a lifespan of 20 to 25 years) will regenerate the energy spent to create them in less than four years. And that is with today’s efficiency ratings.

Solar Panel Uses Today

Today Solar Panels are widely used. They are on small items such as :

Roadside signs, Calculators, and Wrist Watches

http://www.energysavingsecrets.co.uk/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar-powered_calculator http://www.crazywatches.pl/

They are also used on bigger items such as

Homes, the International Space Station and Satellites

http://www.homedesignfind.com/green/home-for-life-generates-a-solar-surplus/

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/

http://solaripedia.blogspot.com/2009/11/international-space-station-all-solar.html

And Yes even this House is going GREEN.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2014/05/09/fight-over-solar-power-returns-to-white-house-roof-video/

The Long Island Solar Farm

They produce 32M Watts of power. They produce enough energy to power approximately 4,200 homes.

Built with a collaboration between BP and Metlife.

Built in Upton New York on 200 Acres of land and given a 20 Year lease by the Department of Energy.

Consists of 164,312 PV panels.

What is the future for Solar Technology

There is a lot of discussion as to where Solar technology is heading. Of course there is the obvious of improving the efficiency of solar panels. But here are some other ideas to help make our world a cleaner place to live.

Solar Roadways

http://www.solarroadways.com/intro.shtml

http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/cleantech/mike_hower/ http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/

http://www.solarroadways.com/wildlife.shtml

http://www.brit.co/solar-roadways/

http://inhabitat.com/roosegaarde-studios-bike-path-is-a-twinkling-road-inspired-by-van-gogh/

Parking Lots

http://solairegeneration.com/

And Yes Even Cars

http://alternativeenergyforlife.blogspot.com/2015/02/solar-cars.html

http://sunwindsolar.com/solar-cars-and-boats/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/18/greenlings-why-dont-we-use-solar-to-power-our-electric-cars/